Bhavnath Temple, Bhavnagar, Gujarat

Bhavnath Temple, Bhavnagar, Gujarat

Bhavnath Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Bhavnagar City in Bhavnagar Taluk in Bhavnagar District in the Indian state of Gujarat. The temple is believed to be built in 17^th century CE. The temple is one of the state protected monuments in Gujarat declared by Archaeological Survey of India.

The Temple

This temple is facing towards east and stands over a raised platform. The temple consists of sanctum and open mukha mandapa. The sanctum enshrines three Shiva Lingas. An idol of goddess Parvati can also be seen in the sanctum. The sanctum is crowned with nagara style shikara. There are niches around the sanctum walls. There are no idols in the niches. The exterior is devoid of any decoration.

Connectivity

The temple is located at about 500 metres from Bhavnagar Railway Station, 2 Kms from Bhavnagar Bus Stand, 6 Kms from Bhavnagar Airport and 167 Kms from Ahmedabad. Bhavnagar is well-connected to Ahmedabad, Surat and Vadodara by road, with bus services operated by the state-owned transport corporation. Bhavnagar Terminus under the Bhavnagar railway division, serving the city, connect it to Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Surat, Vadodara, Mangalore, Kochi, Trivandrum, Mumbai, New Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore, Kanpur, Kakinada and other major cities of India. Bhavnagar airport is connected to Mumbai by air links. Daily flights are currently operated by Alliance Air (India).

Location

Firangi Deval, Kalsar, Gujarat

Firangi Deval, Kalsar, Gujarat

Firangi Deval is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Surya located in Kalsar Village in Mahuva Taluk in Bhavnagar District in the Indian state of Gujarat. The temple is also known as Devalvasi / Vasinum Derum. The Temple is one of the state protected monuments in Gujarat declared by Archaeological Survey of India.

History

The temple is believed to be built in 7^th century CE during the Maitraka rule. It is said that temple was used to hoist flag to warn the citizens to return to the fort in case of any raid.

The Temple

This temple is facing towards east and stands on plain  plinth. The temple is slightly oblong in plan with a small mandapa in front of it. The external walls are devoid of any decoration except a carved band of stylized rafter's end with minor kapota at the top. The superstructure above the sanctum is of three tiers. The upper most crowning stone is missing which might have been Sala shikhara.

The mandapa also has a two-tiered superstructure. The crowning stone has large Surpa with prominent Chandrasala in front of it.  The temple is not under worship now and does not contain any idol of deity. The temple was probably used as Buddhist or Hindu shrine identified by Chaitya dormers on the courses of vimana.

Connectivity

The temple is located at about 1 Km from Kalsar Bus Stop, 9 Kms from Rohisa, 16 Kms from Mahuva, 17 Kms from Mahuva Bus Stand, 18 Kms from Mahuva Railway Station, 37 Kms from Talaja, 91 Kms from Bhavnagar and 92 Kms from Bhavnagar Airport. The temple is situated at about 9 Kms from Rohisa towards the Arabian sea on the Mahuva to Talaja route.

Location

Sun Temple, Kotai, Gujarat

Sun Temple, Kotai, Gujarat

Sun Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Surya located in Kotai Village in Bhuj Taluka of Kutch district of Gujarat, India. The temple is situated on the shore of Greater Rann of Kutch. The Temple is one of the protected monuments in Gujarat declared by Archaeological Survey of India.

History

The temple is believed to be built during the 10^th century CE. Kotai village has the remains of an old city and several ruined temples dating back to the earlier part of the tenth century CE.

The Temple

This temple is facing towards west and stands over a raised platform. The platform provides ample space for the devotess to circumbulate the temple. The temple consists of sanctum, antrala, sabha mandapa and mukha mandapa. The mukha mandapa is lost completely except the base of the front pillars. The lintel of the doorway of the hall is carved with Navagrahas. The sabha mandapa is supported by four central pillars and six pilasters on the side walls.

The door jamb of the sanctum has two bands of decoration. Ganesha can be seen at the center of the lintel. The shikara resembles the design of the Ambika Mata Temple at Jagat. There are three shrines situated to the west of the temple. Two shrines are facing towards the east and one is facing towards the north. The north facing shrine is dedicated to Lord Vishnu with only a fragment of the shrine remaining. Of the east facing shrines, the left side shrine has niches enshrining the image of Surya on the west and Varaha on the south.

