The Thousand Pillar Temple is an ancient temple that is tucked away in a small town named Hanamakonda in the vibrant state of Telangana. As the name suggests, the temple has over one thousand pillars, some of which are a part or extension of adjacent pillars! These pillars are so tightly knit, they practically form the walls of the temple. Constructed in a star-shaped architecture, the Thousand Pillars Temple is a popular pilgrimage centre which welcomes more than 1000 devotees almost every day. The temple also contains a huge monolith Nandi, made up of black basalt stone. The three shrines located in the temple are together known as Trikootalayam.
The mighty temple is a true specimen of Kakatiya architecture and Chalukyan architecture both, and this does a great job of enhancing its already overwhelming beauty. There are three presiding deities in this temple- Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu and Lord Surya. According to the Hindu traditions, Lord Vishnu is the preserver of the universe- the one who ensures that elements of vitality are preserved to strike the balance, Lord Shiva is the destroyer of the universe- the one who destroys negative elements of the universe and give way to the birth of a new beginning, and Lord Surya- the sun god, the one who sustains the whole universe by his warmth; without whom the whole universe would be just an enormous pit of darkness. And to think that this temple houses the shrines of all the three mighty lords under one roof, a compelling reason to witness this powerhouse of positive vibes and uplifting energy. The temple was built by Rudra Deva and hence houses a deity in his name too.