Baleshwar Temple, Champawat, Uttarakhand

Baleshwar Temple, Champawat, Uttarakhand

Baleshwar Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, situated within city of Champawat in Uttarakhand State of India. Champawat was formerly the capital of the Chand dynasty rulers of Kumaon. The Baleshwar Temple was built by the Chand rulers in the 12^th century and is an excellent monument with marvelous stone carving works.

History

The Temple was built by the rulers of the Chand Dynasty. There is no correct information about the construction of the Baleshwar temple. It is believed that the construction of this temple was built between the 10^th and the 12^th centuries. Baleshwar temple has been declared as National Heritage Monument in Champawat and has been maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India since 1952.

The Temple

The main temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva known as Baleshwar. There are two other temples in the complex of Baleshwar temple, one is dedicated to Ratneshwar and the other is dedicated to the temple Champawati Durga. The exteriors of Ratneshwar and Champawati Durga temples are carved with the different posters of the local deities. The architecture of the temple is based on South Indian style or it resembles the one which is found in the temples of South India.

It is a beautiful medieval temple with two shrines joined together by a covered passage each half consisting of a sanctum sanctorum and mandapam’ Of the entire structure the domed mandapam of the western shrine has survived. The other parts of the temple seemed to have fallen long back as they have not been conserved. Only the lower portion of the wall remains to a height of about six feet. The sanctum sanctorum consists of seven vertical segments along the axis.

The mandapam wall, instead of seven has five offsets on each face. The sanctum sanctorum and the mandapam are six and 12 feet square. The adjoining western shrine exhibits its details in a comparatively better manner. The moulded plinth of the shrine is wholly visible. The mandapam is square with small projecting porticoes on the north and south. Originally it was supported on 12 pillars three of which have fallen down. All the existing pillars are erected on a parapet wall, three feet and six inches high.

The surviving roof is domical with intricate architectural designs. The shrine is full of carvings. There are registers of elephant friezes running throughout the basement wall. The upper portion contains figures of Brahma, Vishnu and Siva with their consorts. The pillars are also decorated profusely with floral designs, geometrical patterns and tiny human figures, which cannot be identified owing to bad preservation. Adjacent to the Baleshwar Temple is a Naula which is a fresh water resource.

Festivals

Maha Shivarathri is the most important festival of the temple. A fair is held on the occasion of Mahasivarathri where local handicrafts, local food, the traditional folklores, and dances are a major attraction.

Connectivity

The Temple is located at about 73 Kms from Pithoragarh, 75 Kms from Tanakpur Railway Station, 151 Kms from Nainital, 170 Kms from Pantnagar Airport and 424 Kms from New Delhi Airport.

Location