Dichpally Ramalayam

History

State tourism notes construction in the 14th century with Kakatiya-period stone work and richly carved pillars, ceilings and door frames. The present Rama, Sita, Lakshmana and Hanuman icons were installed in 1949, gifted by a local devotee according to the official heritage write-up.

Nizamabad district pages link the hill temple to a pedestrian subway connecting the Raghunadha Temple in Nizamabad town, and list the site on the Telangana Tourism Basar weekend tour together with Alisagar and Raghunathalayam.

Stories

A Kakatiya temple in black and white basalt

The Dichpally Ramalayam, also called Khilla Ramalayam, was built in the fourteenth century by Kakatiya kings. It is made of black and white basalt, with carvings of deities, animals and demons on the walls, ceilings, pillars and door frames. A masonry wall with bastions at its four corners encloses the temple, and a gateway faces north. Telangana Tourism names it among the oldest temples in the Nizamabad region.

One hundred and five steps to Rama

Visitors climb 105 steps to the shrine, entering through a decorative gateway called the Keerthi Thorana in the Kakatiya style. For those who cannot climb, there is a pedestrian subway, which also links the temple to the Raghunatha temple in Nizamabad town. Thousands of devotees come during the Sri Rama Navami festival. The temple is nicknamed the Khajuraho of Nizamabad, for the resemblance of its carving to that famous site.

Good to know

Kakatiya basalt architecture with ornate keerthi torana and 105 steps

Often surrounded by water in monsoon, resembling a hill island

Listed on Telangana Tourism Basar tour with Dichpally Ramalayam stop

Getting there

Nearest airport: Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad (~190 km to Nizamabad). Nizamabad and Dichpally are the nearest railheads; Dichpally is about 15–20 km from Nizamabad by road.