Navagaon Shiva Temple, Chattisgarh

Navagaon Shiva Temple, Chattisgarh

Navagaon Shiva Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to the Lord Shiva located in Navagaon Village near Raipur City in Raipur District in the Indian state of Chhattisgarh. The Temple is situated on the banks of a large pond. This Temple is a best example of brick temple of later period found in Chhattisgarh. The Temple is one of the protected monuments in Chattisgarh declared by Archaeological Survey of India.

Legends

As per local folklore, the builders pledged to build the temple only in night time. When they were about to place the deity in the sanctum, the night turned out to be day. Hence, the builders did not the place the deity in the sanctum as per their pledge. Hence, the sanctum doesn’t have a deity in the sanctum till date.

History

The Temple was believed to be built around 16^th – 17^th Century CE but the doorframe and pillars of the temple seems to be brought from an earlier ruined temple dated to 12^th – 13^th Century CE.

The Temple

The Temple was built on a raised platform. The Temple consists of sanctum antarala and a pillared mandapa. There is no deity at the sanctum at present. The doorframe of the sanctum and pillars of the mandapa are older than the walls of the temple. They might be brought from an earlier ruined temple. There is a newly built temple for Lord Vishwanath Mahadev and Goddess Ambika Devi nearby.

Connectivity

The Temple is located at about 12 Kms from Raipur Airport, 20 Kms from Raipur Bus Stand, 21 Kms from Raipur and 22 Kms from Raipur Junction Railway Station. The Temple is situated in Navagaon Village on the right side of National Highway 53 on Raipur – Arang route, on the bund of the tank.

Location | Photos