Historians Slam False Claims On Ramappa Temple Sculpture After Ex-Miss World’s Visit

WARANGAL: A visit by Miss India 2022, Nandini Gupta, to the Unesco World Heritage Site Ramappa Temple triggered a controversy after some YouTubers and local media outlets falsely claimed that the temple’s iconic sculptures were created by melting and casting stones.

The erroneous claims drew sharp condemnation from the Kotha Telangana Charitra Brundham (KTCB), whose convener Sriramoju Haragopal dismissed the notion as a "gross distortion of historical facts." The team clarified that the sculptures at Ramappa Temple were meticulously hand-carved using chisels, and no melting or casting process was involved. Spreading such misinformation, they warned, not only disrespects Telangana’s ancient artisans but could also jeopardise the temple’s Unesco World Heritage status.

Eminent archaeologist Dr E. Shivanagireddy and renowned architect D.N.V. Prasad backed the KTCB’s stand, praising the unmatched artistic and technical prowess of the temple’s craftsmen.

Adding scientific weight to the rebuttal, geologist and KTCB adviser Chakilam Venugopal Rao explained that the idea of melting stone is fundamentally incorrect. Stones such as those used at Ramappa are formed naturally from magma over geological timescales and cannot be melted and reshaped once solidified.

Prof. Pandu Ranga Rao, convener of the Kakatiya Heritage Trust and a retired NIT professor, also strongly refuted the misleading narratives. Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, he described the claims as a "blunder" and "absolutely false," stressing that no such technology ever existed. Prof. Rao pointed out that the temple’s intricate sculptures were carved from dolerite, a tough rock renowned for its capacity to be polished to a mirror-like finish. He highlighted the four finely polished pillars near the Shiva Lingam that reflect sunlight, showcasing the true artistic brilliance of Kakatiya-era sculptors.

The association urged YouTubers, tour guides, and content creators to strictly adhere to verified historical facts and present the true grandeur of Telangana’s heritage rather than promoting fanciful myths.

Supporting the historians' concerns, G. Vijay Kumar, a certified guide at Ramappa Temple, said that guides actively correct misinformation spread by tourists and content creators. “Whenever we encounter false claims about the sculptures, we intervene and clarify the facts," he told Deccan Chronicle. He also urged visitors to respect temple norms, including following photography and videography guidelines and refraining from wearing footwear inside the premises.