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Warangal is the second largest city of Telangana, India, and was the capital of the Kakatiya dynasty from the 12th century. It is famous for the ruins of Warangal Fort with its carved stone gateways, the Thousand Pillar Temple and the UNESCO-listed Ramappa Temple nearby.
Known in Telugu as Orugallu, the city grew rich under the Kakatiya kings, who built fortresses, temples and great irrigation lakes across the region. Their stone arch, the Kakatiya Kala Thoranam, now appears on the emblem of Telangana, and Warangal is often called the state's cultural capital. Today it forms a tri-city with Hanamkonda and Kazipet.
Spend a day on the fort, the Thousand Pillar Temple and the hilltop Bhadrakali Temple, ending at the lake and musical garden below it. Give a second day to Ramappa, Kota Gullu and the forest lakes of Laknavaram or Pakhal. October to February brings the most comfortable weather.
Warangal Fort was the capital of the Kakatiya dynasty and is the city's most famous sight, with rings of walls around a field of carved temple ruins. Its earlier brick walls were rebuilt in stone by King Ganapatideva and finished by his daughter Rudrama Devi. It is on India's tentative UNESCO list.
Kakatiya Kala Thoranam, also called the Warangal Gate, is a set of four carved stone arches inside Warangal Fort that once led to a great Shiva temple of the Kakatiya kings. The arch is now part of the official emblem of Telangana. Visit early to photograph the gateways in soft, low light.
Thousand Pillar Temple, also known as the Rudreswara Swamy Temple, stands in Hanamkonda, Warangal, and was built under the Kakatiya king Rudra Deva. It is dedicated to Shiva, Vishnu and Surya, worshipped together as the Trikutalayam. Look for its richly carved pillars and the large stone Nandi.
Ramappa Temple at Palampet, about 65 km from Warangal, is a Shiva temple commissioned in 1213 by Recherla Rudra, a general of the Kakatiya king Ganapatideva. Built of red sandstone with finely carved granite brackets, it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2021. It is well worth a day trip.
Bhadrakali Temple sits on a rocky hill in Warangal and is one of the oldest temples to the goddess Bhadrakali, believed to date from 625 CE under the Chalukya king Pulakeshin II. The Kakatiya kings adopted her as their family deity. The hill gives fine views over the Bhadrakali Lake below.
Padmakshi Temple is one of the oldest temples in Hanamkonda, Warangal, set on a rocky hill and dedicated to the goddess Padmakshi, a form of Lakshmi. A Jain shrine was founded here in 1117 CE under the Kakatiya chief Prola II, and Jain carvings remain. Old rock-cut caves lie just to the west.
Kota Gullu is a group of about 22 Kakatiya stone temples at Ghanpur, near Warangal and 9 km northwest of the Ramappa Temple. Built under King Ganapatideva, they stand inside a double-walled stone enclosure, led by a fine Shiva temple. Pair it with Ramappa on the same day trip from the city.
Inavolu Mallikarjuna Temple stands in the village of Inavolu, about 17 km from Warangal, and was built under the Kakatiya dynasty. A mandapa of 24 carved pillars leads to the shrine of Shiva as Mallikarjuna, and stone gateways in the Kakatiya style open on its north, south and east sides.
Bhadrakali Lake in Warangal was built by the Kakatiya king Ganapati Deva beside the hilltop Bhadrakali Temple. It is being developed as a large geo-biodiversity park with promenades, historic caves, suspension bridges and nature trails. Walk along the water at sunset, when the temple hill glows.
Pakhal Lake is a man-made lake in the Warangal district, built in 1213 by order of the Kakatiya king Ganapatideva to irrigate the surrounding land. Covering about 30 square kilometers, it lies within the Pakhal Wildlife Sanctuary amid forested hills, a peaceful retreat for birdwatchers and walkers.
Laknavaram Lake is a 13th-century Kakatiya lake about 80 km from Warangal, set amid deciduous forest in Mulugu district. It has about 13 islands, and a 160-meter hanging bridge links three of them. Telangana Tourism runs cottages and a ferry for visitors who want to stay the night.
Ramappa Lake lies beside the UNESCO-listed Ramappa Temple at Palampet, a day trip from Warangal, and was built in 1213 by Recherla Rudra, a general of the Kakatiya king Ganapati. Still in use after seven centuries, this great irrigation tank waters about 5,000 acres of fields around it.
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