Bateshwar, Morena

Bateshwar Temple complex
Bateshwar Temple complex
Location within Madhya Pradesh
Bateshwar Temple complex
Location within Madhya Pradesh
Name
Proper name Bateshwar Mandir Samooh
Devanagari बटेश्वर मंदिर समूह
Geography
Coordinates 26°25′35.4″N 78°11′48.25″E / 26.426500°N 78.1967361°E / 26.426500; 78.1967361Coordinates: 26°25′35.4″N 78°11′48.25″E / 26.426500°N 78.1967361°E / 26.426500; 78.1967361
Country India
State Madhya Pradesh
District Morena
Culture
Primary deity Shiva
Architecture
Architectural styles Mandir

Bateshwar (Hindi:बटेश्वर), 25 km from Morena town, is an archaeological site comprising about 200 ancient shrines in Morena district, Madhya Pradesh. This site is located on the north-western slope of a range of hills near Padavali, a village about 40 km from Gwalior. The shrines in Bateshwar complex are dedicated mostly to Shiva and a few to Vishnu. The temples are made of sandstone and belong to the 8–10th century CE.[1] They were built during the reign of Gurjara-Pratihara Dynasty,[2] 300 years before Khajuraho temples were built.

Restoration

The cluster of temples is spread over an area of 10 hectares in the ravines of Chambal. Area was under the control of dacoits like Nirbhay Singh Gujjar and Gadariya. The Archaeological Survey of India team led by KK Muhammed approached the dacoits and convinced them to support in the restoration of temples established by their ancestors. After numerous efforts, ASI, with the help of dacoits, started the restoration work.[1] and restored 80 temples before the dacoits were shot dead by the Special Task Force (India). The area later fell into the hands of Mining Mafia, who till date, are doing illegal mining around the Temple Complex. This is posing a serious threat to the Temples and with regular blasting, the temple structure is weakened day by day.

Presently sites of Padavali or Padawli and Mitaoli are being restored, where one temple each has been discovered till now. A temple cluster at Dodamath in the same place is also being restored. The ravages of time and earthquakes had destroyed these forgotten temples.

Bateshwar is located at 26°25′35.4″N 78°11′48.25″E / 26.426500°N 78.1967361°E / 26.426500; 78.1967361

References

  1. 1 2 Subramanian, T.S. (16–29 Jan 2010). "Restored Glory". Frontline, Volume 27 – Issue 02. Retrieved 17 January 2010.
  2. ↑ Madhya Pradesh (India)-Directorate of Archaeology & Museums (1989). Puratan, Volumes 6–7. Dept. of Archaeology and Museums, Madhya Pradesh. p. 113.
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