Hoysaleshwara Temple : India’s Temple

The Hoysaleshwara Temple at Halebid stands on a platform like a casket. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. it has two shrines connected by the pillared walls. Each of the shrine has the lingam of Hoysaleshwara and Shanthaleshwara. Ketumalla who was the chief of the staff of Vishnuvardhan built the temple in 1121 AD.

The temple is richly ornamented with most intricately detailed scrollwork in stone. Outside there is figure of Nandi or the Bull, the mount of Shiva outside the shrine over a hillock. The figure of mortals and immortals are larger here in comparison to Belur. They are beautifully chiseled in shining black stone. The walls of the temples are embellished with variety of sculptures of the gods and goddesses, animals, birds and dancing girls.

Golconda Fort

The Golconda Fort is a magnificent fortress complex, which lies on the western outskirts around 11km from Hyderabad. Originally a mud fort, it was later reconstructed in stone. Since then it has had a variety of additions by the various rulers of the area. The fortress is built on a 120 metres high granite hill surrounded by massive castled ramparts.

The Golconda Fort is known as the Shepherd’s Hill or Golla Konda in Telugu. There is an interesting story behind the construction of the fort. in 1143 AD, shepherd boy took notice of an idol on the rocky hill called ‘Mangalavaram’. He told about the idol to the Kakatiya king, who was ruling Hyderabad at that time. The king constructed a mud fort around the holy spot. Almost 200 years later, Bahamini rulers in 1364 took possession of the fort.

The mud fort was converted into a massive fort of granite from 1507 AD by the first three Qutub Shahi kings over a period of 62 years. The fort was extended to a circumference of around 5 km. The rule of the Qutub Shahs at Golconda came to an end in 1687 AD with the capture of the fort by the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. He nearly annihilated the fort and left it into a mass of undignified ruins.

Golconda Fort is a complex comprising of four distinct forts. There is a 10 km long outer wall with 87 semi-circular bastions. The some of the bastions are still mounted with cannons. The fort has eight gateways, four drawbridges and several royal apartments, halls, temples, mosques, magazines and stables inside. The primary structure of the fort is laid out in a series of enclosures that holds the public and administrative structures as well as the royal residences and halls. The Nagina Bagh also lies within an enclosure but it is in utter ruins.
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Falaknuma Palace

The Falaknuma Palace or the Mirror of the Sky is the one of the finest palaces of Hyderabad. it is situated on a 2000 ft high hill at a distance of 5 km from Char Minar. it was built in 1883-84 AD by Nawab Vikar-ul-Umra Bahadur, who was the fifth Amir of Paigah and the prime Minister of Hyderabad. The Sixth Nizam purchased it in 1897 AD to use it as the royal Guest House. Nowadays it belongs to Nawab Mukarramjah Bahadur, the grandson of seventh Nizam.

An italian architect designed the Falaknuma Palace. The influences of various styles can be seen in the palace as the Nawab was an avid traveler. it a fine blend of the italian and Tudor architecture. The foundation of the palace was laid on the 3rd March 1884 and took 9 years to complete it. The palace was designed in the shape of a scorpion with its two wings spread out on the north. The main building is in the middle part while the kitchen and the harem quarters are towards the south. However, the building yielded to many additions and alterations by its later occupants.

The decor style of Louis XiV co-exists with the lavish Munhall ambiance, italian marble staircases and ornate fountains. The Nawab Mir Osman Ali Khan Bahadur, who succeeded Nizam Vii, changed the decor of the palace. A well-laid out garden is in front of the palace. The windows of the palace are stained and allow a spectrum of colors along with the light into the room.

There is a library in the palace, which has a walnut carved roof and is a replica of the one at Windsor Castle. The library had one of the finest collections of the holy Quran in india. The palace also has largest Venetian chandeliers. it is generally said that it takes six months to clean a 138-arm Osler chandelier and the palace has 40 such chandeliers decorating the halls. The huge dining hall of the palace could accommodate 100 guests on a single table. The chairs are made from rosewood and green leather upholstery. The tableware was made of gold and crystal. Osler introduced the telephone and electrical system in the palace in1883. The palace has one of the largest electrical switchboards in india.

The living quarters of the palace are in the ground floor. The interior of the main building has an italian marble staircase supporting marble figures, lined with portraits of British Governor Generals. The staircase made of marble leads to the upper floor. The staircase has carved balustrades which supports marble figures with candelabra at regular distance. The murals bordered with gilded relief decorate the ceiling of the reception room in the upper floor. One can see a panoramic view of the city from this floor.

The palace has a ballroom, which contains a two-ton manually operated organ. This organ is said to be the only one of its kind in the world. Apart from this, the palace has 220 rooms extravagantly decorated and 22 spacious halls.

The palace has some of the finest treasures accumulated by the Nizam. The Falaknuma Palace has a display of a large collection including paintings, statues, furniture, manuscripts and books. The Jade collection of the Palace is considered to be unique in the world. The palace was the owned by the Nizam’s family earlier and thus the visitors were not allowed. The palace occasionally opened for public view.

Venkateshwara Temple : India’s Temple

The ancient sacred temple of Sri Venkateswara is located on the seventh peak, Venkatachala or Venkata Hill or the Tirupati Hill and lies on the southern banks of Sri Swami Pushkarini. He is also called the Lord of the Seven Hills. The temple of Sri Venkateswara has gained unique sanctity in indian religious lore. The Shastras, Puranas, Sthala Mahatyams and Alwar hymns have declared that, in the Kali Yuga, one can attain mukti, only by worshipping Sri Venkateswara. The epics like the Rig Veda and the Asthadasa Puranas have described Sri Venkateswara as the great bestower of boons. The temple is said to be the richest temple in the world.

