#Trirashmi Cave 23 – Mahayana Vihara with Triple Shrines (c. 2nd century CE)

Large, irregular Vihara about 30 feet deep, with three shrines and a now-destroyed façade.

Holes in the roof and floor suggest that wooden partitions and a front structure may once have existed.

In front lie several rock-cut cisterns, a raised stone bench, and a circular base likely intended for a small structural stupa.

All three shrines, along with many wall niches, are richly sculpted with images of the Buddha flanked by Padmapani and Vajrapani—a pattern resembling late Mahayana caves at Aurangabad, Ellora, and Ajanta

The presence of female deities such as Tara, Lochana, and Mamukhi further confirms its Mahayana affiliation.

The pillars before the first shrine are stylistically later than any others in the Nasik group.

#Indianrockcuttemples

20. #Trirashmi Caves - Nashik (Maharashtra).

Tucked into the Trirashmi hills near Nashik lies a stunning complex of rock-cut caves.
Popularly (and wrongly) called Pandav Leni, these are Buddhist caves dating from the 1st century BCE to the 3rd century CE.

Let’s move beyond myths ‘Pandav Leni’ is a misnomer. These ancient caves deserve to be known by their true historical name.

"Trirashmi" comes from ancient inscriptions that refer to the hill range.
It appears in Brahmi script and early Prakrit inscriptions within the caves themselves, confirming their true identity.


The Trirashmi Caves — a magnificent ensemble of 24 rock-cut sanctuaries — were carved over four centuries (1st BCE to 4th CE).
Not by one king, but through the collective efforts of:
🧘‍♂️ Buddhist monks
💰 Wealthy merchants
👑 Satavahana royals
🛡 Kshatrapa governors
🏛 Local elites & guilds.

I had created this list of offbeat temples and caves to visit in Maharashtra. Sharing it here in case you want to explore.

🛕 Maharashtra Temple Heritage Trail 📍 Nashik Region – Yadava & Chalukyan Marvels

🗓️ Day 1: Sinnar – Jhodge – Ankai
Theme: Forgotten Shrines of the Deccan
9:00–10:30 AM – Gondeshwar Mandir, Sinnar
▸ 12th c. Shiva temple in classic Hemadpanthi style
▸ Sculptural brilliance & architectural symmetry

1:00–2:30 PM – Shri Mankeshwar Temple, Jhodge (Deolane)
▸ Remote 8th–9th c. Chalukyan shrine
▸ Peaceful setting, untouched carvings
2:30 PM – Depart for Nashik
5:30 PM – Arrive in Nashik

#IndianRockCutTemples

1. Ellora Cave 29 - Dhumar Lena

#HinduCavesOfEllora

🛕 Among the grandest early Hindu caves at Ellora
💥 Massive scale, dramatic iconography, raw rock energy
🐘 Architectural twin of Elephanta
🎨 Iconographic style and carving techniques match the transitional post-Gupta to early Chalukya aesthetic.
🔨Likely built c. 575–625 CE, under Chalukya or early Kalachuri rule
📍 Stands at least a century before Kailasa Temple

🌊 Ganga graces one side — radiant, adorned in flowing drapery and ornate jewels
🏺More than a river — she embodies divine elegance and cultural memory
🎨 Gupta-era finesse woven into Deccan stone — a glimpse into the era’s aesthetics

Kota Rani: The Last Light of Hindu Kashmir

For over four thousand years, Kashmir had been shaped by Hindu dynasties — a legacy of philosophy, art, and resilience.

That long civilizational arc reached its final, tragic turn with Kota Rani, the last sovereign of a vanishing order.

A queen of unmatched intellect and iron will, her rise and fall marked the closing chapter of Hindu rule in the Valley.

Born to Raja Ramchandra, the Commander-in-Chief of Kashmir, Kota Rani was groomed in the intricate workings of power.

After the death of Suhadeva, and later Udayanadeva, she ascended to the throne not as a placeholder but as a ruler in her own right — sharp, shrewd, and steadfast.

Her early reign was marked by remarkable success. She crushed rebellions, restored order, and held back invading forces.

In a world growing increasingly hostile, she became the unyielding shield of her kingdom.

But even the wisest can be betrayed from within.

Shahmir, once a subordinate under Suhadeva, crept into her court with calculated patience.

