Goa
Sristhal : Shri Mallikarjuna Temple
The Shri Mallikarjuna Temple is situated in the village of Sristhal, 7km north-east of Chaudi in Goa. The shrine is believed to be one of…
Shiroda : Shri Kamakshi Temple
Built in the 16th century, the temple of Shri Kamakshi is located amidst hills in the picturesque village of Shiroda, 12km from Ponda and 22km…
Shantadurga Temple
The Shantadurga Temple is a large temple complex 33km from Panaji and 11km north-west of Ponda, by the village of Kavalem in Ponda Taluka, Goa.…
Priol : Shri Mangeshi Temple
The Shri Mangeshi Temple is located in the village of Priol, about 22km from Panaji and 11km north-west of Ponda, Goa. It is one of…
Tambdi Surla
The Mahadev Temple at Tambdi Surla in Goa was built by Hemadri, the minister of the Yadava King Ramachandra in the 12th/13th century, and is the…
Dhargal : Shri Shantadurga Temple
The Shri Shantadurga temple at Dhargal is located 14 kms from Mapusa and 27 km from Panjim, in Pernem, north Goa. As I have a…
Gujarat
Modhera : Sun Temple
Modhera lies just over 100km from Ahmedabad, but is less than an hour away from the Rani Ki Vav step-well at Patan, so you can…
Karnataka
Basavanagudi – The Bull Temple of Bengaluru
Situated in the heart of Bengaluru (Bangalore) city, Basavanagudi is an unusual temple in a number of respects. It is one of the few temples where…
Bhoga Nandishvara Temple – A Hidden Gem Near Bengaluru
Bhoga Nandishvara temple (Kannada: ಭೋಗ ನಂದೀಶ್ವರ ದೇವಾಲಯ, also spelt “Bhoga Nandishwara” or “Bhoga Nandeeshvara”) is located at the foot of the Nandi Hills (or Nandidurga),…
Chamundi Hill
Chamundi Hill is a perfect half day excursion from Mysore for anyone spending any significant time in and around the city. To reach the summit…
Belur
Belur, 39km north of Hassan, is celebrated for the Chennakeshava Temple, an outstanding example of both Hoysala art and architecture. Erected in 1117 A.D, it…
Halebidu
Halebidu, 14km east of Belur and 42km north of Hassan, is identified as Dorasamudra, the great Hoysala capital. Vishnuvardhana (1108-1141 A.D.) was the first great…
Hazara Rama Temple – Hampi
Located in the Royal Centre, the superbly decorated walls of the Haza Rama Temple (also known as Ramachandra Temple) make it one of Hampi’s most…
Elephant Stables – Hampi
Having rested for a while in the pretty gardens surrounding the Lotus Mahal, I exited the Zenana Enclosure through a doorway in the east wall…
Lotus Mahal – Hampi
A visual tour of the stunning Lotus Mahal, located within the Zenana Enclosure of the Royal Centre of Hampi, Karnataka.
Mahanavami Platform – Hampi
The Mahanavami Platform (or Dibba) is one of the more unusual buildings in the Royal Centre of Hampi. Located to the northeast of the Royal…
Queen’s Bath – Hampi
The area of Hampi now known as the Royal Centre is set apart from the Sacred Centre by a narrow valley used for agriculture. The…
Achyutaraya Temple – Hampi
My approach to the Achyutaraya (also known as Tiruvengalanatha) Temple was from Vitthala Temple via a wonderful riverside walk. The whole area is a mass of…
Vitthala Temple – Hampi
The superb Vitthaha Temple is likely to be many visitors favourite location in Hampi, and I can see why. The temple is believed to have…
Narasimha Monolith – Hampi
A little southwest of the Krishna Temple in a pavilion just off the main road is perhaps Hampi’s best known sculpture – the extraordinary Narasimha Monolith, also…
Krishna Temple – Hampi
To the south of Hemakuta Hill and the two Ganesha temples is the Krishna Temple, one of four major shrines in the sacred centre of…
Hemakuta Hill – Hampi
Immediately to the north of the Virupaksha Temple is an enormous rock face with steps cut into it, known as Hemakuta Hill. This is not…
Virupaksha Temple – Hampi
Thought to date back to the 7th century and attracting large numbers of Hindu pilgrims, the Virupaksha Temple is likely to be your starting point for…
Hampi – An Introduction
Introduction to Hampi in Karnataka. Also known as Vijayanagar, Hampi is one of India’s most important archaeological sites, and one of exceptional beauty.
