This temple was, not only a place of worship but a complete educational centre in itself.
This is how knowledge was passed from one generation to another.
1. The entire life cycle of human life is carved, starting right from the time it is conceived with an act of intercourse to the death depicted by the last rites.
2. Various events of Mahabharat, Ramayan, Krishna Leela & Vishnu Avatar.
3. 52 Pillars might be representing 52 weeks of the year.
4. 364 elephants and 1 lion carved out might be depicting 365 days in a year.
5. Walls depicting Solah Singhar and how women would dress up in those days, from extremely delicate jewellery to elaborate hairstyles even wearing lip colour and high heels was a norm back then.
6. Walls don’t shy away from erotic art too, It is mini Khajuraho.
All the erotic art is on walls higher than 4 feet making it inaccessible for kids.
7. Many activities from the daily lives of people like hunting, and agriculture.
8. Beautiful hairstyles
9. Optical Illusion art & amazingly crafted ceilings
10. Temple passes through the Tropic of Cancer, giving us a glimpse of how evolved technologies were back then.
11. Temple is built in a way that during the equinox(when day and night are equal in length), sun rays will fall on the diamond ornamented on the head of the Main deity Sun God, which will illuminate the entire temple with a beautiful Golden Glow.
pic - shared by our guide.
12. 12 different styles of Sun God representing 12 months.
13. Built using two different ways of locking systems - a male-female interlock system & rock locked with wood making it earthquake-resistant.
14. In the case of an earthquake, the structure would shake but not fall.
15. Some idols of the Sun are in Irani Style with Gumboots showing Iranian influence during that era.
16. 7 horses of the sun represent the 7 colours of the rainbow.
17. The horizontal stairs in the Kund are of different heights, making it easier for Adults to walk down with their Kids so that they don’t fall down.
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🛕 Hazara Rama Temple – The Royal Chronicle in Stone (Hampi)
The Hazara Rama Temple is one of the most elegant and historically rich temples in Hampi — once the private temple of the Vijayanagara royals, and a visual epic of the Ramayana etched in stone.
🪨 Ramayana Carvings
•The outer walls are a storyboard of the entire Ramayana, from Rama’s birth to his coronation.
•Panels show:
•Rama lifting Shiva’s bow
•Sita’s swayamvara
•Vanara army building the bridge
•Battle with Ravana
•Rama’s return to Ayodhya
🌸 Symbolism
•Merges dharma (Rama) with rajadharma (royalty).
•King = Rama was a political motif to legitimize divine rule.
13. Brahmeswara Temple – The Flame of Bhubaneswar’s Golden Age 🔱
📍Location & Date
Located in Ekamra Kshetra (Old Town Bhubaneswar)
Built in 1058 CE during the Somavamsi dynasty, by Queen Kolavati Devi, mother of King Udyotakesari
Dedicated to Lord Shiva, as Brahmeswara
The temple's inscription credits a queen for its commissioning — rare for the time.
The temple is built in the Pancha-Ratha Style of Architecture
The temple's structure follows the pancha-ratha (five chariot) style, characterized by five projections on each side of the temple's base. This design contributes to the temple's intricate and harmonious appearance.
Earliest Use of Iron Beams ⚒️
Brahmeswara Temple is among the earliest temples in Odisha to incorporate iron beams in its construction, particularly in the Jagamohana (assembly hall). This architectural innovation marked a significant advancement in temple engineering during the 11th century.
Another thread purely focusing on Jammu and surrounding temples:
No. One is always Maa Vaishnavi—the guarding Devi of Jammu.
But I always suggest keeping her for the last 2 days,
Because you don’t feel your legs after the Yatra.
Keep an entire day for temple runs in jammu city
Jammu City Temple Circuit
1.Raghunath Temple – Grand complex dedicated to Lord Ram; built by Dogra kings.
2.Ranbireshwar Temple – Massive Shivalinga and 1,000 miniature lingams; by Maharaja Ranbir Singh.
3.Bawe Wali Mata (Bahu Fort) – Guardian Devi of Jammu; ancient temple overlooking Tawi.
4.Panchvaktra Mahadev – Rare five-faced Shiva; mentioned in Rajatarangini.
5.Peer Kho Cave Temple – Shiva temple inside a natural cave by the river.
🚗 Another Day: Shiv Khori Cave Temple
Set aside a full day for Shiv Khori—a sacred cave shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva.
The natural cave houses a self-formed Shivalinga and mystical rock formations.
⛰️ Located ~140 km from Jammu, the drive itself is scenic but long.
🕉️ The trek to the cave adds to the spiritual experience.
1.Book the train to Srinagar.
2.Stay at the Jyeshtha Devi temple rooms – use it as your base.
3.Hire a Hindu cab driver for the entire trip.
4.Visit different temples every day—take your time, no rush.
5.Return via train to Jammu or Delhi—whichever connecting option works best.
In Srinagar, begin your mornings with divine darshan—
🕉️ Atop the hills at Shankaracharya Temple, where silence meets the sky.
🕉️ At Hari Parvat, steeped in Shakti and legend.
🕉️ At Ganpatyar, echoing with ancient chants.
🕉️ And at the forgotten ruins of the old Shiva temple, where even broken stones still breathe devotion.
Just an hour’s drive from Srinagar lies the sacred Kheer Bhawani Temple—a serene haven in the lap of nature.
Spend a peaceful half day there, or stay overnight if you can.
The prasad and meals served? Pure, authentic satvik Kashmiri food—simple, soulful, and deeply nourishing.
The temple was built around 1030 CE during the reign of King Vidyadhara (Chandela dynasty).
It's considered the pinnacle of Nagara-style architecture.
The temple follows the traditional Panchayatana layout and a Sandhara plan (meaning it has a circumambulatory path).
It is built on a high plinth, and the interior unfolds in a sequence of chambers:
🐊 Makar Torana – Meaning & Use in Indian Temples
Two Makara Heads
These floral scrolls curve gracefully and meet at the center in a kalasha (pot), kirtimukha (face of glory), or a central deity like Lakshmi, Shiva, or Ganesha.
✨ Entrance Ceiling – Kandariya Mahadeva Temple
As you step into the Ardha Mandapa (entrance porch),
Look up as you enter Kandariya Temple —
the ceiling unfolds like a stone mandala, once adorned with graceful apsaras in tiny niches.
Today, only empty holes remain.
The figures were likely stolen, now scattered in European museums,
far from the sacred space they once lit up.
🛕 Garbhagriha of Kandariya Mahadeva Temple
Stepping into the Garbhagriha is like entering the cosmos itself —
from the vibrant, sculpted exterior to this quiet, shadowed sanctum.
It’s a shift from form (sagun) to formless (nirgun) —
from spectacle to silence.
Here, the divine is not seen — it is felt.