He flattered, served, and gained Kota Rani’s trust, until he controlled the army, the treasury, and the court itself. With loyalty as his mask, he built a parallel power base, steadily pushing the queen toward political isolation.

Then came his boldest move: a proposal of marriage. Kota Rani, ever the protector of her people, eventually consented, hoping to secure peace for her son and the realm.

But Shahmir sought no alliance - only dominion. When he demanded to share the throne, Kota Rani refused him with scorn, declaring that a weaver could never sit beside a royal of ancient lineage.

Her defiance enraged Shahmir.
He laid siege to her fortress at Andarkot.
The woman who had safeguarded Kashmir from countless threats now faced betrayal from the man within her own gates. Her end remains cloaked in sorrow - either slain in the final assault or taking her own life in a last act of sovereign dignity.

With her death, a flame that had burned for millennia was snuffed out. Hindu rule in Kashmir came to an end.

Shahmir crowned himself Sultan Shams-ud-din, founding a new Islamic dynasty and altering Kashmir’s destiny forever.

Kota Rani's story is not just a tale of lost power it is the final sigh of a civilisation, a fierce reminder of courage, sacrifice, and the fragility of kingdoms in the face of calculated ambition. Who were Suhadeva and Udayanadeva ??

🟡 Suhadeva
– Not born a king.
– Likely a powerful noble or Kayastha bureaucrat
– May have bought the throne after the political chaos
– Ruled Kashmir (c. 1301–1320), then fled during a Turkic invasion

🟡 Udayanadeva
– Suhadeva’s brother
– Propped up as king by Commander Ramachandra
– Real power? His wife, Kota Rani
– Reigned till ~1338, then vanished from history

Their weak rule paved the way for Shah Mir, who overthrew Kota Rani.

📉 With that, 4,000+ years of Hindu rule in Kashmir ended.

#IndianRockCutTemples

Ellora Cave 10 – Vishvakarma (Carpenter's Cave)

#BuddhistCavesOfEllora

Cave 10 is famously called the Vishvakarma Cave – named after the divine architect.

Why?

Because the rock-cut ceiling mimics wooden rafters so precisely, it looks like a carpenter’s masterpiece.
Hence: “Carpenter’s Cave”
Seated Buddha in pralambapāda (legs down), in Dharmachakra mudra – the cosmic teacher.
But he’s not alone. He’s flanked by:
🪷 Pushpāṇi – lotus bearer, symbol of compassion & purity
⚡ Vajrapāṇi – vajra wielder, fierce protector of Dharma

#IndianRockCutTemples

1 Ellora – Cave 12 (Buddhist)

#BuddhistCavesOfEllora

📍 Cave 12 – Teen Tal / Teen Taal

This is the only 3-storey Buddhist monastery at Ellora.
Each level was carved out of a single basalt rock, with pillared halls, monk cells, and sanctums.
Not just a cave. This was a vertical university of Dharma.


🧘‍♂️ Main Deity
At the heart: a massive seated Buddha in dhyana mudra (meditation pose).
Celestial beings flank him, often interpreted as Avalokiteshvara (the embodiment of compassion) and Tārā (a saviour goddess).

It marks the Mahayana and early Vajrayana influence.

#Indianrockcuttemples

1. Ellora - Part 6 (Cave 30-34)

#JainCavesOfEllora

🔍 Tucked away at the northern edge of Ellora lie its quietest wonders—the Jain Caves (30–34).

Carved in the 9th–10th century by the Rashtrakutas, they blend spiritual austerity with jaw-dropping detail.

Stillness meets stonework here.


While the caves are mostly Digambara, they include representations of female Jain devotees and hints of Ajivika presence, suggesting a more diverse spiritual landscape.

What makes this wall truly fascinating is the depiction of Arikas—female ascetics—right beside the Digambara Tirthankara.

Could it reflect Yapaniya's influence, which allowed women’s liberation?

#100templesofindia

65. Temple Ruins of Hampi - Karnataka

🛕 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

#100TemplesOfIndia

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.

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.

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.

Simple. Sacred. Safe.

Link below to book rooms at Zeethyar

zeashtadevi.in/reservations.h… 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.