Pattadakal
Pattadakal is one of India’s most artistically impressive Hindu temple complexes, located 15km east of Badami in Karnataka. In total there are nine shrines of…
Badami Caves and Temples
Badami is a small town 105km south of Bijapur and just 100km north-west of Hampi in Karnataka. Set at the western end of a lake almost…
Aihole
Aihole is a pretty village 10km north-east of Pattadakal and 25km from Badami in Karnataka. It’s well worth combining Aihole with a trip to the…
Madhya Pradesh
Bateshwar – Vishnu Temple
Standing isolated on a small mound just 100m from the entrance to the Bateshwar Group of Temples is a monument that probably gets a little…
Garhi Padhavali – A Kachhapaghata Wonder
Located 35 km north of Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh and very close to the impressive Bateshwar Temple Complex, Garhi Padhavali (alternate spellings; Paravali, Padawali and…
The Rebirth of Bateshwar – India’s Largest Jigsaw Puzzle
Set in a natural bowl within a densely forested ravine of the Chambal river valley, this remote 25 acre site is without doubt one of…
Kakanmath Temple – Defying the Laws of Gravity
Tucked away near the small village of Sihoniya, 65 km north of Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh, the now partially ruined Kakanmath Temple dominates the surrounding…
Ekattarso Mahadeva (Chausath Yogini) Temple – Mitaoli
Also known as the Chausath Yogini temple, the Ekattarso Mahadeva Mandir is located in the small quiet village of Mitaoli (also spelled Mitawali or Mitavali),…
Teli Ka Mandir – Gwalior
A short distance away from the Sas Bahu Temple is the intriguing Teli Ka Mandir, once the loftiest building within the walls of Gwalior Fort.…
Sas Bahu Temple – Gwalior
My appointment with the Sas Bahu Temple in Gwalior has been long overdue. Five years ago I visited the wonderful Sas Bahu temples near Nagda…
Looking For Nothing In Gwalior
Looking for nothing in Gwalior. The oldest Zero in India with a verifiable date, India’s greatest gift to the world, and arguably the greatest conceptual…
Guide to Khajuraho
Introduction and guide to Khajuraho, with temple history, photos and location maps. One of the most extraordinary archaeological sites in India.
Khajuraho – Bijamandal Temple
Bijamandal (or Beejamandal) Temple is situated just outside Jatkari village, not far from the Chaturbhuj Temple. The site was open to the public in March 1999…
Khajuraho – Chaturbhuj Temple
The Chaturbhuj Temple (also known as Jatkari Temple) is situated south of Khajuraho, about 650m south-west of Jatkari village not far from the airport. By…
Khajuraho – Duladeo Temple
The Duladeo temple, also called Kunwar Math, is located 700m south-west of the cluster of Jain Temples, near the Khudar rivulet. This is believed to…
Khajuraho – Shantinatha Temple
The Shantinatha Temple is the main site of Jain worship at Khajuraho, and together with Adinatha and Parshvanatha forms a cluster of Jain temples that are part…
Khajuraho – Parshvanatha Temple
Built around 960 A.D. during the reign of the Chandela king Dhanga and originally dedicated to Adinatha, Parshvanatha Temple is one of the finest monuments of Khajuraho.
