Head to these iconic Shiva temples in Telangana this Karthika Masam

Here is a list of six temples in the state where you can score some inner sanctum.

Hyderabad: The auspicious month of Karthika Masam is here. Telangana has a rich lineage of spiritual and religious places.

Here is a list of six temples in the state where you can score some inner sanctum. Read on:

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Ramappa Temple

The only temple to be named after its architect, the 800-year-old Ramappa Temple in Telangana recently got the World Heritage tag. It is the main Shiva temple in a walled complex built during the Kakatiyan period.

The building features decorated beams and pillars of carved granite and dolerite with a distinctive and pyramidal Vimana made of lightweight porous bricks, so-called ‘floating bricks’, which reduced the weight of the roof structures.  

The temple is surrounded by a peaceful ambience which makes it a perfect place for chanting.

Location: Palampet Village, Venkatapur Mandal, Warangal

Keesaragutta Temple

Keesaragutta Temple is dedicated to Lord Siva and his consorts Bhavani and Sivadurga. It is located on a small hillock. According to legends, the Shiva Lingam here was installed by Lord Rama himself. It is said that Rama did it to atone for his sin of killing Ravana.

Location: Shri Rama Lingeswara Swamy temple, Keesara Gutta, Hyderabad

Chaya Someswara Swamy Temple

This temple was built during the 11^th and 12^th centuries by the Ikshvaku family. The temple got the name as it is believed that there is an everlasting shadow on Lord Shiva’s Lingam in the main temple, all day. It is the epitome of beauty, arts, and spectacle.

Location: Panagal Village, Nalgonda district

Maheshwaram Lord Shiva Temple

This renowned Shiva temple is believed to be 350 years old. It is built on the pushkarani which is known as Shiva Ganga. It has a big holy bath with steps leading down under the water, and one can see sixteen small sanctums built around the pushkarani. The small temples have small Shiva Lingams in them.

Location: Maheshwaram is located at a distance of nearly 32 km from Hyderabad on the Hyderabad-Srisailam highway

Alampur Navabrahma Temples

The temple dating back to the 7th century. Navabrahma is a group of nine Shiva temples that were built by the Badami Chalukya rulers. It is believed that Alampur is the place where Lord Brahma was given the power of creating the universe by Lord Shiva.

All the nine temples are dedicated to Siva but called with the prefix Brahma. Thus they bear the name Kumara-Brahma (the earliest), Arka-Brahma, Vira-Brahma, Bala-Brahma, Svarga-Brahma, Garuda-Brahma, Visva-Brahma, Padma-Brahma and Taraka-Brahma. 

Location: It is located in Alampur, close to the Tungabhadra River. It is 215 kilometres away from south of Hyderabad

Sri Raja Rajeshwara Temple

It is one of the ancient and famous Shaivite temples in the region that was said to be built between the 8th and 10th centuries. The shrine is known for its architectural grandeur as well as its spiritual sanctity. It is said that if you want to wash away your sins and surrender to the supreme lord, you must take a holy bath in the sacred waters of Dharma Gundam, a small tank located within the temple which is also said to have medicinal properties.

Location: Vemulawada Devasthanam Road, Rajanna Siricilla district