Archaeologists in Telangana’s Suryapet district have unearthed a rare 11th-century Kalyani Chalukya Trikuta temple during an exploration of a remote forested hill. The most striking feature of the discovery is a set of magnetic-alignment pillars crafted from a unique magnetite-rich basalt, which researchers believe were used to orient ritual iron vessels or ceremonial devices during specific lunar events.
The temple complex includes three sanctums dedicated to Shiva, Vishnu, and Surya, all linked by a common central hall with highly polished circular pillars. The foundation of the temple appears to be reinforced with a magnetic grounding layer of iron slag, suggesting a sophisticated, perhaps experimental, understanding of terrestrial magnetism by medieval architects. The local government has announced plans to convert the site into a protected archaeological park.