Kiradu Temple in Hathma Rajasthan

Here is some information about Kiradu Temple in Hathma Rajasthan india.

Location: 39km from Barmer city in Hathma village.
Built in: 1000 A.D. ago
Built By: Solanki Rular
Dedicated to: Lord Shiva
Entry: Free
Photography: Allow
Temple Timing: 06 am to 8:00 pm
Significance: one of the oldest temple
Visiting Timing: 1 to 2 hour
Best time to Visit: October toMarch.
Nearest Railway Station: Barmer station
Nearest Air Port:Jaipur

About Kiradu Temple

The Kiradu temples is situated near the village Hathma about 43 km away from the Barmer region in Rajasthan. The inscriptions dating back to 1161 AD reveal that the ancient name of this place was Kiratakupa and was once the capital of the Punwars. The temples were built around c. 1000 AD and later. The temples represent the zenith of the Gurjara-Pratihara sub-style of the Nagara or North Indian Style of Temple Architecture. There are five temples in all and most remarkable and biggest of them is Someshvara Temple - dedicated to Lord Shiva.The temple complex was constructed from sandstone. The columns, capitals, cornices, column reliefs, ceilings…….each nook and corner is intricately carved and depicts scenes from the epics ” Ramayana and Mahabharata” and the incarnations of “Lord Vishnu“. There are elaborate carvings of elephant and horse riders, war scenes and scenes from routine life of people. The larger of the surviving ruins is supposedly a dance hall for the king ‘s entertainment. There are carvings at places, of dinosaur look-alike and creatures with dragon-face too.

History of Kiradu Temple

According to history kiradu temple is about 1000 years old temple.It was a complex of about 108 temples of which ruins of five survive. Muslim invaders raided, defaced the statues of Gods, mutilated the female figurines and destroyed the temple complex to pieces.The largest and the most impressive amongst them is the Someshvara Temple. Built in the 11th century, the Someshvara ancient temple is said to be the best example of its kind today. Constructed in honour of Lord Shiva (the Destroyer in the holy trinity of Hindu gods), it has a rather stumpy multi-turreted tower and beautiful sculptures dedicated to the god. The inner sanctum has a resplendent image of the Lord. At its base, is a large reverse-curve lotus, which has a resemblance with the early Chola Temples of south India. This ancient temple also depicts scenes from the Hindu epic Ramayana. Other notable features are sculptures of apsaras (mythical dancing girls from the abode of the Gods) and vyalas (a griffin-like mythical beast generally associated with the Buddha) which were rarely seen after 1050AD in temple architecture. All in all, although Barmer is a bit out of the way you’ll get your money’s worth when you visit Someshvara.The Vishnu temple of this group has the sanctum and the mandapa of which only the cubicle and the pillars of the central octagon have remained. The temple stands over an elaborately built plinth.
The pancharatha or five-faceted walls of the sanctum are built over the plinth. Only a few mini-spires are left of the multi-turreted spire or sikhara. The central pillar is left of the large open mandapa. The base of the beam is octagonal in shape and features a figure of apsara or heavenly maiden. They are similar in style to the figure from Baroli in southwest of Kota.The temple of Somesvara is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The sanctum of this temple is also five-faceted. The plinth has moldings and jadyakumbha or inverted cymarecta. The figurative bands or the tharas featuring elephants, horses and human beings are notable. The jangha or the middle portion of the wall is the rupadhara or figurative band, which is placed below the niche.The niche is of bigger size on the bhadra or the cardinal facet to place a bigger image. The multi-turreted spire is no more. The half annulets below the vases have dainty foliage patterns. The toranas or decorated arches span over the spaces between the pillars are no more. The decoration on the exterior of the mandapa is equally elegant and varied. The notable are the scenes of combat and palace life, kaudakapalik rites and scenes from the Ramayana and from everyday life. There are other three smaller Shiva temples. Architecturally they are not so beautiful but some sculptural depictions of ritual eroticism, temple building, Bhishma Pitamah lying on a couch of arrows and scenes from daily life, such as a group of acrobats are worth noticing.

How to Reach Kiralu Temple

By Road: There are many public and private transport available to reach kiralu temple.

By Rail: The Nearest Railway station is Barmer station.(35 Km)

By Air: The Nearest Air Port is Jaipur.

Picture Gellery of Kiralu Temple