Khajuraho – Adinatha Temple
Dated to the late 11th century A.D, the Adinatha Temple is one of a cluster of three Jain temples considered part of the eastern group…
Khajuraho – Ghantai Temple
Dated to around 995 A.D. during the reign of the Chandela king Dhanga, this Jain temple is named after ‘Ghanta’ (meaning ‘bell’), as many of…
Khajuraho – Javari Temple
Dedicated to Vishnu and built 1075 – 1100 A.D, the Javari Temple is situated 200m south of the Vamana Temple surrounded by fields, trees and…
Khajuraho – Vamana Temple
Just 200m north-east beyond the so-called Brahma Temple, this temple is dedicated to Vamana, the fifth incarnation of Lord Vishnu. This is the first incarnation where…
Khajuraho – Brahma Temple
The Brahma Temple at Khajuraho is positioned on the banks of the Khajur Sagar tank, a pretty spot with the village as a backdrop. This…
Khajuraho – Statue of Hanuman
The 2.5m high image of the monkey god, coated in red lead paint similar to the statue of Bhairava, has a short dedicatory inscription on the…
Khajuraho – Lalguan Mahadeva Temple
Located on the shore of Lalguansagar Lake, 600m west of Chausath Yogini Temple, Lalguan Mahadeva is the least visited and most remote temple in the western…
Khajuraho – Chausath Yogini Temple
Situated away from but still classified as part of the western group of temples at Khajuraho, Chausath Yogini is a unique open-air sanctuary. It is…
Khajuraho – Statue of Bhairava
Outside the fenced enclosure of the western group of temples at Khajuraho, on the way to the Matangeshvara Temple, is the 2m high colossal statue of…
Khajuraho – Matangeshvara Temple
The Matangeshvara Temple (also known as Matangeshwar or Matangeshwara Temple) is the main temple still in use in Khajuraho. Although it stands right next to…
Khajuraho – Pratapeshwar Temple
The Pratapeshwar Temple at Khajuraho is likely to be either the first or last temple you come to, depending on which direction you decided to take…
Khajuraho – Nandi Temple
Directly opposite the Vishvanatha Temple, facing each other and sharing the same plinth, is the small open Nandi Temple. Housed within is a beautifully carved statue…
Khajuraho – Vishvanatha Temple
The superb Vishvanatha Temple (also known as the Vishwanath Temple) sits close to the eastern side of the western group compound at Khajuraho, close to…
Khajuraho – Parvati Temple
A short distance south west of the Vishvanath Temple is a small shrine known as the Parvati Temple.
Khajuraho – Chitragupta Temple
Built between 1000 and 1025 A.D. and of similar design to the contemporary Jagadambi Temple , the Chitragupta Temple is the only surviving shrine in Khajuraho…
Khajuraho – Jagadambi Temple
Built between 1000 and 1025 A.D. and sharing the same platform as the Kandariya Mahadeva Temple and Mahadeva Shrine, the Jagadambi Temple (also known as Devi Jagadamba) was…
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Maharashtra
Ghorpade Ghat – Pune’s Abandoned Heritage
Situated on the north bank of the Mutha River and immediately east of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Bridge, Ghorpade Ghat is a contender for Pune’s least…
Vrudeshwar Cave Mandir – Pune
As some of you may know, in a previous life I was a Director of Software Quality for large computer security company. With a group…
Shri Kasba Ganpati Temple – Pune
Located in Kasba Peth, the oldest residential part of Pune, Kasba Ganpati refers to both a particular murti of the god Ganapati as well as…
Tulshibaug Ram Mandir – A Haven in the Heart of Pune
Hidden away in the heart of Budhwar Peth, Tulshibaug and the impressive Shree Ram Mandir is one of Pune’s great hidden secrets that I always…
Ambarnath – The Earliest Dated Bhumija Temple in Maharashtra
Located on the west bank of the Waldhuni river 6km south-east of Kalyan in the Thane district of Maharashtra, the 11th century Ambarnath Temple is…
Puratan Shiv Mandir and Hero Stones – Parali
