Built-in the eighth century and destroyed within the fifteenth century CE, Martand Sun Temple now lies in ruins. To many’s shock, the temple was featured in a Bollywood film starring Shahid Kapoor, Haider. Read to know extra about it.
Explore the Martand Sun Temple in your subsequent go to to Kashmir, whether or not you’re a historical past buff or not. This architectural marvel is a spoil now however nonetheless attracts many vacationers visiting Jammu and Kashmir. More than 1200 years previous, Martand Sun Temple is a Hindu Temple devoted to Surya, the chief photo voltaic deity in Hinduism.
You will probably be stunned to know the story of its development, who constructed it, and the way it all got here crumbling down on the orders of a Muslim ruler.
Many ruins and archaeological findings counsel that Martand Sun Temple is a wonderful specimen of Kashmiri structure and, thus, is value a go to throughout your Kashmir go to.
Read extra about Martand Sun Temple beneath, and who is aware of, you may discover one thing that piques your curiosity so as to add to your subsequent Kashmir tour.
Why Should You Visit Martand Sun Temple?
If you’re a historical past buff, visiting Martand Sun Temple in Mattan, Jammu and Kashmir, is among the finest issues to do in Kashmir. Beautiful carvings and constructions within the temple complicated narrate the tales of its previous. Plus, the views round it are spectacular, making it the right background on your trip footage.
Before visiting right here, let’s know extra about Martand Sun Temple historical past so that you’re not clueless concerning the web site you’re exploring.
As per historic information, the primary Martand Sun Temple was constructed by Raja Ramdev of the Pandava dynasty in 3007 BC. He devoted the temple to Sun God or Surya Dev in Hindi. After him, a number of kings and monarchs repaired and renovated the temple. But the one identify that remained hooked up to Martand Sun Temple is Maharaja Lalitaditya. He modified the form of the traditional temple and made it world-famous.
Timings of the temple: 6 am to 7 pm
Exquisite Architecture of the Sun Temple
Martand, The Sun Temple in Kashmir, is exceptional and placing, overlaying an space of 32,000 sq. toes. Its structure is a advantageous instance of the spectacular geniuses born in India over the centuries. The complicated has a mix of various architectural kinds of Hindu, together with Kashmiri, which additional contains the Gupta, Chinese, Strain, Gandharan, Roman, and Greek.
The temple’s entrance is positioned within the west and is grandly embellished with intricate carvings of Hindu gods. The courtyard can also be large and is related to the primary shrine the place Lord Surya’s shrine was put in. The Martand Sun Temple’s central half has a tank-like construction with descending stairs.
The principal shrine has a smaller antechamber adorned with detailed carvings of Lord Vishnu, Goddess Ganga, Goddess Yamuna, and Sun God, Surya.
Many archeologists had tried to restore an impression of the temple’s principal shrine because it was centuries in the past earlier than the Muslim ruler lastly destroyed it. It can also be believed that the primary shrine used to have a pyramid-shaped pinnacle, generally seen in Kashmir temples.
You will discover about 83 smaller shrines round the primary Surya Temple. They are lined alongside the perimeter of the complicated, related by Greek-influenced limestone colonnades.
Today, Martand Sun Temple reveals weathered Sanskrit inscriptions, eroded sculptures, and carvings displaying conventional music occasions, dance postures, and extra deities.
Who Destroyed Martand Sun Temple?
Among the oldest temple ruins, Martand Sun Temple is named ‘Shaitan ki Gufa’ or just Devil’s Cave by Kashmiri Muslims. Part of the Karkota Empire, a Naga Kingdom, continuously battled with Gandhara’s Suparna, a Garuda Kingdom. Therefore, even immediately, an eagle is taken as an indication of the satan in Kashmiri folklore.
Martand Sun Temple shaitan ki gufa was an architectural masterpiece that impressed everybody who noticed it. But within the fifteenth century CE, Muslim ruler Sikander Butshikan or Sultan Sikander attacked and destroyed the temple.
It is believed that the temple’s construction was so sturdy that it took days to tear it aside. Today, it lies in ruins close to the Anantnag district in Kashmir.
What efforts are taken to preserve the temple?
As a web site of nationwide significance, Martand Sun Temple restoration is undertaken by the Archeological Survey of India (ASI). The identify of the temple in its registry of centrally projected websites (Sun Temple) is Kartanda.
How to succeed in Martand Sun Temple?
Take a cab after you land to Srinagar to Martand Sun Temple. The journey is gorgeous, with scenic views. It takes about an hour and a half to succeed in the temple. It will also be reached from Anantnag, about 9.5 km away. Taxis additionally run from Pahalgam to Martand Sun Temple, which takes about an hour.
Explore the most effective archeological websites in Kashmir, Martand Sun Temple. Know about its historical past, construction, structure, destruction, and conservation efforts made by the Archeological Survey of India. Add this attraction to your Kashmir tour packages and study this masterpiece. Make your Kashmir vacation hassle-free by contacting Indian Holiday, who will design a customizable Kashmir package deal for you as per your wants and preferences. Contact immediately!
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