Dichpally, a village in Nizamabad district, Telangana, is best known for a Kakatiya-era hilltop stone temple whose carvings have earned it the nickname “Nizamabad’s Khajuraho”. The temple is documented in official records as the Dichpally Ramalayam, also called the Khilla Ramalayam, a shrine to Lord Rama built from black and white basalt and reached by a climb of 105 steps.
Dichpally Ramalayam (Khilla Ramalayam), in Dichpally village of Nizamabad district, Telangana, is a 14th-century Kakatiya temple famous for its stone carvings, including figures in the Khajuraho manner. It sits about 15–19 km from Nizamabad town and makes an easy half-day heritage stop.
Key takeaways
- The temple at Dichpally, Nizamabad district, is officially called the Dichpally Ramalayam (Khilla Ramalayam); Telangana Tourism dates it to the 14th-century Kakatiya period.
- Its nickname “Nizamabad’s Khajuraho” (locally “Khajuraho of Indur”) comes from relief carvings on the walls, ceilings and pillars, some of them erotic in the Khajuraho style.
- It is a Rama (Vaishnava) temple, not a Shiva shrine; Rama, Sita, Lakshmana and Hanuman idols were installed in 1949, according to press reports.
- Reach it by climbing 105 steps from the gateway; it is roughly 15–19 km from Nizamabad town, about 4 km from Dichpally, and around 160–165 km from Hyderabad (as of October 2026).
- Sri Rama Navami (March–April) is the main festival, when thousands visit; Telangana’s cool season, October to February, is the most comfortable time to go.
About Dichpally and the Khilla Ramalayam
Dichpally (also spelt Dichpalli) is a village and mandal in Nizamabad district, in northern Telangana. Its one famous monument is the Dichpally Ramalayam, a stone temple set on a low hill, which Telangana Tourism lists among the prominent heritage structures of Nizamabad.
The temple carries two names in common use. “Ramalayam” marks it as a temple of Lord Rama; “Khilla Ramalayam” (khilla meaning fort) refers to the remnants of an old hill fort around the site. According to the travel feature in Onmanorama, idols of Rama, Sita, Lakshmana and Hanuman were installed here in 1949.
Dichpally is a short detour from the Hyderabad–Nizamabad road and pairs naturally with a wider trip through the region. If you are mapping a longer route, our Telangana travel guide sets out how Nizamabad fits with Basar, Nirmal and the state’s other temple towns.
| Place | Dichpally Ramalayam / Khilla Ramalayam |
|---|---|
| Location | Dichpally village, Nizamabad district, Telangana |
| Deity | Lord Rama (Vaishnava temple) |
| Period | 14th century, Kakatiya era (per Telangana Tourism) |
| Material | Black and white basalt |
| Access to shrine | Climb of 105 steps from the gateway |
| Nickname | Nizamabad’s Khajuraho / Khajuraho of Indur |
| Main festival | Sri Rama Navami (March–April) |
A note on names: the temple most people photograph as “Nizamabad’s Khajuraho” is this Rama temple at Dichpally. Do not confuse it with Shiva temples named Ramalingeswara elsewhere in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, or with the Kakatiya Rudreshwara (Ramappa) temple in Mulugu district, which is a separate UNESCO-listed monument.
Why it is called Nizamabad’s Khajuraho
The Dichpally temple is called “Nizamabad’s Khajuraho” because of the relief carvings worked into its basalt walls, ceilings, pillars and door frames, some of which depict erotic figures in the style associated with Khajuraho. Telangana Tourism and press reports note that such depictions are unusual among Telangana temples, which is why the nickname stuck locally as the “Khajuraho of Indur” (Indur being Nizamabad’s older name).
The building is made of black and white basalt and stands within a masonry enclosure wall with bastions at the four corners and a gateway facing north, according to the account summarised on its Wikipedia entry from Telangana Tourism. Carvings of deities, animals and mythical figures run across the surfaces alongside the better-known erotic panels.
The Onmanorama feature records a local account that construction was left incomplete, with work abandoned around AD 1311, the period of Alauddin Khilji’s campaigns in the Deccan; it attributes the temple to the Kakatiya ruler Prataparudra. Dates and attribution vary between popular sources, so treat the exact year with caution and the 14th-century Kakatiya framing as the official line.
Best time to visit Dichpally
The most comfortable time to visit Dichpally is Telangana’s cool, dry season from October to February, when daytime temperatures are easier for the stair climb and open hilltop. Summers from March to May are hot across inland Telangana, and the monsoon from June to September makes the steps slippery. This is general climate guidance for trip planning, as of October 2026; check the forecast before you travel.