Parali village (also known as Parli, or Pareli) is located close to the banks of Urmodi river and dam, 1km north of Sajjangad Fort and…
The Heroes of Nerhe – Pune
Continuing my mini project to document Hero Stone sites during my travels around India, I recently visited the Shiv Mandir at Nerhe, 1km east of…
Nageshwar Temple – Pune
Located within a maze of buildings that comprise Nagesh Peth in the old city, Nageshwar Temple is widely believed to be one of the oldest…
The Fallen Heroes of Kondhawale
Kondhawale is located 30km west of Pune towards Mulshi in Maharashtra. This blog post is part of my on-going side project to document and record…
Pandeshwar Temple
Pandeshwar Temple is situated 60km south-east of Pune on the north bank of the river Karha, 12km east of Jejuri and 12km west of Morgaon.…
The Heroes of Morgaon
One of my winter pastimes back in the UK is genealogy, specifically researching my family ancestry which thus far has culminated in a family tree…
Bhairavnath Temple – Loni Bhapkar
Situated on the eastern edge of Loni Bhapkar, 80km south-east of Pune, the Bhairavnath Temple was my last stop in the village having already explored…
The Heroes of Loni Bhapkar
A couple of years ago a visit to the ancient Bhairavnath Temple just north of Satara in Maharashtra drew my attention to subject of hero stones.…
Mallikarjun Temple – Loni Bhapkar
The Mallikarjun Temple in the sleepy village of Loni Bhapkar has been on my radar for nearly a decade. Situated on the right bank of…
Trishund Ganpati Temple – A Hidden Gem From Pune’s Peshwa Era
Having visited Pune on more than 20 separate occasions in the last 15 years, I find myself increasingly attached to the city. Pune has experienced…
Chaturshringi Temple – Pune
Writing a short blog post about the Chaturshringi Temple in Pune has been on my “to do list” for over four years, and as I’m…
Bhamchandra Caves – Bhamboli
Bhamchandra Caves are a set of rock-cut excavations located near Bhamboli, 40 km north of Pune in Maharashtra. There are six caves in total at…
Firangai Cave Temple – Nanoli Hill
My annual visit to Pune this year continued my ongoing project to visit the many cave temples that exist in the region. Having already visited…
Ghoradeshwar Caves
Also known as Ghorawadi, Ghorawdeshwar and Shelarwadi Caves, Ghoradeshwar Caves are a small group of rock-cut excavations about 32 km north-west of Pune, close to…
Bhairavnath Temple – Kikali
Located just north of the village of Kikali in Maharashtra, 15 km north of Satara, is the ancient Bhairavnath Temple. This monument is definitely off…
Sangam Mahuli
Situated at the confluence of the Krishna and Venna rivers, 5km east of Satara, Sangam Mahuli is a group of 18th and 19th century Hindu…
Pateshwar Shiva Temple Complex
Pateshwar Shiva Temple Complex is located 12km SE of Satara in Maharashtra. The complex has over eight ancient caves and temples containing detailed stone carvings…
Elephanta Caves
Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986, Elephanta Caves consists of seven 6th century rock-cut caves located on Elephanta Island (or Gharapuri, “the city…
Mandapeshwar Caves – Mumbai
Located near Mount Poinsur in the Borivali suburb of Mumbai, Mandapeshwar Caves is an 6th – 8th century rock cut shrine dedicated to Shiva.
Parvati Hill – Pune
Located not far from the center of Pune and rising to over 2,000 feet, Parvati Hill offers excellent panoramic views across the city, has a…
Sangameshwar Temple
Believed to have been built sometime between the 10th and 13th century, Sangameshwar temple stands guard over the confluence of the Chamli and Karha rivers,…
Shinde Chhatri – Pune
Located on the left bank of the Bhairoba stream in the Wanawadi district of Pune, Shinde Chhatri is a memorial dedicated to the 18th century…
Bhuleshwar Temple
Built around 1230 A.D. by the Yadava ruler King Krishnadevray, Bhuleshwar is an ancient Shiva temple located around 45km from Pune and 10km from Yawat.
