Ramalingeswara Swamy Temple which is close to the Sangareddy is a truly architectural marvel of 10th century located at a small village called Nandikandi which is 35kms away from Hyderabad. It is an example of the Kalyana Chalukya style of Architecture. According to archaeologists, this temple might have built during the rule of Vikaramaditya V in 1014 AD.
As you enter into the temple you can see that the entrance arch has seven inverted lotuses on top of it. It is said that the sun’s rays permeate through the lotuses and directly fall on the Shivalingam in the sanctum of the temple.
The four pillars in the Central hall is one of its best specimens. You can see the carvings of Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, Narasimha, Varaha, Nataraja, Devi Mahishasur Mardini, Devi Saraswati and Gaja Lakshmi grace the façade and side walls of the pillars. There are also sculptures depicting Dhikpalakas, Apsaras, Rakshasas, Matrumurti and Darpan Warriors etc. Another interesting fact is that the intricate carvings on each pillar had been carved out of single blocks of stone.
The ‘garbhalayam’ was designed in a star-like model, the top of the temple was designed like a lotus. Dwarapalakas welcome devotees at the entrance. About 5 ft in height, the statue of Lord Ganesha is beautifully carved in the southern part of the sanctum, which has been witness to attacks by invaders over the years. One of the main attraction here is ornamental Nandi which is carved in black stone. This stone Nandi attracts as much attention as the presiding deity. This architectural marvel deserves a place in any travel checklist that you might have.
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