Survaya Ki Garhi, the must visit 10th century archaeological site in MP
26 Mar 2022 16:57:01
Hidden in the vicinity of Shivpuri in Madhya Pradesh, is a small fortress, no less than a reservoir of architectural brilliance and that of cultural richness. The Survaya Ki Garhi is a hidden jewel of heritage in MP, important to the state. Located 20 km outside of Shivpuri, close to the Shivpuri–Jhansi Road, lies the small town called as Survaya Ki Garhi.
One can clearly see the difference between the small stone pieces for later building as compared to the larger and less smooth ones used to construct the temples and the monastery building. It was apparently partially restored in 1916 by the Brits.
Amongst the many stone carved sculptures in the temples, a particularly striking one is that of Lord Vishnu on his Vahana Garuda. The roof here is carved in into floral patterns. The pillars here stand out, having the most beautiful architecture of stone carved sculptures!
The temple is very well preserved- the grounds are exceptionally clean and well maintained and looks as preserved as it was, 1000 years back!
A serene lake adds to the old-world charm of this small and quaint town. An ancient temple dedicated to Lord Shiva is also located in the town, hence making it historically significant. It used to be earlier known as ‘Saraswati Pattam’. With the new-age modern developments around the city, it is not difficult to feel like a tourist in Rome, when every turn leads to an ancient relic, right next to the modern buildings.
While it is a small fort (garhi) complex with moat, it was originally a Hindu monastery that taught yoga! Allegedly, it was built by a local king known as Avantivarman for his guru Purandar, and was part of a 5 such monasteries in the area. It was partially destroyed by a local mughal chieftan and subsumed to make the current castle complex.
One can clearly see the difference between the small stone pieces for later building as compared to the larger and less smooth ones used to construct the temples and the monastery building. It was apparently partially restored in 1916 by the Brits.
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The group of temples belong to the period of 10th-11th century. The Survaya ki Garhi, on the inside of it, hosts a group of temple & monastery fortress which was built much later, probably to prevent the invaders from destroying the temples.
Among the treasure, the architecture pattern owes itself to the Kachchaphaghta style of early medieval India where theme of music, dance and demi-gods is visible in the gorgeous sculptures. The temples here are not huge, but the exquisite sculptures & carvings on the temples are breath-taking. Sculpture of Lord Ganesh is depicted on the column of the wall.
Amongst the many stone carved sculptures in the temples, a particularly striking one is that of Lord Vishnu on his Vahana Garuda. The roof here is carved in into floral patterns. The pillars here stand out, having the most beautiful architecture of stone carved sculptures!
Another sculpture here is that of Anantasayanam Vishnu sculpture and Lord Shiva with nandi sculpture. The temples itself are known for their numerous sculptures they hold, the depiction of mythology they have to offer. The temple her is actually dedicated to Lord Shiva, and faces the west.
As we discovered earlier, the temple was hampered due to a mosque which was probably constructed by Alauddin Khilji. There is an inscription found on the floor of this temple; the inscription is datable to samvata 1366 which refers the name of Khilji.
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While the art and architecture of the temple are splendid, the Garhi itself is truly a sight for sore eyes. The Garhi is an auditorium that is completely built out of stone. One can imagine the echoes of the dance recitals and musicals from a time long ago still linger in the auditorium.
The temple is very well preserved- the grounds are exceptionally clean and well maintained and looks as preserved as it was, 1000 years back!