Modhera Sun Temple

Sun Temple, Modhera
Gudhamandapa, Sabhamandapa and Kunda of temple
Sun Temple, Modhera Location in Gujarat
Alternative names	Modhera Surya Mandir
General information
Status	Ruined
Location	Modhera, Mehsana district, Gujarat
Country	India
Coordinates	23°35′1.7″N 72°7′57.67″E / 23.583806°N 72.1326861°E / 23.583806; 72.1326861Coordinates: 23°35′1.7″N 72°7′57.67″E / 23.583806°N 72.1326861°E / 23.583806; 72.1326861
Technical details
Material	Sand stone
Designations	ASI Monument of National Importance (N-GJ-158)
Sun Temple, Modhera Plan of temple complex: (from top to bottom) Gudhamandapa, the shrine hall; Sabhamandapa, the assembly hall and Kunda, the reservoir Culture Primary deity Surya Direction and posture East-facing Temple tank Suryakund Shrine Ruined Important festivals Modhera Dance Festival Architecture Architectural styles Maru-Gurjara (Chaulukya) Number of monuments 3 Inscriptions Yes History and governance Date built 1026-27 Creator Bhima I

Sun Temple, Modhera
Plan of temple complex: (from top to bottom) Gudhamandapa, the shrine hall; Sabhamandapa, the assembly hall and Kunda, the reservoir
Culture
Primary deity	Surya
Direction and posture	East-facing
Temple tank	Suryakund
Shrine	Ruined
Important festivals	Modhera Dance Festival
Architecture
Architectural styles	Maru-Gurjara (Chaulukya)
Number of monuments	3
Inscriptions	Yes
History and governance
Date built	1026-27
Creator	Bhima I

The Sun Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to the solar deity Surya located at Modhera village of Mehsana district, Gujarat, India. It is situated on the bank of the river Pushpavati. It was built in 1026-27 AD during the reign of Bhima I of the Chaulukya dynasty. No worship is offered now and is protected monument maintained by Archaeological Survey of India. The temple complex has three components: Gudhamandapa, the shrine hall; Sabhamandapa, the assembly hall and Kunda, the reservoir. The halls have intricately carved exterior and pillars. The reservoir has steps to reach bottom and numerous small shrines.

The Sun Temple was built during the reign of Bhima I of Chaulukya dynasty in 1026-1027 (Vikram Samvat 1083). It is built on 23.6° latitude (approximately near Tropic of Cancer). The place was later known as Sita ni Chauri and Ramkund locally. No worship is offered here now. The temple is Monument of National Importance and is maintained by Archeological Survey of India.

The temple complex is built in Maru-Gurjara style (Chaulukya style). The temple complex has three axially aligned components; the shrine proper (garbhagriha) in a hall (gudhamandapa), the outer or assembly hall (sabhamandapa or rangamandapa) and a sacred reservoir (kunda).

The sabhamandapa is not in continuation with gudhamandapa but is placed little away as a separate structure. Both are built on paved platform. Their roofs have collapsed long ago leaving behind few lower-most courses. Both roofs are 15' 9" in diameter but are constructed differently. The platform or plinth is inverted lotus shaped.

The Gudhamandapa measures 51 feet 9 inches by 25 feet 8 inches. It is almost equally divided into Gudhamandapa, the hall and garbhgriha, the shrine proper. Both are rectangular in plan with one projection on each of the smaller sides and two projections on each of the longer sides. This projections on the smaller sides form the entrance and the back of shrine. The three projections of outer wall of Gudhamandapa had windows on each side and the east projection had the doorway. These windows had perforated stone screens; the northern is in ruins and the southern is missing. Pradakshinamarga is formed by the passage between the walls of garbhgriha and the outer walls of gudhamandapa. The roof of passage has stones slabs carved with rosettes. The Shikhara of the it no longer exists.