Warangal Fort & Kakatiya Kala Thoranam
వరంగల్ కోట
The ruins of the Kakatiya dynasty capital in the 13th century. Four elaborately carved stone gateways, the Kakatiya Gates, are the model for the emblem of Telangana state.
Warangal Fort was the 13th-century capital of the Kakatiya dynasty. It originally had three concentric defensive rings: stone walls, earthen walls and an outer moat. In the 14th century it was taken by the Delhi Sultanate, and many temples inside were destroyed. The core of today’s archaeological park is the ruins of the Swayambhu Shiva Temple and four tall “Kakatiya Gates” (Kala Thoranam). Their pillars are carved with swans and garlands, and the design has become the emblem of Telangana state. The park is strewn with many finely carved pillars, reliefs and stone statues. Next to it, Khush Mahal is a 14th-century Islamic-style hall from the Tughlaq period and now houses a small sculpture museum. The site is managed by the Archaeological Survey of India. Foreigners pay a higher admission fee than Indian visitors. There is a sound-and-light show in the evening (check locally for times). It is about 5 km from Warangal railway station, and plan on 1.5 to 2 hours.
Opening hours
06:00-18:00 (light and sound show approx. 19:00)
Nearby sights
- Kakatiya Musical Garden
- Bhadrakali Temple & Lake
- Thousand Pillar Temple
- Padmakshi Temple
- Pakhal Lake
- Ramappa Temple
- Laknavaram Lake