Chandpur - Jahajpura is revered by historians, archaeologists, architects and artists for its exemplary artefacts dating back to the 9th - 12th century. This heritage site is a fine example of the architectural, artistic and engineering prowess of the Chandelas. The east and north-west parts of this complex in particular have innumerable broken sculptures, architectural... Continue Reading →
Chandpur - Jahajpura located near the Betwa River is a lesser-known treasure trove of ancient temples of the 9th - 12th century built by the Chandelas. This magnificent heritage site has five groups of temples along with a number of independent temples built over three centuries. The five groups are the Sahastralingeshwar Temple, Varaha... Continue Reading →
The temples, halls, dharmashalas and tanks built by the Chandelas across North India is an excellent example of their architectural grandeur, engineering precision and sculptural beauty. The Chandelas were a devout dynasty who took great pride in abiding by the age-old wisdom and tenets laid down in the Hindu texts. Every building they designed conformed to... Continue Reading →
The architectural brilliance, engineering ingenuity and artistic excellence of the Chandelas is best appreciated in their capital city of Mahoba. Their contribution to art, sculpture, architecture and literature is expressed in their unique style, technique, structural features and design elements in every edifice they built in Mahoba, Kalinjar, Ajaigarh and Khajuraho. It is greatly... Continue Reading →
It is perhaps not known to many that Chhattisgarh is one of the few states in India where one can truly appreciate the natural progression of brick art and temples from the 7th to 16th - 17th centuries. This region of Central India has always been an important seat of power for successive dynasties from... Continue Reading →
Deogarh, situated on the banks of the Betwa River is dotted with stunning temples dating back to the 5th century. Besides the world-famous Gupta Period Dashavatara Temple, there is the lesser-known Kuraiya Bir Temple seated in the dense forest close to the Varaha Temple. This east-facing temple sits majestically on a low platform and has a... Continue Reading →
A lesser-known edifice of the 7th century is the Varaha Temple located in the south-west corner of the Deogarh Fort in Lalitpur district. This temple though stunning in its own way has been overshadowed by its famous neighbour, the impressive Gupta Period Dashavatara Temple. The east-facing Varaha Temple stands on a high platform and... Continue Reading →
The glorious period of the Chandelas marked with their engineering and architectural mastery is perhaps best experienced in Dudhai village in Lalitpur district. Historical records state that Dudhai was often referred to as the pride of the Chandelas dotted with exquisite temples, dharmashalas, maths and living quarters for the locals and the learned built by successive... Continue Reading →
Lost in the rubble of the Dudhai village temple complex is the ruined Mahadeva Temple of the 11th century. This temple built on a high platform sits behind the Lesser Surang Temple. Though it is well-known that this entire temple complex along with the goshala, dharmashala and other structures were built by the Chandelas, this temple... Continue Reading →
Another lesser-known sculptural gem of the Chandelas in the temple complex of Dudhai village is the pair of Varahas crafted in the 10th to 11th century. The larger Varaha is seated near the Larger and Lesser Surang Temples while the smaller one popularly known as Bachcha is near the lake. The larger Varaha sits majestically... Continue Reading →
The Larger Surang Temple, a 10th - 11th century architectural masterpiece of the Chandelas is one of the many shrines in the dilapidated temple complex at Dudhai village. Commonly known as Badi Sarai, this temple is best known for its twin shrines that share a majestic shikhara. On first glance, this temple sits on... Continue Reading →
A stunning example of the architectural ingenuity of the Chandelas is the lesser-known Lesser Surang Temple in Dudhai village in Lalitpur district. This temple is part of a larger complex that is under the protection of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). It is extremely unfortunate that the glorious period of the Chandelas and... Continue Reading →
Madhya Bharat is dotted with exquisite temples, forts, palaces and mathas of different periods. Each and every village in this central province of India has at least one temple, a pillar with an inscription mentioning the names of great warriors and a fort or a grand structure built by the reigning kings that is either severely... Continue Reading →
Bilhari village in Katni district has many abandoned and forgotten temples and grand structures of the early medieval period. One among them is the Vishnu Varaha Temple, a lesser-known architectural gem of the Chedi kings built in the 11th century located at a little distance from the Kamakandla Fort. The temple sits on a... Continue Reading →
A stunning fragment of the glorious reign of Maharaja Yuvarajadeva I of the Kalachuris of Tripuri (also known as Kalachuris of Chedi) that has largely remained in obscurity owing to its dilapidated state is the ancient building of Kamakandla. Though it is called as Kamakandla Fort, the typical architectural styling of a fort is missing.... Continue Reading →
The Sun Temple located in the sleepy village of Madkhera in Tikamgarh district is a beautiful example of 9th century temple architecture. Built by the Gurjara-Pratiharas in the typical Nagara style of architecture, this marvellous structure has some of the most exquisite carvings of its time. This east-facing temple is built on a high... Continue Reading →
Nohleshwar Shiv Mandir is a lesser-known architectural masterpiece built by the Kalachuris of Tripuri (also known as Kalachuris of Chedi) in the mid to late 10th century. Though locals opine that this temple was built by Yuvarajadeva I in honour of his wife Nohla Devi (Nohala according to some), the architectural style and detailing suggests... Continue Reading →
A stunning example of 10th century temple architecture of the Kalachuris of Tripuri also known as Kalachuris of Chedi is the Kodal Shiva Temple located in the remote Kodal village in Damoh district. This east-facing temple has the most exquisite sculptures of that period adorning the external façade. This centuries-old temple is built on... Continue Reading →
'Poetry in stone' best describes the ancient Virateshwar Temple in Shahdol district renowned for its religious and spiritual potency. As the name suggests, Lord Shiva is worshipped here as Virateshwar, an embodiment of the entire gamut of creation. According to the priest and locals, the mere darshan of Lord Virateshwar helps one to experience the Supreme... Continue Reading →
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