Pindara Group of Temples – The Group of Temples

Pindara Group of Temples – The Group of Temples

Pindara Group of Temples consists of five temples and a long pillared mandapa. All the temples and the mandapa are enclosed within an enclosure.

Temple No. 1:

The temple is considered as the oldest shrine in the complex. It is called as Sun Temple / Dhyan Mandir. This temple is facing towards east. The Temple follows phamsana style of architecture with dravidian influences. It consists of a square sanctum and a mandapa. The mandapa is lost completely. The exterior is plain without any decorations. The shikara over the sanctum is of five tiers. These tiers has chandrashila engravings in decreasing numbers from five to two while the topmost tier is lost and there is karna kutas at the corners.

Temple No. 2:

The Temple follows phamsana style of architecture and is facing towards west. It shows early Maru Gurjara architectural influence. It consists of sanctum and open porch. The temple has a nagara ground plan. The porch is enclosed by parapet walls on both side. The short pillars on the parapet wall support the roof of the porch. The parapet wall on its east side of the temple, has pillar-motif and niches, similar to the Gop Temple. The lowermost course of the roof is surviving, and it has a row of dentils below it. There is a panel depicting the marriage of Lord Shiva & Parvathy above the door frame. The door frame is plain and devoid of any decoration.

Temple No. 3:

The Temple follows phamsana style of architecture and is facing towards west. It shows early Maru Gurjara architectural influence. It is square in plan and smaller in size. It had a superstructure similar to the Temple No. 2. 

Temple No. 4:

This temple is facing towards east and similar to the Temple No. 2. It consists of sanctum and open porch. The porch is enclosed by parapet walls on both side. The short pillars on the parapet wall support the roof of the porch.

Temple No. 5:

The Temple follows phamsana style of architecture and is facing towards west. It consists of square sanctum. The exterior is plan without any decorations.

Submerged Temple Complex:

The remnants of the submerged temple complex were found north of the existing temple complex in 2007. The Jagati of the temple only survived. All the other architectural elements have been lost completely. This temple is facing towards east. The presence of Yonipitha in the temple suggests it was a Shiva Temple. The temple complex might have been submerged in sea due to rise in sea level and seismic activity. This temple complex can be seen during the low tide.