The lintel has the image of Ganesha The right shrine consists of sanctum and an entrance porch. Only part of the porch remains. The lintel of the sanctum is carved with images of Navagrahas. The sanctum has niches enshrining the image of Narasimha on the north and Vishnu on the west. Both the images are highly eroded. There are remains of two more west facing shrines across a ravine to the north-east of this temple.

Connectivity

The Temple is located at about 7 Kms from Kunariya, 13 Kms from Lodai, 25 Kms from Bhuj Airport, 25 Kms from Bhuj Railway Station, 28 Kms from Bhuj, 28 Kms from Bhuj Bus Stand, 65 Kms from Bhimasar and 83 Kms from Mundra. The temple is situated on Kunariya to Lodai route.

Location

Jasmalnathji Mahadev Temple, Asoda, Gujarat

Jasmalnathji Mahadev Temple, Asoda, Gujarat

Jasmalnathji Mahadev Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Asoda Village in Vijapur Taluk in Mehsana District in the Indian state of Gujarat. The temple is locally known as Vaijnath Mahadev Temple. The temple is Monument of National Importance protected and maintained by Archeological Survey of India.

History

The temple is believed to be built in 12^th century CE. The temple suffered destruction at the hands of Allauddin Khilji.

The Temple

This temple is in the Panchayatana style of architecture. Panchayatana is an architectural style where the main shrine is built on a raised platform with four smaller subsidiary shrines at the four corners and making it a total of five shrines. Out of four subsidiary shrines, three shrines are intact and only the lower portion of the south west corner shrine remains. The main shrine is facing towards east.

It consists of sanctum, antrala, sabha mandapa and torana. The main shikara is built in a steep mountain shape or form, symbolic of Mount Meru which is said to be the mythical source of creation of the world. The shikara has richly decorated roofs which rise in a grand form terminating in the shikara. 

The south western and north western shrines are dedicated to Surya and Vishnu respectively and are facing east. The front two shrines are dedicated to Sakthi and Ganesha. The south eastern shrine is facing towards north while the north eastern shrine is facing towards south. The exterior walls of the shrines are richly decorated with sculptures of Hindu deities, animals, floral motifs and geometrical patterns.

Connectivity

The temple is located at about 5 Kms from Kukarwada, 6 Kms from Kukarwada Bus Stand, 9 Kms from Vasai, 17 Kms from Visnagar, 17 Kms from Visnagar Bus Stand, 17 Kms from Visnagar Railway Station, 20 Kms from Mansa, 22 Kms from Vijapur, 28 Kms from Mehsana, 47 Kms from Gandhinagar, 67 Kms from Ahmedabad Airport and 71 Kms from Ahmedabad. The temple is situated on Visnagar to Mansa route.

Location

Kalika Mata Temple, New Dhrevad, Gujarat

Kalika Mata Temple, New Dhrevad, Gujarat

Kalika Mata Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Goddess Kali, located in New Dhrevad in Devbhumi Dwaraka District in the Indian state of Gujarat. The temple was built in 7^th century CE by Maitraka Dynasty. The temple is protected as a monument of national importance by the Archaeological Survey of India and is maintained by ASI Vadodara Circle.

The Temple

This Temple is facing towards east. The Temple follows Vimanakara type due to its shikhara with neo-Dravidic subtype. The temple consists of sanctum, antrala, maha mandapa and mukha mandapa. The mukha mandapa seems to be of later addition. There are four bhadraka type pillars in the centre of the maha mandapa. The mandapa hall is closed from sides with plain walls.

There is a window at the centre with a corrugated hood and trefoil chaitya dormer above it. This is a sandhara temple, having common ambulatory passage around its sanctum with its adhisthana (base) visible at the few places. There is no deity inside the sanctum. There are some idols placed inside now. The sanctum is crowned with five tiered shikara. It is crowned by amalaka with a kalasha on top of it.

Connectivity

The temple is located at about 11 Kms from Gorinja Railway Station, 18 Kms from Dwarka Railway Station, 19 Kms from Dwarka, 19 Kms from Dwarka Bus Stand, 116 Kms from Porbandar and 117 Kms from Porbandar Airport. The temple is situated at about 2.5 Kms from New Dhrevad on Dwarka to Porbandar route.

