Kakatiya Kala Thoranam
Ornamental gate from the Kakatiya dynasty, now Telangana's emblem.
The Kakatiya Kala Thoranam, also known as the Warangal Gate, is a historical arch located in the Warangal district of Telangana, India. It is one of four ornamental gates that originally formed the entrances to the ruins of a great Shiva temple within Warangal Fort.
Quick Facts
- Location
- Warangal, Telangana, India
- Completion date
- 1200
Facts from the source article.
History
The arch was part of the great Swayambhusiva temple of Shiva built by Ganapati-deva during the 12th century. His daughter Rudrama Devi and Pratap Rudra II later added fortifications to the fort, which was laid in three concentric circles. The four gateways were destroyed by the Muslim invader Jauna Khan during the 1323 invasion, as part of a policy to desecrate Hindu temples. The temple is said to have been comparable in size and splendor to the Rudra Mahalaya Temple at Siddhpur in Gujarat.
Features
A depiction of the arch forms the main symbol in the Emblem of Telangana, portrayed in green and gold representing 'Bangaru Telangana' (Golden Telangana). The logo includes the government's name in English, Telugu, and Urdu, with the Sanskrit inscription 'Satyameva Jayate' at the base. The central archaeological zone contains the ruins of the Swayambhusiva temple, now seen only as free-standing entrance portals on four sides, each identical in design. Each gate has twin pillars with angled brackets supporting a huge lintel, reaching a height of 10 m. The gates feature intricate carvings of lotus buds, looped garlands, mythical animals, and birds with foliated tails, but no religious symbols, which is said to have preserved them from destruction by Muslim invaders. The northern and southern gates are 480 ft apart, while the eastern and western gates are 433 ft apart.
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