About Kala Thoranam in , Warangal

Kakatiya Kala Thoranam is a historical arch in the Warangal district, of the Indian state of Telangana in South India. The Warangal Fort has four ornamental gates which originally formed the gates to the now defunct great Shiva temple which are known as Kakatiya Kala Thoranam or Warangal Gates. The architectural feature of these historical arches of the Warangal Fort has been adopted as the symbol of the Kakatiya Dynasty and has been officially incorporated as the Emblem of Telangana for the state of Telangana. These gates or arches in the Warangal Fort are said to have similarities with gateways of the Sanchi stupa; this fact has been endorsed by many.The arch was built around 12th century during the rule of the Kakatiya dynasty.HistoryThe Kakatiya Kala Thoranam or arch, an extensively ornamented stone sculpture is one of the four identical gates in the Warangal Fort, which was part of the great Swayambhusiva temple of Shiva in the fort built by Ganapati Deva (1199-1262) during 12th century. His daughter Rudrama Devi and Pratap Rudra II of the Kakatiya Dynasty added more fortifications to the fort which was laid in three concentric circles. The four gateways (charkamou) were part of the temple which was destroyed by the Muslim invader Ulugh Khan during the 1323 invasion, as a part of their policy followed after their victories over territories, to desecrate Hindu temples. The great temple of which the gates were integral is said to be comparable to the size and splendour of the Rudra Mala temple at Siddhapur in Gujarat.

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