Location

Mahadeva Temple, Kakanpur, Gujarat

Mahadeva Temple, Kakanpur, Gujarat

Mahadeva Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Kakanpur Village in Godhra Taluk in Panchmahal District in the Indian state of Gujarat. The temple is believed to be built in 14^th century CE. The Temple is one of the state protected monuments in Gujarat declared by Archaeological Survey of India.

The Temple

This temple is facing towards east and is completely in ruined state. The temple originally consisted of three distinct shrines with their respective shikaras, mandapas and entrance porches. All these shrines are joined with one another laterally. The mandapas and entrance porches of the central and northern shrine remains but the southern shrine is lost completely except the base.

The sanctum of all the three shrines were lost. The remaining two mandapas and their covering domes are almost complete and were profusely carved. The temple is richly carved with carvings of Hindu deities, social scenes, war scenes, animals, floral motifs and geometric patterns. The sculptures and architectural fragments can be found scattered around the temple premises.

Connectivity

The temple is located at about 6 Kms from Tuwa Railway Station, 17 Kms from Godhra Junction Railway Station, 18 Kms from Godhra, 18 Kms from Godhra Bus Stand, 31 Kms from Thasra, 115 Kms from Ahmedabad and 119 Kms from Ahmedabad Airport. The temple is situated at about 5 Kms from Veganpur on Godhra to Thasra route.

Location

Gokeshwar Mahadev Temple, Lovrali, Gujarat

Gokeshwar Mahadev Temple, Lovrali, Gujarat

Gokeshwar Mahadev Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Lovrali Village in Okhamandal Taluk in Devbhumi Dwarka District, in the Indian state of Gujarat. The Temple is one of the state protected monuments in Gujarat declared by Archaeological Survey of India.

The Temple

The temple is facing towards east and stands over a low raised platform. The temple consists of sanctum, antrala, sabha mandapa and mukha mandapa. Nandi can be found in the sabha mandapa facing towards the sanctum. The sanctum enshrines the presiding deity, Gokeshwar Mahadev, in the form of Shiva Linga within circular yonipitha. The sanctum is crowned with nagara style shikara.

Connectivity

The temple is located at about 6 Kms from Dhinaki, 8 Kms from Gorinja Railway Station, 20 Kms from Dwarka, 20 Kms from Dwarka Railway Station, 20 Kms from Dwarka Bus Stand, 31 Kms from Limabde, 115 Kms from Jamnagar Airport and 214 Kms from Rajkot. The temple is situated at about 6 Kms from Dhinaki on Dwaraka to Limabde route.

Location

Galteshwar Temple, Sarnal – The Temple

Galteshwar Temple, Sarnal – The Temple

This temple is facing towards east and follows bhumija style of architecture. The temple consists of sanctum, antrala and sabha mandapa. The sabha mandapa is octagonal on plan. The roof of the mandapa is supported by eight inner pillars and sixteen outer smaller pillars. The smaller pillars have the smaller shaft, capital, and the brackets. The inner pillars have a square base with cut corners followed by two small necks.

It is followed by the square shaft for the one-third height of the pillar, then octagonal for the half of the height of the pillar, then smaller sixteen-sided shaft and then a circular shaft decorated with a band of the kirtimukhas. It is crowned by the capital with dripping leaves ornamentation separated from the shaft by the narrow neck. The brackets have dwarfs and the kirtimukhas.

The sub-capital is vase shaped and the brackets is ornamented with dwarfs and volutes. They do not have padmashila carving. The eight-sided mandapa has several projecting angles similar to Chaulukya temples in Gujarat like the sun temple of Modhera, Somnath temple and Sejakpur temple. The mandapa is in the crucifix form. It has three bhujas instead of usual two bhujas in the rear part.

The sanctum is square on plan and is situated at lower level to the mandapa. The sanctum doorway is profusely ornamented with rupa stambhas of Abu style. The superstructure over the sanctum and mandapa were collapsed in 1908. The shikara over the sanctum follows bhumija style of architecture with Chaulukya influence. The sanctum is circular in shape from outside with a diameter of 24 feet with numerous projections and recesses.

The recesses have seven niches with the images of dikpalas, the guardian deities of the eight directions. The front wall of the shrine proper is carved with ornamentation and figures which include different forms of Shiva which are now badly mutilated. The figures and carvings include gandharvas, ascetics, horse riders, elephant riders, chariots, palanquins and the events of life, from birth to death.