Surya Mandir, listed as Suraj Devri by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is a 15th century (1433 – 1468 CE) temple built by Maharana Kumbha. Located near the western part of the fort enclosure, the temple sits majestically atop a hillock offering a panoramic view of the fort and its surroundings.
This west – facing temple on plan is seated on a high platform in accordance with the topography and has a pillared mandapa, an antarala and a garbha griha. The temple has a flight of steps on the north.
According to historians, the original temple and layout was similar to the famous 13th century Sun Temple of Ranakpur. However, the temple is in a dilapidated state and one can only see fragments of a curvilinear brick shikhara over the sanctum sanctorum, plain roof over the antarala and perhaps a domical roof over the mandapa.
The temple appears to have undergone some renovation recently but is largely in ruins. The temple is simplistic in decoration though the plinth has intricately carved mouldings. There are niches on the walls of the sanctum sanctorum that now lie empty.
Written by Lakshmi Subramanian
sahasa.in 
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