Sun Temple Modhera - Sun Temple Modhera Gujarat India - Ahmedabad and Modhera Sun Temple - Gujarat Modhera Famous for Sun Temple | Travel Destination

The architecture of the Sun temple at Modhera

Asia, Destinations | admin | July 24, 2009 at 10:13 am

suntemplemodhera The Sun temple in Modhera is one of the more famous Sun temples found in India. Situated 102 km from Ahmedabad, in Gujarat, it is one of the most spectacular monuments in the country. It was built in 1026 AD by Solanki king Bhimdev.

The temple is almost in ruins, but immensely beautiful nevertheless. The ‘Shikhara’ or the decorative roof of the temple is missing, as is the deity. Only the Sanctum, a ‘Padakshina’ path (the prayer path) and the ‘Sabha Mandap’ (the gathering space) remains.

The temple is designed so that the first rays of the sun fall on the deity, during the equinoxes. The Sabha Mandap has beautiful and intricately carved pillars.

They are 52 in all, and the Mandap is open from all sides. The pillars depict stories from the Indian mythologies of Mahabharata , Ramayana and Krishna Leela. The entrance of the Mandap has beautifully carved ‘Toranas’. These ‘Toranas’ traditionally belong to Gujarat and are put up at the entrance of houses.

The external facade of the Sun temple has various carvings of the Sun God himself in many avatars .

The most famous part of the Sun Temple is the massive rectangular shaped ‘Kund’ or pond . This pond is fabulously carved in simple geometrical patterns. It is known as the ‘Surya Kund‘ or ‘Rama Kund‘. This area of over 100 sq m is believed to have held pure water.

The devotees were supposed to perform prayer rituals here. Now, however,there is no water in the pond and visitors can see the entire carving and the steps leading to the bottom of the pond. Several miniature shrines dot the steps.

The Sun Temple in Modhera is the background of several dance festivals in India. In fact, it is one of the most sought after locations. Many famous dancers have used the temple as a backdrop for traditional dance performances.

The Modhera Sun temple can easily be done as a day -trip from Ahmedabad. Just make sure you reach befor sunrise to catch the first rays of the sun falling into the Sanctum Sanctorum. It is a sight you will not forget for years to come !