TORCH Urges Govt to Save 800-Year-Old Kakatiya Mural at Kota Gullu
The once-vivid natural colours have largely faded, leaving only fragments of the original compositions visible.
Warangal: The Team of Research on Culture and Heritage (TORCH) has urged the state government and the department of archaeology to urgently preserve the rare 800-year-old murals at the historic Kota Gullu temple complex.
Following an intensive three-day field study, TORCH secretary Aravind Arya warned that these priceless remnants of the Kakatiya Dynasty’s artistic heritage are on the verge of disappearing permanently due to neglect and exposure.
The team expressed grave concern over the deteriorating condition of the artwork, noting that nearly 90 per cent of the murals have already been damaged due to centuries of weathering, vandalism and the absence of scientific conservation. The once-vivid natural colours have largely faded, leaving only fragments of the original compositions visible. During the study, the team spent three days photographing and filming the remaining sections to create a digital archive before further loss occurs.
The four-member research team documented rare murals painted on stone beams and ceiling slabs within the temple complex. Created using natural pigments, the paintings depict graceful dancers, Kinnaras (celestial musicians) and swans. Arya said the murals provide clear evidence that the Kakatiyas were not only master builders and sculptors, as seen at the Ramappa Temple and the Thousand Pillar Temple, but were also accomplished painters.
In a formal representation to the director of the department of archaeology, TORCH called for immediate scientific conservation measures. The organisation noted that the Kakatiya period marked a golden age in Telangana’s cultural history and that the Kota Gullu murals are invaluable historical assets from that era. Preserving them, it said, is a shared responsibility to ensure that the artistic legacy of the past is passed on to future generations.
The research team, comprising Tallapelli Nanda Kishore, Nalimeal Arun Kumar and Naveen, urged the government to allocate dedicated funds for professional restoration. They said safeguarding the murals would not only protect Telangana’s heritage but also enhance the region’s potential as a cultural tourism destination. The team expressed hope that the department of archaeology would act swiftly, warning that without immediate intervention, the remaining 10 per cent of the artwork could soon be lost forever.
