Neelkantheshwar Temple, Udaypur – History

Neelkantheshwar Temple, Udaypur – History

Udaypur was an important town under Paramara dynasty. King Bhoja (1010-1050 AD) developed this town during his regime. Udayaditya was a brother of Bhoja, the most renowned king of the Paramara dynasty. At the time of Bhoja's death, the Paramara kingdom suffered simultaneous invasions from its Chalukya and Kalachuri neighbors. Bhoja's successor Jayasimha, possibly his son, appears to have ascended the Paramara throne with the support of the Kalyani Chalukya prince Vikramaditya VI; he was probably dethroned by Vikramaditya's rival brother Someshwara II.

After Jayasimha, Udayaditya ascended the Paramara throne. Udaypur became famous and appears to have assumed its present name under the Udayaditya (1070 - 1093 AD). The Temple was built in the second half of the eleventh century and is the only surviving royal temple of the Paramara Kings. This town was annexed to Mughal empire and some monuments of little importance were erected during that regime.

The temple was protected and restored by the then Maharaj of Gwalior State Jiwaji Rao Scindia. The restoration work according to a stone engraving finished in 1929. The work of restoration of the temple was carried under the supervision of M. B. Garde, a renowned archaeologist. The monuments of Udaipur were first studied by M. B. Garde and published in the reports of the archaeological department of Gwalior state. The data in these reports was compiled into a list prepared in 1952.