About

The Thousand Pillar Temple is believed to have been constructed around 1163 CE by order of the king, Rudra Deva. It stands on a cruciform plinth with equi-sized arms projecting out of a central square hall, in the tradition of Chalukyan and Kakatiya architecture. The temple features richly carved pillars, perforated screens, exquisite icons, rock cut elephants, and a monolithic dolerite figure of Nandi, the divine bull.
The formal name of the temple is the Rudreswara Swamy Temple, after the presiding deity of the temple, and the name of the reigning king who commissioned it.

The temple is trikutalaya in form – with three shrines on the West, North, and East – all opening from a central hall with a pillared canopy (ankana) made of black basalt. The main entrance to the temple is on the south. The three shrines are for Shiva, Vishnu, and Surya. The three shrines each have an antarala or ante-chamber which have richly carved doorframes and lintels, as do the sanctums themselves. All of these decorative elements are in black basalt. These doorframes and lintels feature images of Gods, and Goddesses, along with demi-gods, and floral and geometric patterns.
The ankana features richly carved pillars mounted by an equally decorative lintel with floral and geometric patterns. There is a low disc which forms the base of the ankana, as is characteristic of Kakatiya architecture.
The outer walls of the temple feature mini-shrines in rekha nagara style. While many of these shrines have figures of Vishnu, some of them are now empty.
The roof of the temple does not currently have any superstructure or spire.

The Kalayana Mandapam in front (south) of the main shrine also has a star shaped base, with maximum dimensions of 25m x 25m. This pavilion is the one that gives the monument its name – 1000 Pillared Temple – but has only about 300 pillars. These pillars are similar to the outer pillars of the main temple, lathed, and made of sandstone. The pavilion has one central hall, with three projections on the East, South, and West. Each of these projections has a small chamber and a pillared balcony with a low parapet.

A large dolerite Nandi figure stands between the temple, and the Kalyana Mandapam pavilion, facing the temple.

Architecture

The Kalyana Mandapam went through an extensive restoration process over 18 years under the aegis of ASI in the early 21st century.