Jejuri Khandoba Temple
At the eastern end of the Purandhar ridge, 16km south of Sasvad in Maharashtra, the Jejuri Temple is a popular place of pilgrimage and is…
Krishnabai Temple
Anyone visiting Old Mahabaleshwar is likely to know about the Panchganga temple, the temple where the waters of five rivers Koyna, Krishna, Venna, Savitri and…
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Odisha
Illuminated Temples of Bhubaneswar
Usually at this time of year I would be preparing to make my annual two month trip to India, but perhaps unsurprisingly the current pandemic…
Guide To The Temples And Monuments of Bhubaneswar – Odisha
Bhubaneswar has a unique position among the cities of India. A temple town with a series of ancient sandstone temples and tanks, its wealth of…
Lingaraja Temple – Bhubaneswar – A Non-Hindu View
The towering late 11th century Lingaraja (Lingaraj) Temple is, in religious terms, the most important in Bhubaneswar. It is also the climax of all the…
Manikarnikesvara Temple – Bhubaneswar
Manikarnikesvara Temple is located almost opposite Ananta Vasudeva Temple on the east bank of Bindu Sagar Tank in old Bhubaneswar. I have to confess that…
Byamokesvara (Suresvara Mahadeva) Temple – Bhubaneswar
Byamokesvara Temple, also known as Suresvara Mahadeva, is located just a few meters away from the main eastern entrance to Linaraja Temple in old Bhubaneswar.…
Swapneswara (Mangaleswar) Temple – Bhubaneswar
Located 200 north-east of Purbeswara Temple and surrounded by residential buildings, Swapneswara Temple was the most difficult temple to successfully track down during my time in…
Kedar Gouri (Kedareswar) Temple – Bhubaneswar
Dedicated to Lord Shiva (Kedareswar) and Goddess Parvati (Gouri), Kedar Gouri Temple is directly opposite the magnificent Mukteshwar Temple in old Bhubaneswar. I confess I…
Brahma Temple and Bindu Sagar Tank – Bhubaneswar
In the very heart of old Bhubaneswar, Bindu Sagar tank is somewhere nobody will need to directions to find. It’s omnipresent, and is the backdrop…
Pataleswara Temple II – Bhubaneswar
There are a few temples of the same name in Bhubaneswar, I’m actually surprised there isn’t more duplication of names in a city that has…
Gosagaresvara Temple – Bhubaneswar
Gosagaresvara Temple and tank is situated 350m north of Vaital (Baitala) Deula Temple in old Bhubaneswar. This is one of the few temples I unfortunately…
Dwarabasini Temple – Bhubaneswar
Dwarabasini Temple is located 120m north of Ananta Vasudeva Temple on the east bank of Bindu Sagar tank in old Bhubaneswar. According to orthodox texts…
Champakesvara Temple – Bhubaneswar
Champakesvara (Champakesvara) Temple is located 160m south-west of Parasuramesvara Temple as you head towards Bindu Sagar in old Bhubaneswar. It is extremely close to Kotiteertheswara and Swarnajaleswar…
Kotiteertheswara Temple – Bhubaneswar
Kotiteertheswara Temple (also known as Kotitirthesvara Temple) is located halfway between the cluster of monuments around Mukteshwar Temple and Bhindu Sagar Tank, just 50m south of…
Swarnajaleswar Temple – Bhubaneswar
Swarnajaleshwar Temple is situated 200m south-west of Parasuramesvara Temple in a residential area on the way to Bindu Sagar Tank in old Bhubaneswar. This late 7th…
Ananta Vasudeva Temple – Bhubaneswar
Located on the east bank of Bindu Sagar tank in old Bhubaneswar, the west-facing Ananta Vasudeva Temple is the only surviving Vaishnava shrine in the…
Aisaneswara Temple – Bhubaneswar
Aisaneswara Temple (also known as Aishanyeswara Temple) is located opposite the western compound wall of Lingaraj Temple, next to the Municipal Corporation Hospital in old…
Sampoornajaleswara Temple – Bhubaneswar
Originally dedicated to Lord Shiva, the 9th-10th century Sampoornajaleswara Temple (confusingly sometimes called Nagesvara Temple) is located on Kotiteertha Lane heading towards Bindu Sagar Tank…
Subarnajaleswara Temple – Bhubaneswar
