Kaleshwari Group of Monuments
kaleshwari group monument gujarati કલેશ્વરી સ્મારક સમુહ also known kaleshwarini nal gujarati કલેશ્વરીની નાળ located near lavana village khanpur taluka mahisagar district gujarat india near district headquarters lunavada near stream hidimba van forest hidimba group includes intricatelycarved temple ruin two stepwells reservoir structure panel erotic sculpture idol scattered site ruin located foothill hillock built th th century monument reconstructed th century state protected monument believed site selected constructing complex since situated old trade route gujarat rajasthan ancient settlement known lavaneshwari place still known lavana site located near stream checkdammed stream traditionally place associated character mahabharata shiva temple erected mulaprasada shrine proper sabhamandapa assembly hall th century temple fell ruin later kund reservoir constructed th th century twin stepwells built th th century followed construction bhim chauri th th century arjun chauri hidimba temple built th th century nearby hillock temple ruin said mala rana prince lunavada state restored inscription worn cella rebuilt reduced size known ghummatvalu mandir assembly hall reconstructed converted temple known kaleshwari mata temple shikar madhi built vakhat singh ruin ancient structure first half th century ruin restored state archeology department gujarat promoted tourism spot monument include intricatelycarved temple ruin two stepwells kund structure panel erotic sculpture idol scattered site ghummatwalu mandir restored number idol pillar original temple belonging th century original temple built anarta school mahagurjara style north indian temple architecture dravidian influence sculpture restored temple erected reduced size recreating cella grabhagriha inside original shrine proper mulaprasada identified partially surviving pitha plinth pitha three buttressed sculpture jangha mandovara middle part temple dikpalas vyalas apsaras pillar eight sided base sixteen sided middle circular top pillar supported flat ceiling image mahishasurmardini installed sanctum along lingam kaleshwari kaleshri mata temple located north ghummatwalu mandir temple mandapa hall without elaborate carving sabhamandapa assembly hall original temple level eaves supported ten pilaster six column niche wall later addition image nataraja shiva locally worshiped kaleshwari kaleshwari local goddess associated folklore based inscription one pillar mala rana prince lunavada state restored temple inscription worn shikar madhi built vakhat singh king lunavada ruin ancient structure night stay used come hunting panel erotic sculpture idol dancing ganesha maheshmardini vishnu chamunda darpan kanya dating back th century sculpture collected square gallery nearby east shikar madhi another group monument hillock reached flight step bhima chauri shiva temple belonging th th century suggested architectural style except fourpillared entrance lower part sanctum mandap temple recently restored lintel suggesting circular roof elaborate carving sanctum threshold udumbar notable carving ganesha sculpture kundi southwest temple another temple north known arjuna chauri ancient temple shiva belongs th th century lower part temple sanctum entrance sculpture shiva survive upper panel entrance depicts shiva various position lower part depicts standing position hidimba temple north temple three entrance lowest part surviving thus nothing definite said except floor plan image large foot temple popularly associated hidimba demoness wife bhima scale foot suggests brought somewhere else installed forest called hidimba van almost square reservoir kund also known hidimba kund × built th th century laterite sandstone side short flight five step perpendicular edge also facing leading lower apron central flight side niche image notable among image dedicated shiva vishnu reclining shesha image depicting local folk dance group traditionally water used ritual bathing washing drinking repaired new masonry archeological survey india two well located north east two stepwells sasu ni vav vahu ni vav northwest kund built motherinlaw daughterinlaw according myth may historically true legend say motherinlaw denied water daughterinlaw stepwell daughterinlaw built stepwell built longer narrower stepwell offended motherinlaw cursed water impurity stepwells built nanda style th th century exquisitely carved sculpture iconography resembles rani ki vav stepwells may belong th century also sasu ni vav broader vahu ni vav narrower stepwells four kutas pavilion tower four mandapas supported four pilaster without pillar pilaster monolithic shaft ruchaka type vahu ni vav two storied sasu ni vav four storied northern wall sasu ni vav sculpture lajja gauri woman giving birth child shitala four hand one broom riding donkey first kuta panel dedicated navagraha nine planet dasavatara ten incarnation vishnu includes balarama incarnation two incarnation matsya kurma depicted lotus sculpture makara snake related water architecture second kuta sheshayin vishnu vishnu reclining shesha panel ten figure including saptamatrika seven mother third kuta panel saptarshi two image vaishnavi vahu ni vav entered south climbing four step well north west wall first kuta dashavatara second kuta sculpture sheshayin vishnu right saptamatrika left carved shaft bracket deeper stepwell suggesting underground flow following slope site lower two kuta narrower previous one annual tribal fair organised mahashivaratri janmashtami attended many people artist traditional tribal dance folk music performance presented artist gujarat elsewhere fair mentioned malela jeev novel pannalal patel scene gujarati film manavini bhavai shot kaleshwari group monument include nine state protected monument maintained state archeology department government gujarat list state protected monument gujarat documentary kaleshwari fair gujarati