Bisaldeo Temple, Bisalpur, Rajasthan

Bisaldeo Temple, Bisalpur, Rajasthan

Bisaldeo Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Bisalpur Village in Tonk District, in the western Indian state of Rajasthan. The Temple is also known as Bisaldev Temple / Bisal Deoji Temple. The Temple is located beside the Bisalpur Dam on the Banas River. This temple is protected as monuments of national importance by the central Archaeological Survey of India.

History

Bisalpur (Visalpur) was earlier known as Vigrahapura. The town was established by the Chahamana king Vigraharaja IV (1150–1164 CE). He was also called as Visala or Bisal Deo. He built this temple and dedicated to Gokarnesvara. Currently, the temple is called as Bisaldeo Temple after its builder.

The Temple

The temple measures about 22.2 (73 feet) metres in length and 15.3 metres (50 feet) in breadth. The temple consists of Sanctum, Antrala, Sabha Mandapa and an entrance porch. The Sabha Mandapa is square on plan and crowned with a hemispherical dome, and a portico. The pillars of the Sabha Mandapa feature carvings of floral festoons, chain-and-bell and circular medals. The Sanctum houses the presiding deity in the form of Shiva Linga.

The Sanctum is pancharatha on plan. The Shikara over the sanctum follows nagara style. The courtyard of the temple will be submerged by the waters of the Bisalpur Dam reservoir whenever the water level is high. The temple stood on the top of a hill overlooking the confluence of the Banas and the Dai rivers before the construction of the dam in the 1990s.

Inscriptions

There are several short inscriptions recording pilgrim visits can be seen in the temple. One short inscription dated to 1164 – 1165 CE records the visit of a Kayastha pilgrim. The name of the pilgrim is not clear, but his father's name can be read as Thakkura Srivatsa. The inscription is dated to 15th day of the Shukla Paksha (fortnight) of the Pausha month of the Vikrama Samvat year 1221. Another inscription dated to 1187 – 1188 CE inscription records the donation of two sword handles in the mandapa (hall) of the temple. It is one of the few extant inscriptions issued during the reign of Vigraharaja's nephew Prithviraja III. Few other short inscriptions can be found at the entrance of the temple and antrala.

Connectivity

The Temple is located at about 12 Kms from Todaraisingh, 62 Kms from Tonk, 126 Kms from Ajmer, 127 Kms from Ajmer Junction Railway Station, 128 Kms from Jaipur Airport  and 141 Kms from Jaipur. The temple is situated on Todaraisingh to Jahazpur route.

Location