If you want the temple at its liveliest, time your visit to Sri Rama Navami in March or April, when thousands of devotees come. Expect crowds, queues and strong heat on those days.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Cool season | October–February | Most comfortable; best for the climb and photography |
| Summer | March–May | Hot and dry; Sri Rama Navami falls in this window |
| Monsoon | June–September | Rain spells; steps can be slippery, greener surroundings |
How to reach Dichpally
Dichpally lies roughly 15–19 km from Nizamabad town and about 160–165 km from Hyderabad, just off the main Hyderabad–Nizamabad highway (NH-44). The practical approach is to base yourself in Nizamabad or pass through on the Hyderabad route, then take a bus, auto or cab for the short final leg. Distance figures vary slightly between sources, so the ranges below are approximate as of October 2026.
By air: The nearest major airport is Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, roughly 160–200 km away by road; from there, drive or take a bus to Nizamabad and continue to Dichpally.
By rail: Dichpally (station code DHP) has a small station about 4 km from the temple, served by limited passenger and DEMU trains; Nizamabad Junction (NZB), about 15–19 km away, is the larger railhead with wider connections. Check live train schedules before relying on DHP.
By road: Nizamabad is well connected by TSRTC buses and the highway. The temple is a short hop off the main road; autos and cabs run from Dichpally and Nizamabad bus stands.
| From | Distance (approx.) | How |
|---|---|---|
| Dichpally town / bus stand | ~4 km | Auto-rickshaw or short cab |
| Nizamabad town | ~15–19 km | Bus, auto or cab (around 45 min) |
| Hyderabad (RGIA / city) | ~160–200 km | Cab or bus to Nizamabad, then local ride |
What to see at and around the temple
At Dichpally, the main sight is the carved basalt temple itself, reached by the flight of 105 steps from the gateway. Give yourself time to walk the outer walls and look closely at the relief work before entering the shrine. Allow about one to two hours on site.
Beyond the carvings, look for the four-cornered enclosure wall and the north gateway, and the pedestrian subway that Telangana Tourism notes was added to help elderly and less mobile visitors reach the temple. A local legend speaks of a tunnel from the temple tank, said to be overgrown and closed; treat this as folklore rather than a route you can walk.
| Spot / feature | Why go | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Carved basalt temple | The relief panels that give it the Khajuraho nickname | 45–90 min |
| Enclosure wall and north gateway | Fort-like bastions and the ceremonial entrance | 15–20 min |
| 105-step climb | The approach itself, with views over the plains | 15–20 min |
| Temple tank area | Quiet surroundings; tied to local tunnel lore | 10–15 min |
A suggested half-day itinerary
Dichpally works best as a half-day trip from Nizamabad rather than a full day on its own. A simple plan:
- Morning: Leave Nizamabad early, drive 45 minutes to Dichpally, and climb to the temple before the heat builds.
- Late morning: Walk the enclosure and carvings, then head back toward Nizamabad.
- Afternoon: Add Nizamabad’s own sights or continue toward Basar on the Godavari, depending on your onward route.
If you are travelling the wider region, slot Dichpally into a Nizamabad–Basar–Nirmal loop; our Telangana travel guide explains how these towns connect.
Where to stay near Dichpally
There is no notable accommodation at Dichpally itself, so stay in Nizamabad town, about 15–19 km away, which has the district’s main cluster of hotels. Options range from basic budget lodges to a few mid-range business hotels; luxury category stays are limited in this district.
The indicative room bands below are planning estimates only, as of October 2026, and should be reconfirmed at the time of booking:
- Budget lodges (Nizamabad): roughly ₹800–₹1,500 a night — reconfirm.
- Mid-range hotels (Nizamabad): roughly ₹1,500–₹3,500 a night — reconfirm.
- Higher-end / business hotels: limited; book ahead around Sri Rama Navami and local festival dates.
Telangana Tourism (TSTDC) operates properties in several towns; check its official booking channels for current availability and tariffs rather than relying on third-party rates.
Food to try
Dichpally has only small roadside eateries, so plan to eat in Nizamabad, where Telangana home-style meals are the mainstay. Look for a Telangana thali (a plate meal of rice, dals and vegetable curries) and local favourites rather than anything specific to the village.
- Sarva pindi (a savoury rice-flour pancake studded with chillies and groundnuts, a Telangana snack).
- Jonna rotte (flatbread made from jowar/sorghum, eaten with spicy chutneys).
- Pappu (Telugu-style lentil dal, often cooked with greens or tomato) with steamed rice.
Carry water and a few snacks for the temple climb, especially in summer, as options on the hill are minimal.
Budget for a day trip
A day trip to Dichpally from Nizamabad is inexpensive, because the main costs are local transport and food rather than any large entry fee. The figures below are indicative planning estimates for one person on a day visit, as of October 2026; they exclude your journey to Nizamabad and should be reconfirmed locally.
| Item | Estimate (₹) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Local transport (shared/auto) | ₹150–₹400 | Round trip Nizamabad–Dichpally |
| Private cab (half day) | ₹1,200–₹2,500 | If split, far cheaper per head |
| Meals and water | ₹150–₹400 | Thali plus snacks in Nizamabad |
| Temple entry | Not published | No official fee confirmed; reconfirm on site |
Assumptions: a same-day visit using public transport or a shared cab, eating one meal in town, and no overnight stay.