#100TemplesOfIndia

#33. Harsha Mata Temple - Rajasthan

Where Joy Meets Ancient Grandeur 🙏✨

📍 Abhaneri, Rajasthan (95 km from Jaipur) (next to Chand Bawdi)

Once a vibrant seat of devotion in the City of Brightness (Abha-Nagari), the Harsha Mata Temple now stands as a testament to resilience.


🛕 Built in the 8th–9th century in the Maha-Maru style, the temple was a sculpted hymn to Vishnu and Shakti alike, adorned with divine icons, pillared halls, and exquisite carvings.

Ever wondered how many Hindu temples were destroyed over the last 800 years under Islamic rule?

And yet, look at how skillfully the narrative has been flipped — those with a long history of conquest now play the victim card.

https://twitter.com/ShahidBalPunj/status/1927923256545194002

#100TemplesOfIndia

100. Kandariya Mahadev Temple, Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh

Interior of the temple

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.

#100TemplesOfIndia

98. Devi Jagadambika Temple, Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh

Devi Jagadambika Temple is dedicated to Goddess Parvati, worshipped here in her form as Jagadambika—Mother of the Universe.

🛕 Commissioned around 1000–1025 CE during the reign of King Ganda of the Chandela dynasty

Smaller than Kandariya Mahadeva—but no less divine.
Elegant shikhara. Soft curves.
A spiritual feminine presence carved in stone.

#100TemplesOfIndia

89. Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple, Jayankondam, Tamil Nadu.

🛕 A UNESCO World Heritage marvel, Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple was built by Rajendra Chola I in 1035 CE to celebrate his victorious march to the Ganges.

🌊He brought Ganga water to sanctify the temple’s well, earning the epithet “Gangaikonda Cholan”-the Chola who conquered the Ganga


Inside and around the temple, you’ll find depictions of:

1. Lingam: The primary, formless aspect of Shiva is worshipped in the sanctum.

2. Lingōdbhava: Emergence of the Linga

3. Nataraja: Shiva as the cosmic dancer, symbolizing creation and destruction.

4. Ardhanarishvara: Half-Shiva, half-Parvati, representing the unity of masculine and feminine.
symbolising

Up until two decades ago, when I was still in Jammu, Diwali for me was a simple, one-day celebration.

It involved a bit of cracker bursting, a Puja, and some sweets. I wasn't aware of the diverse ways this festival is celebrated across Bharat. 1. Uttar Pradesh - Ganga Aarti & "Deepotsav," illuminating the entire city with millions of diyas and reenacting scenes from the Ramayana.

https://x.com/aaraynsh/status/1851845090345390168

#100templesofindia

79. Kamakhya Devi Temple (Guwahati - Assam).

It is one of the most important pilgrimage sites for followers of the Tantric tradition and one of the 51 Shakti Peethas.

Built in Nilachal style (Nangra + Local Assamese).
The main sanctum houses a rock fissure instead of an idol, from which a natural spring flows, representing the yoni of the goddess

The temple is known for its unique worship of the goddess’s yoni (female generative organ), symbolizing fertility and power

The temple celebrates the goddess's menstruation period, symbolizing fertility.


The current structure of the temple was rebuilt by King Naranarayan of the Koch dynasty in the 16th century after it was destroyed by Kalapahad, a Muslim general under the Bengal Sultanate.

However, it is believed that a temple had existed on the site much earlier, with its roots in pre-Vedic times.

#100templesofindia

78. NeelKanth Temple (Kalinjar - Bundhelkhand -UP).

Part 3- Main Neelkanth Temple.

Once a multi story Mandapa
Carvings on the door
Neelkantheshwar
Shiv Kartikaye Parvati


Garbha Grah

#100templesofindia

78. NeelKanth Temple (Kalinjar - Bundhelkhand -UP).

Neelakantha Temple, a millennia-old temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, is renowned for its unique 'Ekmukhi Shivalinga' and ancient rock carvings.

Built over 1000 years ago, it stands as one of India's oldest temples.

Primary object of worship for over a millennium was bluestone Shivalingam with silver eyes.

As per the mythology Lord Shiva came to Kalinjar to quench his thirst after consuming poison after the Samudra Manthan. Even today throat of the shiva lingam is always moist with water source inside the temple.

Hence the name Kaal + Jara destroyer of time Built by the Chandela ruler Parmardi Dev in the 10th century.
The main temple, once a multi floor structure is now reduced to only one floor.