Gollalagudi Temple in Mulugu Accorded National Monument Status by ASI

The Gollalagudi temple at Palampet in Mulugu district has been accorded national monument status following a gazette notification issued by the Union culture and tourism ministry on Tuesday. With this declaration, the total number of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) protected monuments in the state has increased to 10.

Following the notification, the ASI Hyderabad circle will undertake conservation work and structural repairs at the heritage site. Archaeological Survey of India Hyderabad circle superintending archaeologist Nihil Das stated that the agency will address existing waterlogging problems at the location and construct a proper access pathway for visitors.

The temple is situated to the southwest of the Kakatiya Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in Palampet. The structure is a Trikutalaya, featuring an east-facing mandapa surrounded by three garbhagrihas (sanctums).

Architecturally, the monument includes an adorned parapet, entablatures, and doorways carved with rows of hamsas alongside intricate jali work. The temple complex also houses two detached shrines positioned in front, detailed with carved figures of dvarapalas. Wall niches across the temple depict images of deities including Vishnu, Lakshmi, Ganesha, and Mahishasurmardini.

Historian Aravind Arya noted that the temple is generally attributed to the Kakatiya period, dating broadly to the 12th and 13th centuries CE. However, the precise date of construction and its original dedication remain subject to further archaeological and epigraphic investigation.

The monument is considered part of the broader cultural landscape surrounding the Ramappa complex, which encompasses subsidiary temples, ancient water management systems, agricultural lands, and related architectural remains.