800-year-old Kakatiya temple razed in Warangal; BRS, BJP slam Telangana govt
Synopsis
An 800-year-old Kakatiya-era Shiva temple with a rare 1231 A.D. inscription has been bulldozed in Warangal, Telangana — reportedly for a school construction — despite being under state archaeology department protection. The demolition has drawn national-level legal complaints and fierce political backlash.
Key Takeaways
An 800-year-old Kakatiya-era Shiva temple was demolished near Ashoknagar, Khanapur Mandal , Warangal , Telangana.
The temple was allegedly razed by bulldozers for the construction of an Integrated School .
It bore a rare seven-line Telugu inscription dated February 1231 A.D. , documented by the Heritage Department in 1965 .
BRS working president K.T.
Rama Rao demanded immediate restoration; Telangana BJP also condemned the demolition.
The Ministry of Culture and Archaeology Department, Government of India , has reportedly registered a case over the demolition.
Lawyer Rama Rao Immaneni has lodged a complaint before the National Monuments Authority .
An 800-year-old Shiva temple built during the Kakatiya dynasty has been demolished near Ashoknagar in Khanapur Mandal, Warangal district, Telangana, triggering sharp condemnation from opposition parties Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) against the ruling Congress government. The temple was allegedly razed using bulldozers to make way for the construction of an Integrated School.
What Was Demolished
The ancient temple, reportedly built during the reign of Kakatiya emperor Ganapati Deva, was part of the historic Kota Katta mud fort region — a complex surrounded by ancient ponds and fortifications. According to opposition statements, the structure bore a rare seven-line Telugu inscription dated February 1231 A.D., which had been documented by the Heritage Department in 1965. The site was reportedly under the protection of the state's archaeology department at the time of its demolition.
BRS Demands Immediate Restoration
BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao condemned the act in a post on X, calling it outrageous.
Point of View
Archaeology-documented structure for a school construction is not a bureaucratic oversight — it is a governance failure with a paper trail. The 1965 Heritage Department record and the 1231 A.D. inscription make this site unambiguously documented heritage, which raises an uncomfortable question: who authorised the bulldozers, and did any official check the archaeology register before issuing the order? The Centre registering a case adds federal pressure on the Revanth Reddy government, but the real accountability gap lies at the district and mandal level, where such clearances originate. Opposition outrage is politically convenient, but the structural problem — state governments routinely treating heritage protection as optional — predates any single party's tenure.
NationPress
11 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Which temple was demolished in Warangal, Telangana?
An 800-year-old Shiva temple built during the Kakatiya dynasty, located near Ashoknagar in Khanapur Mandal, Warangal district, was demolished. The temple was reportedly constructed during the reign of Kakatiya emperor Ganapati Deva and contained a rare Telugu inscription dated February 1231 A.D.
Why was the Kakatiya-era temple demolished?
According to reports, the temple was allegedly demolished using bulldozers to facilitate the construction of an Integrated School. No official statement from the Telangana government explaining or justifying the demolition has been cited in available reports.
Was the temple under government protection?
Yes, according to BJP's statement, the temple was reportedly under the protection of the state's archaeology department at the time of its demolition, making the razing particularly contentious.
What legal action has been taken over the demolition?
Lawyer Rama Rao Immaneni has lodged a complaint before the National Monuments Authority. Additionally, the Ministry of Culture and Archaeology Department, Government of India, has reportedly registered a case over the demolition.
How have opposition parties responded to the demolition?
BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao demanded immediate restoration of the temple, calling the act outrageous. Telangana BJP also condemned the demolition, alleging that under Chief Minister Revanth Reddy's government, even protected historical structures lack security.
