Bhima Devi Temple Complex

Bhima Devi Temple Complex
Bhima Devi Temple Complex Location in Haryana Show map of Haryana Bhima Devi Temple Complex Location in Haryana Show map of India
Name
Other names	Khajuraho of North India
Proper name	Bhima Devi Temple Complex
Geography
Coordinates	30°47′33″N 76°54′44″E / 30.79250°N 76.91222°E / 30.79250; 76.91222Coordinates: 30°47′33″N 76°54′44″E / 30.79250°N 76.91222°E / 30.79250; 76.91222
Country	India
State	Haryana
Location	Pinjore
Culture
Primary deity	Lord Shiva
Architecture
Architectural styles	Indian architecture
History and governance
Date built	8th to 12th century
Creator	Raja Ram Dev

The Bhima Devi Temple Complex, nicknamed Khajuraho of North India for its erotic sculptures, comprises the restored ruins of an ancient Hindu temple dating from between 8th and 11th century AD, together with the adjacent 17th-century Pinjore gardens (a variant of Mughal gardens), located in Pinjore town in Panchkula district of the state of Haryana, India.

The Bhima Devi temple was sculptured during the reign of Gurjar Pratihars. Most of the comprising sculptures and architectural, which were ruined during Mughal period under Aurangzeb, are of the times of the Gurjar Pratihars.

Archaeological excavations done in 1974 revealed the temple, which was subsequently dated to 8th century to 11th century AD and declared as a protected monument under the ‘Punjab Ancient and Historical Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act-1964’. The unearthed findings cover over 100 antiquarian sculptures, apart from a layout plan indicating a five temples complex, including the main central shrine representing the Panchayatana architectural style, similar to the styles seen in the contemporaneous Khajuraho and Bhubaneshwar temples. The temple complex adjoins the Pinjore Gardens, also known as Mughal gardens built by Aurangzeb’s foster brother using much of the ruins of the Hindu temples destroyed by the Muslim invaders from the 13th century onwards till the 17th century.

Muslim invasions of Pinjore town started with Nasir-u-Din Mahmood (Iltumish’s son) in 1254 AD, continued with other invaders like Timurlane and lasted till Governor of Sirhind Fidai Khan’s (foster brother of Emperor Aurangzeb) onslaught in 1666. These invasions were responsible for the wanton destruction of this ancient temple complex. The Pinjore gardens (now renamed as Yadvendra Gardens after Yadavindra Singh Maharaja of the former princely state of Patiala) developed in the 17th century, by Fidai Khan (was also the architect), was reportedly constructed partly with ruins of destroyed temple. This garden is considered as a lovely Mughal garden, one of the oldest in northern India.