Kakatiya Dynasty ruled over a large part of the Telengana region (northern
Andhra Pradesh) during the 12th century. The name Kakatiya was derived from the dynasty's family deity, Goddess Kakati or
Durga. Initially, their capital was Hanumankonda or Hanamakonda and was later shifted to
Warangal.
The most prominent ruler of the Kakatiya Dynasty was Raja Ganapati Deva who expanded the kingdom from the Bay of Bengal coast in the east to the Kanchipuram in the south. Rudramba, the daughter of Ganapati Deva, ascended the throne in 1262. She was succeeded by her grandson Prataparudra in 1295 and he ruled till 1323. During his reign, the territory faced large scale Muslim invasion and the Kakatiya rule came to an end with the death of Prataparudra.
Kakatiya kings were great patrons of art and architecture. During their reign, the Chalukyan style of temple architecture prospered greatly. The Kakatiya period is often referred to as the brightest period in the history of the
Telugu people. The Kakatiya temples reflect a combination North Indian and South Indian architectural styles. The thousand-pillared temple at Warangal is a fine specimen of the architectural skills of the Kakatiyas. The Ramappa and
Pakhal lakes were built during the rule of the Kakatiyas.