Dedicated to Shiva, the 9th-10th century Subarnajaleswara Temple (also known as Subarnesvara Temple) is located on Kotiteertha Lane heading towards Bindu Sagar Tank on the…
Pataleswara Temple I – Bhubaneswar
Sandwiched between Ananta Vasudeva temple to the east and Bindu Sagar Tank to the west, the tiny 10th/11th century Pataleswara Temple is yet another example…
Lakheswara Temple – Bhubaneswar
The 13th century Lakheswara (Lakhesvara) Temple dedicated to Shiva is located on the Ganges–Yamuna Road, directly opposite Gangeswara and Yamuneswara Temples in old Bhubaneswar. The…
Gangeswara and Yamuneswara Temples – Bhubaneswar
The twin temples of Gangeswara (Gangesvara) and Yamuneswara (Yamunesvara) are located on Ganga-Jamuna road, about 80m north-east of Debi Padahara Tank in Old Bhubaneswar. According…
Purbeswara Temple – Bhubaneswar
Situated 300m east of the main entrance to Lingaraj Temple in old Bhubaneswar, the 13th century Purbeswara (Purbeshwar) Temple is a great example of how…
Dakara Bibhisaneswar Temple – Bhubaneswar
Dakara Bibhisaneswar (Bivisaneswara) Temple is located on Giani Zail Singh Road, about 200m east of the main entrance to Lingaraj Temple in old Bhubaneswar. The…
Kartikeswar Temple – Bhubaneswar
The 13th century Kartikeswar Temple is located on the corner of Giani Zail Singh Road and Moharana Lane, approximately 120m east of the main entrance…
Ekamreswar Temple – Bhubaneswar
Situated 50m south-east of the main entrance to Lingaraj Temple in Bhubaneswar old city, Ekamreswar Temple has enjoyed a new lease of life in the…
Gouri Shankar Temple – Bhubaneswar
Dedicated to Lord Shiva, Gouri Shankar Temple is located in Bindu Sagar Road about 30m south of Tirthesvara Temple and Bhabani Shankar Temple Complex. That…
Tirthesvara Temple – Bhubaneswar
Located opposite Bhabani Shankar Temple Complex on Bindu Sagar Road in old Bhubaneswar, Tirthesvara Temple (also known as Teertheswara) is a small temple dedicated to…
Bhabani Shankar Temple Complex – Bhubaneswar
Bhabani Shankar Temple Complex (also known as Bhabanishankar or Bhavani Sankara Temple) is located immediately west of Bindu Sagar Road heading from Lingaraja Temple to…
Suka and Sari Temples – Bhubaneswar
Located on the right side of a small alleyway connecting Rath Road with Bindu Sagar in old Bhubaneswar, the temple precinct contains three temples, although…
Chitrakarini Temple – Bhubaneswar
Chitrakarini Temple is located approximately 75m east of Papanasini Temple Complex on Rath Road in Bhubaneswar, right next to northern Lingaraja Temple compound wall. The…
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Rajasthan
Osian – Southern Group of Temples
About 250m south of the Sachiya Mata Temple on the outskirts of Osian village are the 8th and 9th century southern group of temples. If…
Sachiya Mata Temple
Originally built in the 8th century, the majority of the Sachiya Mata temple in Osian (or Osiyan, Rajasthan) that can be seen today dates to…
Jagdish Temple – Udaipur
Just 150m north of the outer gate to the City Palace is Udaipur’s most important Hindu shrine, the Jagdish Temple. Throughout the day you will find…
Nagda : Sas Bahu Temples
Not far out from Udaipur is Nagda, and the little visited but superb Sas Bahu (or Sahastra Bahu) Temples. This makes for a nice short…
Abhaneri – Chand Baori & Harshat Mata
If your Jaipur itinerary can afford a day excursion and you’re looking for somewhere that does not mean you’re stuck in the car for a…
Galtaji
Some places just have a feeling about them. It’s not something tangible, nor easily articulated, all you can do is go there and experience it…
Tamil Nadu
Meenakshi Amman Temple – Madurai
The centre of Madurai is dominated by the Meenakshi Amman Temple. Also known as Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple and Tiru-aalavai, it was founded by the Pandyas…
Thanjavur – Brihadeeswarar Temple
