Sun Temple of Modhera

Aditi Ghosh

Gujarat has many architectural legacies of the ‘Solanki’ rule (11th century). The Sun Temple of Modhera is one such gem. This temple impresses both for its architecture(sculpture decoration representing true artistic mastery) as well as technological achievements (position of the temple against the Sun).

The interior and exterior of the temple have been profusely covered with sculptures covering life stages, stories of Ramayana and Mahabharata, deities and demi-gods. Each panel has a story to tell. Better to have a guide.

The temple was designed with astronomical precision. During the equinoxes, the first rays of the rising sun directly illuminate the shrine in the sanctum, a spectacle that attracts devotees and tourists from across the world.

In front of the temple is the kunda (sacred pond) – an elaborate water structure with 108 shrines- a distinctive association of temples with such ornate water structures unique in the region.

The writer is a globe traveller