Thread by @KiranKS

Today is #Sankranti. A day special for Sun worshipping communities of India. Featuring some special Sun temples:

1) Sun temple of Jhalarapatan, Rajasthan.
1000+ year old.
Architecture similar to Konark.
7 horse Surya Ratha.
96 feet tall Shikhara.
Had a golden Surya till 1857.

#Sankranti:
2) Dakshinarka Surya temple in Gaya, Bihar. Built 700+ years ago by King Pratapa Rudra from today's Telangana.

It has Dakshina Manasarovar or Surya Kunda in front of the east facing temple.

Magadha Empire was always famous historically for Sun worshiping population.

3) #Sankranti:

Martanda Sun temple in Anantnag, Jammu and Kashmir. This 1200+ year old magnificent Sun temple was destroyed 500+ years ago by invaders.

You could see most of Kashmir valley from here.
220 ft long & 142 ft wide temple.
84 smaller temples around.
Today in ruins.

4) Modhera Sun temple, Gujarat.
Built 994 years ago by the great Chalukya Empire.
On this auspicious #Sankranti day, Sun rays fall directly on the Surya Murti in the girbha griha.
No Shikharas in this temple.

Uttarardha Mahotsav dance festival happens here in January each year.

5) #Sankranti:
Aungari Sun temple, Nalanda, Bihar.

During the famous #Chhath puja, 1000s stand in the sacred pond to pray to Sun God at sunset and sunrise.

This pond has 1700+ years of traditional history. Bhaktas believe that a dip here cures skin diseases.