Warangal Fort, 13th century fort in Warangal, India

Warangal Fort is a stone fortress from the 13th century surrounded by multiple layers of defensive walls made from different materials. The structure includes numerous towers and gates that show how the site was organized for defense and royal life.

The fort was built in the 13th century under King Ganapatideva as a major defensive stronghold for the region. Later rulers expanded and reinforced the structure to maintain control and power over their territory.

The four gates, called Kakatiya Kala Thoranam, were entrances to the Swayambhu Shiva temple, destroyed after the 1323 siege. Their carvings show lotus buds, looped garlands, mythical animals and birds with foliated tails, but no religious symbols. Telangana adopted the thoranam as its state emblem after the 2014 bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh.

The fort is open to visitors on most days and has open areas where you can walk around and explore the ruins at your own pace. It helps to wear comfortable shoes since the ground is uneven and exploring can take several hours.

The four gates stand about 10 metres high, each with twin pillars and angled brackets carrying a huge lintel. Their carvings show lotus buds, looped garlands, mythical animals and birds with foliated tails, but no religious symbols, which is why the gateways survived later destruction. The Kakatiya Kala Thoranam was adopted into the emblem of Telangana.