Archaeological Site Visit: Bhitargaon Temple

#AncientIndia #CulturalSite #FieldTrip #KanpurTourism

- Bhitargaon Temple

The Bhitargaon Temple is a terraced brick building fronted with a terracotta panel. Built in the 6th century during the Gupta Empire, it is the oldest remaining terracotta Hindu shrine with a roof and a high Sikhara, though its upper chamber did sustain some damage in the 18th century. The temple is built on a square plan with double-recessed corners and faces east. There tall pyramidal spire over the garbhagriha. The walls are decorated with terracotta panels depicting aquatic monsters, Shiva and Vishnu etc. When Cunningham first visited the site, the remains of the porch and of the ardhamandapa were still visible, which later collapsed.

- Jagannath Mandir Behta

This temple is a temple of Lord Jagannath. This temple is located in the village of Benhta, three kilometers from the headquarters of the Bhitargaon Block of Kanpur district. It is said that the typical feature of this temple is that some drops of rain begin driping on its roof seven days before rain. The last restoration of the temple was done in the 11th century.

Gallery