Bhadrakali Temple of Warangal

Bhadrakali temple is believed to be constructed by the King Pulakesi II of Chalukya dynasty around 625 A.D to commemorate his victory over Vengi region of Andhra Desham. This can be observed from the square pillars used in the temple structure which were different from the circular pillars commonly used in temples constructed by Kakatiyas.

The Kakatiya kings of “Orugallu empire” which is the present Warangal city have adopted Goddess Bhadrakali as their “Kula Devatha” giving her preference over other gods. The lake was built later by Ganapathi Deva, a minister in Kakatiya Dynasty. A road leading to the temple was also added during that period.

About Bhadrakali  Temple

The temple’s main deity Bhadrakali matha’s image is made in a 2.7×2.7 meters square stone facing west with pleasant looking eyes holding weapons in her eight hands with Shiva under her feet. ‘Sree Chakram’ and ‘Utsava Vigrahas’ of Bhadrakali are placed in front of the main deity.

A statue of Lion, Bhadrakali’s vahana on which she rides, is placed opposite the sanctum sanctorum. The temple also has a Dhwaja Sthambam and Balipeetham.

Some of the oldest deities in the Maha Mantapam along with Bhadrakali are Uma Maheshwara images on stone in front of Shiva Linga, Subramanya Swamy statue, Hanuman statue and Navagrahas all carved in stone.

A new road was constructed in 1966 from the temple to the Warangal-Kazipet main road next to Government Polytechnic. The temple has been expanded in the 2000′s with the addition of Alaya Shikaram, Maha Mantapam. Recently Sri Vallabha Ganapathi temple and temple Parikrama have been added to the main temple.

The temple management is also running a Veda Pathasala in Warangal (School for learning Vedas) near the temple.

There are 8 major and 12 minor temples in the mountains surrounding the Bhadrakali Temple including Padmakshi Amma temple, Sri Shirdi Sai Baba, Sri Narasimha swamy temple and Sri Pothuluri Veerabrahmendra Swamy temple.

Bhadrakali Temple has become a major tourist place and people from many parts of India visit this temple.

The people of Warangal and Hanamkonda believe in Goddess Bhadrakali and visit her for all the auspicious occasions like newborn babies, marriages etc. and offer her bangles, sarees and garlands and pray to her for her blessings.

People with desires go to the temple and tie a coconut (Mudupu) with red blouse piece at the temple after pooja. After the fulfilment of their desires they once again visit the temple and untie the coconut and perform poojas and offer sarees to the deity.

Thousand Pillar TempleIf you want to know more about the richness of the heritage of India, make sure to visit the famous Thousand Pillar Temple – Hanamkonda. Located in Hanamkonda part of the Warangal City, Thousand Pillar Temple is a popular pilgrimage center, where thousands of devotees of all faith come here to pay their homage. The temple has an old and long history and dates back to the Chalukyan era.

Constructed in the 1163 AD by Rudra Deva, Thousand Pillar Temple in Hanamkonda is one of the finest specimens of Kakatiya architecture and sculpture. The temple depicts the typical Chalukyan style of architecture. The temple has three shrines, which are dedicated to three deities. The three presiding deities are Lord Shiva, Vishnu and Surya. Thousand Pillar Temple – Hanamkonda is really a true architectural splendor.

The temple is a star shaped architecture, which is an example of the expertise of the craftsmen of the period. The temple is supported by the richly carved out pillars. The screens and the beautiful sculptures which adorn the walls of the temple add to the magnificence of the structure. You can also find a huge monolith Nandi, which is made up of black basalt. It has a wonderful polished finish, which adds to its grandeur.

The temple stands on a platform of 1 meter, which slopes towards the Hanumakonda hill. The garden surrounding the temple is simply beautiful. Small lingam shrines adorn the garden. The garden is well maintained and has serenity around it. The chirping of the birds mingled with the ringing of the temple bells creates an aura around the Thousand Pillar Temple – Hanamkonda. Counted as one of the principal monuments in India, this temple is the biggest draw at Hanamkonda.

You can reach Thousand Pillar Temple – Warangal very easily. It is connected by almost all modes of transport. The airport at Hyderabad is the nearest airport to this temple. You can access the Warangal railway station to reach to this city from other parts of the country. Regular buses ply on the roads from Hyderabad, Vijayawada, Karimnagar, Khammam and other districts of Andhra Pradesh.

Ramappa Temple: Popularly known as Ramalingeswara Temple, Ramappa Temple is located about 50 km from Warangal. It is an archeological wonder and is considered at the “brightest star in the galaxy of medieval temples in the Deccan”. It features fine, intricate carvings on the walls, pillars and ceilings. Thousands devotees and tourists come here for offering prayers and observing the beauty of the temple.

Thousand Pillar Temple: It is an architectural wonder and a fine example of Kakatiya structural design and sculpture. The ancient temple was built in 1163 AD by Rudra Deva in the manner of Chalukyan temples. As the name signifies, Thousand Pillar Temple features numerous pillars which are intricately carved. The perforated screens, rock cut elephants, and monolithic black basalt Nandi are fine examples of the rich architectural patterns followed in the bygone era.

Bhadara Kali Temple: It is another important temple located on a hill top between Hanamkonda and Warangal. The temple is renowned for the beautifully carved 2.7 meter tall stone image of the Goddess Kali. This temple also reflects the Chalukyan style of temple architecture.