Rudreswara Temple

Context

• Rudreswara Temple, (also known as the Ramappa Temple) at Palampet, near Warangal in the state of Telangana has been inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage list.
• This is India’s 39th World Heritage Site.

About

• The temple was built by a Kakatiya General Recharla Rudra Reddy, during the period of the Kakatiya ruler Ganapati Deva in 13^th
• The temple is a Sivalayam, where Lord Ramalingeswara is worshipped.
• Marco Polo, during his visit to the Kakatiya Empire, allegedly called the temple "the brightest star in the galaxy of temples".
• The temple is named after the sculptor Ramappa, who built it, and is perhaps the only temple in South India to be named after a craftsman who built it.
• The main structure is in a reddish sandstone, but the columns round the outside have large brackets of black basalt.
• The temple is carved with mythical animals or female dancers or musicians, and are "the masterpieces of Kakatiya art, notable for their delicate carving, sensuous postures and elongated bodies and heads"
• The roof of the temple is built with bricks, which are so light that they are able to float on water.

World Heritage Sites in India

• A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area with legal protection by an international convention administered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
• World Heritage Sites are designated by UNESCO for having cultural, historical, scientific or other form of significance.
• India has 38 world heritage sites that include 31 Cultural properties, 7 Natural properties and 1 mixed site.
• India has the sixth largest number of sites in the world.

Cultural (30)

1. Agra Fort (1983)
2. Ajanta Caves (1983)
3. Archaeological Site of Nalanda Mahavihara at Nalanda, Bihar (2016)
4. Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi (1989)
5. Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park (2004)
6. Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (formerly Victoria Terminus) (2004)
7. Churches and Convents of Goa (1986)
8. Elephanta Caves (1987)
9. Ellora Caves (1983)
10. Fatehpur Sikri (1986)
11. Great Living Chola Temples (1987,2004)
12. Group of Monuments at Hampi (1986)
13. Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram (1984)
14. Group of Monuments at Pattadakal (1987)
15. Hill Forts of Rajasthan (2013)
16. Historic City of Ahmadabad (2017)
17. Humayun's Tomb, Delhi (1993)
18. Jaipur City, Rajasthan (2019)
19. Khajuraho Group of Monuments (1986)
20. Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya (2002)
21. Mountain Railways of India (1999,2005,2008)
22. Qutb Minar and its Monuments, Delhi (1993)
23. Rani-ki-Vav (the Queen’s Stepwell) at Patan, Gujarat (2014)
24. Red Fort Complex (2007)
25. Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka (2003)
26. Sun Temple, Konârak (1984)
27. Taj Mahal (1983)
28. The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier, an Outstanding Contribution to the Modern Movement (2016)
29. The Jantar Mantar, Jaipur (2010)
30. Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles of Mumbai (2018)
31. Rudreswara Temple of Telangana (2021)

Natural (7)

1. Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area (2014)
2. Kaziranga National Park (1985)
3. Keoladeo National Park (1985)
4. Manas Wildlife Sanctuary (1985)
5. Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks (1988,2005)
6. Sundarbans National Park (1987)
7. Western Ghats (2012)

Mixed (1)

1. Khangchendzonga National Park (2016)

World Heritage Sites across the world

• The World Heritage List comprises 1121 properties of Outstanding Universal Value.
• Natural sites represent about 23% of this list, including 39 mixed (both cultural and natural) sites and 213 natural sites.
• Italy and China are home to largest number of UNESCO world heritage sites in the world.
• Both countries boast 55 world heritage sites each, including the historic city centers of Rome and Florence or the Amalfi Coast for Italy and the Great Wall of China and the Forbidden City for China - all magnets for tourism.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/telanganas-ramappa-temple-inscribed-as-a-world-heritage-site/article35522471.ece