Archaeological Survey of IndiaKakatiya dynastyTemple restorationTelanganaCultural heritage
ASI Completes 42-Year Restoration of Kakatiya-Era Dance Pavilion in Hanamkonda
Published: May 9, 2026
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The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has completed the reconstruction of the 12th-century dance pavilion at the Thousand Pillar Temple in Hanamkonda, Telangana, after a 42-year-long project. The structure, part of a troika dedicated to Shiva, Surya, and Vishnu, had sunk into the ground due to a north-east geological fracture that compromised its sandbox foundation, a hallmark of Kakatiya-era engineering.
The project began in 1984 as a geotechnical study led by Panduranga Rao, then a faculty member at Regional Engineering College, Warangal. The team conducted borehole surveys, satellite imaging, and sub-surface evaluations to confirm the original sandbox construction method. Between 1991 and 2026, workers dismantled over 4,000 stone pieces, removed the degraded foundation, and rebuilt the pavilion using reinforced granular piles and lime mortar injection to prevent differential settlement.
Of the original 132 columns, 119 were recovered; 60 of 300 floor beams were replaced using stone carved by artisans from Tamil Nadu. Rusting iron dowels were replaced with stainless steel. The Nandi sculpture near the Shiva shrine has also been restored, though public access remains restricted. The High Court had previously intervened suo moto in 1991 over concerns of destruction during dismantling.
The reconstructed pavilion now stands on a three-metre-deep stabilized sandbox foundation. ASI officials and project leaders say the structure is designed to withstand future settlement. The site will remain under observation, with plans to formalize visitor access protocols in coordination with state authorities.