suntempal

The Sun Temple of Modhera is a Hindu temple dedicated to the solar deity Surya located in the village of Modhera in Mehsana district, Gujarat, India.^[1] The temple is situated on the bank of the river Pushpavati, and was constructed after 1026-27 CE during the reign of Bhima I of the Chaulukya dynasty.^[1] The temple is no longer used for worship and is a protected monument maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India.^[1] The temple complex has three components: Gūḍhamanḍapa, the shrine hall; Sabhamanḍapa, the assembly hall and Kunḍa, the reservoir.^[2] The halls are noted for the intricately carved exteriors and decorated pillars. The tiered steps of reservoir lead to the bottom and numerous small shrines.^{[2] HISTORT:}Sun Temple of Modhera was a part of Patan District until 2013, after which it became a part of Mehsana District.

The shrine proper of the Sun Temple was built during the reign of Bhima I of Chaulukya dynasty.^{[A][3][4][5][6]} Earlier, during 1024–1025, Mahmud of Ghazni had invaded Bhima's kingdom, and a force of around 20,000 soldiers had unsuccessfully tried to check his advance at Modhera. Historian A. K. Majumdar theorizes that the Sun Temple might have been built to commemorate this defense.^[7] On a block in the western wall of the cella, there is an upside down inscription "Vikram Samvat 1083" carelessly incised in Devnagari script which correspond to 1026-1027 CE. No other date is found. As the inscription is upside down, it evidences the destruction and reconstruction of the cella. Due to the position of the inscription, it is not firmly considered as the date of construction. On the stylistic ground, it is known that the Kunda with its corner shrines was built earlier at the beginning of the 11th century. The inscription is considered as the date of destruction by Ghazni instead of the construction. Soon after Bhima had returned to power. So the temple proper, the miniature and the niche shrines in the tank were built shortly after 1026 CE. The dancing hall was added much later in the third quarter of the 12th century along with the gateways, the porch of the temple proper and the doorframes of the temple and the cella during the reign of the Karna.^[8]

The temple is built on 23.6° latitude (approximately near Tropic of Cancer).^{[B][10][11][12][13]} The place was later known as Sita ni Chauri and Ramkund locally.^[C][14] No worship is offered here now.^[5] The temple is the Monument of National Importance and is maintained by the Archeological Survey of India.

It was added to the tentative list of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in December 2022.^[15]