The Floating Bricks of Ramappa
The bricks in the tower of an 800-year-old temple in Telangana are so light that they float on water.
What was reported
The Ramappa temple, also called the Rudreshwara temple, was built in the early 13th century under the Kakatiya dynasty. It is famous for its carvings, and in 2021 it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Its tower is made of bricks so light that they float when placed in water, which has made them one of the temple's best-known mysteries. The temple has also survived earthquakes that damaged other buildings in the region.
Explanations offered
Studies of the bricks suggest they were made from clay mixed with materials such as sawdust or husk, which burned away during firing and left the brick full of tiny air pockets. That made them lighter than water and reduced the weight on the temple's structure.
- When
- Temple built around 1213
- Where
- Palampet, Mulugu district, Telangana, India
- Witnesses
- Visitors and researchers
- Status
- Explained
Famous cases are real, widely reported events. Each file sets out what witnesses said and the explanations that have been offered, without taking a side.