Timings, entry and temple rules
No permit is required to visit Dichpally; it is an open temple in the public domain, and the inner-line and protected-area permit rules that apply in some Indian border states do not apply here. Dress modestly, as you would at any working Hindu temple.
Official temple timings and any entry or camera fee are not clearly published online that I could verify this session, so confirm current hours and photography rules at the site or with the local temple management before you go. As a general practice, follow any on-site signage on photographing the sanctum and the carvings.
The protection status of the monument is also unclear from the sources I checked: it is featured by Telangana Tourism as a heritage structure but does not appear by this name in the readily available list of state-protected monuments, and it is not among the Archaeological Survey of India’s centrally protected monuments I could confirm. Treat that status as unverified.
Practical tips
- Climb: The 105 steps are the main effort; wear comfortable shoes and carry water, especially in the hot months.
- Timing: Go early to beat the heat and the midday glare on the open hilltop.
- Cash and UPI: Carry some cash for autos and small eateries; UPI works in Nizamabad town but may be patchy at the village.
- Network: Mobile coverage is generally available but can weaken on the hill; download directions in advance.
- Medical: The nearest hospitals are in Nizamabad town; there are no major facilities at the village.
- Solo and women travellers: Daytime visits are straightforward; as anywhere, aim to finish before dusk and keep to the main approach.
- Accessibility: A pedestrian subway was added to ease access for elderly and less mobile visitors, but the hilltop and steps remain demanding.
Nearby places worth adding
Dichpally pairs well with Nizamabad’s own sights and the temple towns along the Godavari. The table gives rough distances and the reason to go; confirm current road conditions before setting out.
| Place | Distance (approx.) | Why go |
|---|---|---|
| Nizamabad town | ~15–19 km | District hub; fort, Neela Kanteshwara temple, hotels and food |
| Basar (Saraswati temple) | ~55–70 km | Well-known Gnana Saraswati temple on the Godavari |
| Nizam Sagar | ~40–50 km | Large reservoir and dam on the Manjira |
| Nirmal | ~75–90 km | Famous for Nirmal toys and paintings |
For how these link into a longer itinerary across the state, see our Telangana travel guide.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Dichpally and what is it known for?
Dichpally is a village in Nizamabad district, Telangana, about 15–19 km from Nizamabad town. It is known for the Dichpally Ramalayam, also called Khilla Ramalayam, a 14th-century Kakatiya-era basalt temple whose relief carvings have earned it the nickname “Nizamabad’s Khajuraho”.
Why is the Dichpally temple called Nizamabad’s Khajuraho?
The Dichpally temple is called Nizamabad’s Khajuraho because of the relief carvings on its basalt walls, ceilings and pillars, some of them erotic figures in the Khajuraho style. Telangana Tourism and press reports note such depictions are rare among Telangana temples, so the nickname “Khajuraho of Indur” stuck locally.
Is Dichpally Ramalayam a Shiva or a Rama temple?
Dichpally Ramalayam is a Rama (Vaishnava) temple, not a Shiva shrine. Its name “Ramalayam” means temple of Rama, and press reports say Rama, Sita, Lakshmana and Hanuman idols were installed in 1949. Do not confuse it with Shiva temples named Ramalingeswara found elsewhere in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
How do I reach Dichpally Ramalayam?
Reach Dichpally by road from Nizamabad, about 15–19 km away, by bus, auto or cab in roughly 45 minutes. Dichpally railway station (DHP) is about 4 km from the temple with limited trains; Nizamabad Junction is the larger railhead. The nearest airport is Hyderabad, about 160–200 km away.
What are the temple timings and is there an entry fee?
Official timings and any entry or camera fee for Dichpally Ramalayam are not clearly published online, so confirm current hours and photography rules at the site before visiting. It is an open temple with no reported standard entry charge, but reconfirm locally, as temple arrangements change without notice.
What is the best time to visit Dichpally?
The best time to visit Dichpally is Telangana’s cool season, October to February, when the climb and open hilltop are comfortable. Summers from March to May are hot, and the monsoon makes the steps slippery. For the festival atmosphere, visit during Sri Rama Navami in March or April, expecting crowds.
Last updated and sources
Dichpally suits travellers interested in Kakatiya-era stone carving and anyone already touring Nizamabad, Basar or the Godavari temple belt. Go in the cool months, October to February, and treat it as a relaxed half-day stop.
Last updated: 30 October 2026. Fees, timings and permits change — reconfirm with official sources before you travel.
Sources: Telangana Tourism, “Dichpalli Ramalayam” and “Prominent Heritage Structure of Nizamabad” (telanganatourism.gov.in); Onmanorama travel feature on Dichpally Ramalayam (onmanorama.com); the Dichpally Ramalayam summary and its cited Nizam’s Dominions archaeological report by Ghulam Yazdani hosted by IGNCA (ignca.gov.in); transport and distance details cross-checked against station and travel listings. Accessed September 2026.
