The fertile land of Fatehpur district has been a renowned centre for learning, knowledge, art and architecture since the Vedic Period. This region is dotted with a fair number of temples built in different periods that survived the savagery of Muslim invaders particularly Aurangzeb. Tucked away in the historically significant Dhamna Khurd village is... Continue Reading →
Ancient Brick Temple, Tenduli Village, Fatehpur District, Uttar Pradesh
Tenduli village, a rather small and quiet village in Fatehpur district is a treasure trove of Gupta period temples. This village, perhaps not known to many is of great antiquity and has some of the finest examples of the earliest brick temples along the Rind River. The Baba Chatrubhuj Temple (Chaturbhuj Baba) also referred... Continue Reading →
Shiva Mandapika Temple, Mahua Village, Khaniadhana Tehsil, Shivpuri District, Madhya Pradesh
Shiva Mandapika Temple, an early example of Shaiva Siddhanta in Central India is located in the historical city of Mahua, formerly known as Madhumati. This 7th century temple known locally as Small Siva Temple is the oldest surviving temple of this village. The temple stands on a low platform and is built as a... Continue Reading →
Brahmanical Rock-cut Temple (Dharamarajeshwara Temple), Chandwasa Village, Garoth Tehsil, Mandsaur, Madhya Pradesh
Dharmarajeshwara Temple (Dharmarajeshwar Temple) is a structural and architectural ingenuity carved entirely out of natural rock. This 8th to 9th century monolithic rock-cut temple was built by either the Gurjara-Pratiharas or the Rashtrakutas, as at first glance, this temple looks a lot like the marvellous Kailasanatha Temple at Ellora Caves. The temple also known... Continue Reading →
Large Siva Temple, Mahua Village, Khaniadhana Tehsil, Shivpuri District, Madhya Pradesh
A little-known architectural gem built towards the end of the 7th century is the ancient Shiva Temple located in the historically important Mahua village in Shivpuri district. Mahua, formerly known as Madhumati as per a Ranod inscription has many temples (though now in ruins) of great antiquity. There is very little information available about... Continue Reading →
Maladevi Temple (Maladevi Jain Temple), Gyaraspur Tehsil, Vidisha District, Madhya Pradesh
One of the lesser-known architectural masterpieces of the Gurjara-Pratihara dynasty is the Maladevi Temple located on the eastern edge of a steep slope overlooking the Manosarovar Talab in Gyaraspur. As this late 9th century temple is hardly a kilometre away from Hindola Torana, one can question if these two temples though built at different times... Continue Reading →
Hindola Torana, Gyaraspur Tehsil, Vidisha District, Madhya Pradesh
Since the ancient times, Vidisha has been written about as a city of unparalleled art, architecture, literature, culture, opulence, riches and knowledge. The influence of the earliest dynasties that ruled over north and central India is seen in the remnants of sculptures, temples, halls and other structures across Vidisha. One of the lesser-known dynasties... Continue Reading →