ASI Rebuilds Hanamkonda’s Kakatiya-Era Dance Pavilion After 42-Year Conservation Effort

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has successfully reconstructed the sunken dance pavilion, or Kalyana Mandapam, of the Thousand Pillar Temple in Hanamkonda, Telangana. This monumental restoration concludes a 42-year conservation effort that began as a geotechnical research project in 1984. The pavilion had originally sunk into the ground centuries ago due to the drainage of its foundational sandbox, a unique Kakatiya-era engineering technique designed to stabilize massive stone structures against seismic activity. After the structure was dismantled piece-by-piece following legal and public scrutiny, the ASI team rebuilt it using the original sandbox technology, reinforced with modern granular piles and liquid lime mortar to prevent differential settlement. Over 4,000 stone pieces, including beams weighing up to 12 tonnes, were reassembled. Artisans from Tamil Nadu helped carve replacement parts for damaged columns and beams. The project also included the reconstruction of the iconic Nandi sculpture. This restoration revives the grandeur of the 12th-century monument, which had suffered desecration in the 14th century and subsequent neglect, marking a significant achievement in heritage conservation and historical architectural preservation.