Brihadeeswarar Temple (also known RajaRajeswara, Rajarajeswaram and Brihadeshwara Temple), lies in the heart of Thanjavur city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The city, known…
Mahabalipuram – Pancha Rathas
The group of five shrines known as Pancha Rathas is one of the chief attractions of Mahabalipuram, which include : Tiger Cave (4km north of…
Mahabalipuram – Shore Temple
The Shore Temple is one of four primary locations worthy of exploration in and around Mahabalipuram, which include: Tiger Cave (4km north of the town)…
Mahabalipuram – Central Monuments
Mahabalipuram (also known as Mamallapuram) takes its name from Mamalla (650 – 668 A.D.), one of the Pallava kings of Kanchipuram. Its seaside location suggests…
Mahabalipuram – Tiger Cave
Tiger Cave lies 4km north of Mahabalipuram, near the village of Saluvankuppam. Of all the sites in and around the town, this one seems to…
Uttar Pradesh
Lakshminarayana Pancharatna Mandir – Assi Ghat- Varanasi
As a photographer striving to document the heritage sites of India, one of the things I deeply struggle with is the photographing of living temples.…
Durga Temple – Varanasi
Built in a common North Indian style, the Durga Temple (Kushmanda Durga Mandir) is a free-standing temple set within a walled compound next to a…
Sri Lolarkeshwar Mahadev Temple – Lolark Kund – Varanasi
Situated on a raised platform immediately south of Lolark Kund, one of the oldest sacred sites in Kashi, the Sri Lolarkeshwar Mahadev temple was an…
Ratneshwar Mahadev – The Leaning Temple of Banaras
Also known as Matri-rin Mahadev or Kashi Karvat, Ratneshwar Mahadev Temple has to be one of the most photographed temples in the holy city of…
Bindu Madhav Temple – Varanasi
Situated high above Panchganaga Ghat in the shadow of Alamgiri Mosque, Bindu Madhav Temple is housed in a simple inconspicuous and rather nondescript building that…
Adi Keshav Temple – The Original Vishnu in Kashi
Situated on a high plateau at the confluence of the Varana and Ganga rivers in the far north of Banaras (Varanasi), there is little doubt…
The Bir Babas of Banaras
Anyone walking the narrow alleyways and lanes of Banaras is bound to be struck by the sheer volume of small shrines and objects that are…
Kardameshwar Temple – Kashi’s Sole Survivor
The east-facing Kardameshwar (Kardamesvara) Temple is located beside the pretty Kardama Kunda tank on the outskirts of Varanasi (Banaras), approximately 6km south-east of the holy…
From Darkness To Light – Kashi’s Hidden Heritage
Being an archaeologist, I probably spend an unhealthy amount of time thinking about the hidden history that might be buried under my feet. During my…
Lolark Kund – One Of The Oldest Sacred Sites In Kashi
Dedicated to the sun God Surya, Lolark Kund is a dramatic and ancient water reservoir situated in a small plaza above Tulsi Ghat in Varanasi…
Kusum Sarovar – Hidden beauty in the footsteps of Krishna
Kusum Sarovar (also known as Sumana Sarovar) is located on the holy Govardhan Hill, around 25 km from both Mathura and Vrindavan, and 150 km…
West Bengal
Pujabari – Baidyapur
Until the end of the 17th century, Baidyapur was just another nondescript village in Bengal, with the only heritage building of note being the 16th…
Brindavan Chandra Temple – Baidyapur
Until the end of the 17th century, Baidyapur was just another nondescript village in Bengal, with the only heritage building of note being the 16th…
Ananta Basudev Temple – Ambika Kalna
Located in the north of Ambika Kalna and not far from Gopalji and Siddheshwari Kalibari Temples, Ananta Basudev (Vasudev) Temple is a typical large atchala…
Siddheshwari Kalibari Temple – Ambika Kalna
Located in the north of the temple town and not far from Gopalji Temple, Siddheshwari Kalibari Temple is considered the oldest and holiest temple in…
Gopalji Temple – Ambika Kalna
