Chaya Someswara Swamy temple
Telangana, India
Open to visitors
The interior is normally open, possibly ticketed.
Strollie cannot guarantee access — always check before you travel.
Located in Panagal, Nalgonda district of Telangana, the Chaya Someshwara Temple is a Shaivite shrine built around the mid-eleventh century during the reign of the Kunduru Chodas, a branch of the Telugu Cholas, with later embellishments by subsequent Hindu dynasties. The temple exemplifies Dravidian architecture and features a distinctive Trikutalayam design—a three-shrine complex with sanctums dedicated to Shiva, Vishnu, and Surya that share a common mandapam adorned with intricately carved pillars in the Telangana style depicting scenes from the Mahabharata, Ramayana, and Puranas. The temple's name derives from its ingenious architectural design: the pillars and structural elements were positioned by the temple architect to cast a unified shadow (chaya in Telugu) continuously upon the central Shiva lingam throughout the day, regardless of the sun's position. Though partially ruined by the mid-twentieth century, the temple has since undergone restoration and remains a significant pilgrimage destination during Maha Shivaratri.
Movement
- Type
- Hindu temple
- Place
- Telangana, India
This building on
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Location