There are several legends related with the manifestation of the Lord at Tirumala. The temple has its origins in the ancient sect of Vaishnavism that advocates the principles of equality and love and prohibits animal sacrifice. The sanctum sanctorum or the garbhagriha houses the awe-inspiring idol of the Lord of the Seven Hills, is situated in the main temple complex of Tirumala. it attracts pilgrims from all over the country who stand in line for hours together to obtain a glimpse of the presiding deity for a few fleeting seconds.

All the great dynasties of the southern peninsula paid homage to Lord Sri Venkateswara. The Pallavas of Kanchipuram in the 9th century AD, the Cholas of Thanjavur in the 10th century AD, the Pandyas of Madurai, and the kings and chieftains of Vijaya Nagar in the 14th -15th century AD were devotees of the Lord and they vied with one another in investing the temple with ample oblations and donations. During the reign of the Vijaya Nagar dynasty, the contributions to the temple increased. Sri Krishnadevaraya had statues of himself and his consorts installed at the portals of the temple. The statue of Venkatapati Raya can be seen in the main temple.

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Ramappa Temple : India’s Temple

The city of Warangal is 157 km from Hyderabad. it was the ancient capital city of the Kakatiya kingdom. Warangal means “history”. its massive fortress has withstood continuous attacks from the Delhi Sultans in the 13th and 14th centuries AD. in the 19th century AD, it was the hunting ground of the nobles. it is noted for its beautiful lakes, magnificent temples, mud-brick forts and wildlife sanctuaries. Warangal today is an important tourist destination.

Palampet is located at a distance of 77 km from Warangal, the ancient capital of the Kakatiyas. it is home to brilliant Kakatiya art as seen in the Ramappa temple. The Ramappa temple is near the ancient engineering marvel of the 13th century AD Ramappa tank. The ancient Ramappa tank can be dated back to the period of Kakatiyas. it is a well-conceived tank where a 2000 ft long earthen dam connects a semi circular chain of hills to form a lake.

The Ramalingeswara Temple is popularly known as the Ramappa temple because the chief sculptor was Ramappa. it is probably the only temple in india to be known by the name of the sculptor who builds it. it was built under the patronage of the King Kakati Ganapathi Deva by his Chief Commander Rudra Samani at Ranakude in the province of Atukuru. The temple has been described as the “brightest star in the galaxy of medieval temples in the Deccan”. The temple is approached thorough a royal garden, now just a lawn with tree lined path. The temple is situated in a valley and is built with bricks so light that they can float on water. Yet the temple is so strong that it is still intact after numerous wars, invasions and natural calamities.
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Brihadeswara Temple, Thanjavur : India’s Temple

The Brihadeswara temple at Thanjavur is within a huge compound with walls rising above 15m. The temple is made over a 29 m square base and has a soaring vimana and a stunted gopuram. The inner sanctum and the gopuram were constructed over a period of 12 years. it was constructed from a single piece of granite weighing around 80 tonnes. The dome was hauled into place along a 4-km earthwork ramp in a manner similar to the Egyptian pyramids.

The lofty sanctum tower known as the Srivimana, is enclosed by a rectangular prakara or corridor consisting of two squares. The main tower occupies the center part of the rear square, with the center vimana or tower having 16 tiers, which rises to a height of 200 ft. The tower is considered to be symbolic of the mountain Meru. Several stucco features also decorate the vimana.

The inner wall of the sanctum has sculpted 108 dance poses called karmas performed by Lord Shiva himself. The Shiva lingam is called Peruvudaiya, Rasjarajeshwaramudvya. it is a huge lingam, which is set in a two-storeyed sanctum. Rajaraja Chola crowned it with 12.5 ft tall finial of 9.25 kilograms of choppers plated with 800 grams of gold.

A huge statue of Nandi measuring 6 m length and 3.7 m in height faces the inner sanctum. The statue of Nandi was created from a single rock piece and weighs 25 tonnes. it is in fact one of the largest statues of Nandi bulls in india. The temple also has a spacious ground, number of pillared halls, shrines and 250 lingams.

Golconda Fort

The Golconda Fort is a magnificent fortress complex, which lies on the western outskirts around 11km from Hyderabad. Originally a mud fort, it was later reconstructed in stone. Since then it has had a variety of additions by the various rulers of the area. The fortress is built on a 120 metres high granite hill surrounded by massive castled ramparts.

The Golconda Fort is known as the Shepherd’s Hill or Golla Konda in Telugu. There is an interesting story behind the construction of the fort. in 1143 AD, shepherd boy took notice of an idol on the rocky hill called ‘Mangalavaram’. He told about the idol to the Kakatiya king, who was ruling Hyderabad at that time. The king constructed a mud fort around the holy spot. Almost 200 years later, Bahamini rulers in 1364 took possession of the fort.

The mud fort was converted into a massive fort of granite from 1507 AD by the first three Qutub Shahi kings over a period of 62 years. The fort was extended to a circumference of around 5 km. The rule of the Qutub Shahs at Golconda came to an end in 1687 AD with the capture of the fort by the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. He nearly annihilated the fort and left it into a mass of undignified ruins.

Golconda Fort is a complex comprising of four distinct forts. There is a 10 km long outer wall with 87 semi-circular bastions. The some of the bastions are still mounted with cannons. The fort has eight gateways, four drawbridges and several royal apartments, halls, temples, mosques, magazines and stables inside. The primary structure of the fort is laid out in a series of enclosures that holds the public and administrative structures as well as the royal residences and halls. The Nagina Bagh also lies within an enclosure but it is in utter ruins.
(more…)