Located in the north of the temple town of Ambika Kala, the Gopalji Temple is one of three 25 pinnacled (panchavimshati-ratna) temples to be found…
Radha Govinda Terracotta Temple Complex – Antpur
Constructed in 1786 by Krishna Ram Mitra, the Dewan of the Maharaja of Bardhaman, the Radha Govinda Mandir in Antpur has some of the finest…
Dasghara Gopinath Temple – Srikrishnapur
Situated 60km north-west of Kolkata, the recorded history of Dasghara goes back more than 700 years. Trade and commerce once flourished here under the rule…
Jora Deul – Baidyapur
Located 13km south-west of Ambika Kalna in West Bengal, the small village of Baidyapur has a plethora of heritage buildings that are well worth exploring.…
The Twin Shiva Temples of Jagannath Bari – Ambika Kalna
Located on the west bank of the Bhagirathi River, Ambika Kalna (also known as Kalna) was once a flourishing and prosperous trading port in Bengal.…
The Sribati Terracotta Temple Complex
The 19th century was an eventful phase in the history of Bengal, as contact with European colonial forces resulted in far-reaching changes in almost every…
Radha Binod Temple – Bishnupur
Located in the northern outskirts of the temple town, the Radha Binod is one of the less-visited terracotta temples in Bishnupur. At first glance this…
Chandidas-Nanoor Temple Complex
The small town of Nanoor (Nanur) 19km east of Bolpur is also known as Chandidas-Nanoor for its close association with the famous 14th century medieval…
Rasmancha – Bishnupur
In towns and villages all over West Bengal one can find examples of Rasmancha and Dolmancha. They are usually quite small structures, Dolmanchas being square…
Patpur Temple – Bishnupur
The small town of Bishnupur, 120km north-west of Kolkata in West Bengal, contains a dazzling collection of temples with some of the most distinctive and…
The Four Shiva Temples of Uchkaran
The mid 18th century heralded a wave of temple construction in West Bengal. As Muslim rule started to diminish, Hindu zamindars demonstrated their wealth by…
The Terracotta Temples of Dubrajpur
Situated 35km north-west of Bolpur and only 4km from the unique Chandranath Shiva Temple, the small town of Dubrajpur in West Bengal is home to…
Radha Binod Temple – Joydev Kenduli
Located 27km west of Bolpur on the banks of the river Ajay in West Bengal, the impressive Radha Binod Temple of Joydev Kenduli doesn’t appear…
Temple of Ichai Ghosh – Gourangapur
Situated 9km west of Illambazar on the south bank of the river Ajay, the Temple of Ichai Ghosh (alternatively Ichhai Gosher) is possibly one of…
The Terracotta Temples of Bankati
Situated 6km south-west of Illambazar on the south bank of the river Ajay, Bankati is an ancient and no doubt once prosperous village in West…
Hath-tala Gauranga Mahaprabhu Temple – Illambazar
Located in the corner of a busy marketplace in the town of Illambazar, the 19th century Hath-tala Gauranga Mahaprabhu Temple (also known as Sri Gouranga…
Sun Temple – Sonatapal
Situated on the south bank of the Darikeswara river just 6km west of Bankura in West Bengal, the Sun Temple at Sonatapal is both hugely…
The Terracotta Temples of Rajbalhat
Five hundred years ago, Rajbalhat was a hugely successful and bustling capital of the Bhurshut (Bhurishrestha) kingdom, which extended across to present day Howrah and…
Gokulchand Temple – Gokulnagar
Situated 19km east of the terracotta temple town of Bishnupur, the Gokulchand Temple in Gokulnagar is arguably one of the grandest stone built temples of…
Rajrajeshwar Temple – Kotalpur
West Bengal is of course well known for its terracotta temples, anyone wishing to see a few examples is likely to head for temple towns…
Siddheswar Temple – Bahulara
Situated 22 km north-west of the temple town of Bishnupur just south of the Dwarakeswar river, the 10th – 11th century CE Siddheswar Temple at…
Kevin Standage 
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