Road to Modhera

One Saturday in early March, we decided to pack a set of clothes and drive off from home in Vadodara up north. Though the avid birdwatcher in me wanted a pit-stop at Thol Lake near Ahmedabad, the rising mercury brought me to my senses and we decided to head to the Sun Temple at Modhera, 102 Km from Ahmedabad. It is one of the most beautiful pieces of architecture in India, a country that boasts of the Taj Mahal, the Jantar Mantar, the temples of Khajuraho and Madurai, etc, etc. It was also my first time inside a step-well. I had been to Adalaj before but because of the renovation efforts, we were forbidden to climb down the steps to the water. Modhera was just as it promised to be (which is why it is also on the cover of India Guide: Gujarat). Here are some shots: 

Built in 1026 AD by King Bhimdev, the temple is dedicated to the Sun-god, Surya. There is a large rectangular stepped tank called the Suryakund which is one of the finest examples of geometry in the world.

Prayers are not offered in this temple.

The organization of stone is a dazzling work of art. 108 miniature shrines are carved in between the steps inside the tank. 108 is considered to be an auspicious number by Hindus. The construction allows a large number of pilgrims to come down to the tank, without creating bottlenecks. The steps are narrow, so you're forced to walk one behind another.

The pillared hall has 52 intricately carved pillars to mark each week of the year. This a decorated pillar outside the hall.

A bit of a blue sky and patch of green

  

Buddha,  Mahavira and Hindu deities have all been depicted in this architecture