The Kakatiyas ruled from Warangal or Orugallu as it was called then from 1083 to 1323 CE. They were Telugu rulers and ruled over a large tract of land which included the Golconda area.
The Warangal fort was their bastion and they moved here from the neighbouring Hanumakonda which was their capital earlier. The Warangal fort is rather odd as it is built on flat land and not on a hill top or water body as most other forts are.
But it has three walls apparently - the first one of mud and then of granite, walls of 9 kms and 4 kms circumference, a large swayambhu trikutalaya (temples of Shiva, Surya and Vishnu existed) temple with the impressive architecture in granite and basalt with its famous thoranams, the solid Khush Mahal or Sitab Khan Mahal, an old Shiva temple which are all still there.
No trace exists of the palaces of the Kakatiya rulers.
Credit is given to the Kakatiyas for bringing the Telugu speaking region together. From Rudra Deva (1158-1195) who transformed a small principality into a large kingdom and constructed the 1000 pillar temple, to Ganapati Deva his nephew who was captured and imprisoned and later became the king of the Kakatiya empire and constructed both Golconda fort and the Ramappa temple, to Rudrama Devi (1262-1289) who was an able administrator and warrior, to Pratap Rudra who extended the kingdom till Raichur until his capture and apparent suicide while being taken to Delhi by the Tughluq army.
For a 13th century fort the architecture is amazing. The work on the granite and basalt is stunning. The four thoranams that stand at the site of the trikutalaya and the other pieces that are left behind show ample proof of the Kakatiya architecture and expertise. The Nandi is another great piece of work as are the elephants.
In fact, even the well preserved Khush Mahal shows how solid the royal architecture was so long ago.
Called also the Sitab Khan Mahal after a Hindu governor of the Bahmani kings, Sitapaty, the Khush Mahal is also believed to have been constructed over the original Kakatiya palace. A visit to the Warangal fort takes up a good two hours. Better if you have your own conveyance so you can explore a bit. Carry water, caps and shades. Well worth the trouble.
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| The outer granite wall |
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| One of the four famous Kakatiya thoranams |
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| Ruins of the trikutalaya temple site with the four thoranams on each side |
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| Anjali getting some shade under an exquisite 13 the century sculpture |
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| Check out the detail on granite |
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| Shobhs and Anjali are framed |
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| The detail on the chains on the elephant is astounding |
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| Anjali with one of the thoranams behind her |
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| The ruins which have been restored partly by the Archaeological Society of India |
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| Exquisite |
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| One of the fort's outer walls, solid as ever |
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| Shiva temple |
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| Nandi and an old 13th century building behind it, seemingly occupied |
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| Another Nandi at the temple |
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| The Ekasila (monolith) rock with old 13th century structures on it from the Khush Mahal |
In fact, even the well preserved Khush Mahal shows how solid the royal architecture was so long ago.
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| The well preserved Khush Mahal |
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| Entrance to the Khush Mahal a.ka. Sitab Khan Mahal |
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| Inside the Khush Mahal |
Called also the Sitab Khan Mahal after a Hindu governor of the Bahmani kings, Sitapaty, the Khush Mahal is also believed to have been constructed over the original Kakatiya palace. A visit to the Warangal fort takes up a good two hours. Better if you have your own conveyance so you can explore a bit. Carry water, caps and shades. Well worth the trouble.
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