Gollala Gudi near Ramappa temple declared national importance site by ASI

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has formally declared Gollala Gudi, a Kakatiya-era stone temple in Palampet village of Mulugu district, Telangana, as a site of national importance. This adds the monument to the list of protected heritage structures under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958. The temple, located in close proximity to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Ramappa temple, shares the same architectural idiom and building material as the 13th-century Kakatiya masterpiece.

The notification brings Telangana’s ASI-managed monuments to ten. The temple has been in a severely dilapidated condition, prompting the conservation body to initiate documentation and emergency preservation measures. According to Nikhil Das, Superintending Archaeologist of ASI, Hyderabad circle, the State government has handed over 16 acres of land around the site, enabling the creation of an integrated heritage complex. “All three temples — Ramappa, Shiva temple and Gollala Gudi — will be accessible through one entrance,” Das said.

With the new status, Gollala Gudi will receive statutory protection under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958. The ASI will now be responsible for its conservation, maintenance, and regulation of visitor access. “Earlier, we completed documentation of the site for condition assessment with Lidar and have created fencing and scaffolding to help protect the site as it was in a very dilapidated state,” Das explained.

The temple exemplifies the distinctive Kakatiya style of architecture — built with interlocking stone blocks without any binding mortar. The structural system, same as that of Ramappa temple, uses large stone slabs and carved pillars. “We will have to take it apart and build it back in the same plan as 60% of the stones are intact while others are damaged. We have an annual conservation plan and we will be able to take care of these important sites,” said Das.

The move also fulfills a key recommendation from the UNESCO advisory body at the time of Ramappa temple’s inscription as a World Heritage Site in 2021. The global body had suggested that the Ramappa temple should not be viewed in isolation, but as part of a wider complex that includes the nearby Gollala Gudi and the Shiva temple. The current notification aligns the legal protection of these adjacent temples with that vision, allowing for holistic conservation and interpretation of the Kakatiya heritage.

Gollala Gudi, locally referred to as a temple of cowherds, is one of several surviving examples of Kakatiya-era craftsmanship in the region. The Kakatiya dynasty, which ruled parts of present-day Telangana and Andhra Pradesh between the 12th and 14th centuries, left behind a rich architectural legacy marked by ornate temples, rock-cut sculptures, and intricate carvings. The recognition of Gollala Gudi as a site of national importance ensures that future restoration activities will be guided by scientific methods and legal safeguards.

Heritage experts say that the ASI’s integrated approach will also boost tourism and create better facilities for pilgrims and visitors. The land transfer allows for a unified site management plan, providing adequate buffer space around the monuments. The continued preservation of these temples is expected to attract more scholarly attention and enhance the appreciation of the region’s historical significance.