The Central Government has declared the Shiva Temple at Palampet in Telangana and the Ancient Mound and Excavated Remains at Kotadibba (Gottiprolu) in Andhra Pradesh as monuments of national importance under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958.
With the addition of the Shiva Temple at Palampet, Mulugu district in Telangana, and the Ancient Mound and Excavated Remains at Kottadibba (Gottiprolu), Tirupati district in Andhra Pradesh, India’s list of centrally protected monuments and sites has just grown richer.
The Shiva… pic.twitter.com/aOXsx1w4oy
— Archaeological Survey of India (@ASIGoI) July 7, 2026
The notifications were issued by the Ministry of Culture through the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and published in the Gazette of India on July 2, following the completion of the statutory process.
The Shiva Temple is located at Palampet in Mulugu district, close to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Ramappa Temple, one of the finest surviving examples of Kakatiya architecture. While the Ramappa Temple received UNESCO World Heritage status in 2021, the nearby Shiva Temple has now been brought under the protection of the ASI as a monument of national importance.
The Shiva Temple, dating to the Kakatiya period (950–1323 CE), is celebrated for its Trikutalaya plan, sculpted parapets, intricately carved doorways and elegant jali work.
The Kottadibba excavation site (Gottiprolu), dating between the 1st century BCE to the 3rd century CE, preserves massive brick structures and has yielded a remarkable collection of antiquities, including terracotta figurines, copper coins, iron objects, stone tools, beads and a variety of pottery.
According to the Gazette notification, the protected monument covers an area of 0.275 acres at Palampet. Before issuing the final notification, the Centre had invited public objections through a notification published in February this year. After examining the objections received, the Government decided to proceed with the declaration.
In a separate notification, the Centre declared the Ancient Mound and Excavated Remains at Kotadibba in Gottiprolu village of Tirupati district as an archaeological site of national importance.
The protected archaeological site spreads over 24.22 acres and comprises ancient mound and excavation remains that are considered significant for understanding the region’s early history. The notification noted that no objections were received from the public during the prescribed period after the proposal was published in January 2026.
The Kottadibba excavation site (Gottiprolu), dating between the 1st century BCE to the 3rd century CE, preserves massive brick structures and has yielded a remarkable collection of antiquities, including terracotta figurines, copper coins, iron objects, stone tools, beads and a variety of pottery.
With the final notifications, both the Shiva Temple at Palampet and the Ancient Mound and Excavated Remains at Kotadibba (Gottiprolu) will come under the protection and conservation of the Archaeological Survey of India, ensuring their preservation as part of India’s cultural and archaeological heritage.
