Sri Krishnaswamy Temple, Ambalappuzha

The Ambalapuzha Sri Krishnaswamy Temple, a revered Krishna temple, is situated in Ambalappuzha, Kerala. While the majority of its existing structure dates back to the 14th and 15th centuries, the temple's origins trace back to at least the 8th century. This temple holds a significant historical connection with the Guruvayoor Sree Krishna Temple, another prominent Hindu temple in Kerala.

Dedicated to the Parthasarathy form of Krishna – a Vishnu avatara, the Ambalapuzha Temple commemorates the spiritual essence of the Mahabharata where Krishna, serving as Arjuna's charioteer, addresses Arjuna's spiritual dilemmas and imparts the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita. During the 18th century, when Tipu Sultan led a destructive campaign, this temple played a crucial role in safeguarding major Hindu artworks and statues from various temples across Kerala. 

The Ambalapuzha Krishna Temple is an expansive complex that houses numerous shrines and showcases a wide array of Hindu artwork encompassing various traditions. The complex is particularly renowned for its murals and a collection of artworks depicting the ten avatars of Vishnu (Dasavatara). Additionally, the temple complex has been a longstanding center for learning Sanskrit, as well as classical Indian dance and music. 

The temple is famous for hosting several annual Hindu festivals, drawing performers in Indian music and dance. Notable events include the twelve-day Panthrandu Kalabham, Pallippana performances dedicated to Krishna, Shiva, and Devi, as well as vibrant Onam celebrations, which are major attractions for devotees and cultural enthusiasts alike. 

Location: India, 9°23'01"N 76°22'10"E

Rajim temples and pilgrimage site, Chhattisgarh

Rajim is one of the most important historic pilgrimage site of Chhattisgarh. It is located near the confluence (sangam) of Mahanadi and Pairi rivers. Regional tradition includes the Sondur river – that joins about 20 miles away – to be a part of this tirtha-kshetra. Rajim was a capital in historic times, and used to be one of the stops for pilgrims from central and northern India heading to Bhubaneswar–Puri.

Rajim has some of the oldest, better preserved beautiful carved stone temples in Chhattisgarh. The temples are found on both banks of the Mahanadi river, the most notable and the largest collection of Hindu temples are found on the east bank. These date from about the 6th century to the 12th century. Excavations completed since 2012 have unearthed the ruins of lost temples near sites such as the Sita Bari. So far, archaeological studies have been limited to the eastern side of the Mahanadi river.

The most notable temple in Rajim is the Rajiv Lochana temple dedicated to Vishnu. It is from the 6th to 7th century. The pillars, doorway and wall reliefs are exquisitely carved, almost like jewelry. The Ganga, Yamuna, Rama, Lakshmana, Sita, Krishna, Buddha, other Vishnu avatars, Durga, Shiva, Naga, musicians, dancers, namaste postures, kama mithuna scenes are all impressive. Other temples in the Rajiv Lochana temples complex include the Badri-Narayana temple, the Rajeshvara-Dhaneshwara temples, the Vamana temple, the Varaha temple and the Narasimha temple. One of the mandapas has a Buddha statue, brought to this temple complex to preserve it. The statue was discovered at another site along the Mahanadi river (Rajim–Sirpur region has numerous Buddhist, Hindu and Jain historic sites).

To the east of the Rajiv Lochana temples complex, across the river is the historic Kuleshvara temple of Navagaon – a Shiva temple. The temple is notable for its high octagonal jagati (platform) – likely a feature that has helped the temple withstand the monsoon floods. The life-size artwork on mandapa pilasters, the Kartikeya, the Mahisasuramardini and the scene depicting a woman riding a horse are also notable.

To the south of Rajiv Lochana temple is the restored Ramachandra temple. In its mandapa is an exquisite collection of 7th to 9th century carvings brought from other lost Hindu temples in this region. These form a part of the pillars, pilasters, inner wall and doorway panels. The artwork depict scenes from Vishnu, Shiva and Shakti legends. Local folklore – such as those mentioned by Alexander Cunningham – state that this temple was rebuilt about the 17th to 18th century with artwork collected from Sirpur temple ruins.

Location: 20.96396 N, 81.877581 E

• Southeast of Raipur (50 kilometers) 
• Southwest of Sirpur (80 kilometers)
• near Highway 30 and 130.

Site is also known as, or identified as: 

• Rajivlochan–Ramachandra temples of Rajim
• Rajim group of temples
• Rajim-Sirpur archaeological sites
• Rajamalapura temples
• Rajam temples
• Kamal kshetra of Daksina kosala
• Chitrotpala–Utpaleshwar temples

Nearby historic sites: 

• Sirpur, Chhattisgarh
• Arang, Chhattisgarh
• Fingeshwar, Chhattisgarh

Sources and Further Reading: 

1. Krishna Deva (1995), Temples of India 
2. DM Stadtner (1976), From Sirpur to Rajim: the art of Kosala during the seventh century, University of California Berkeley 
3. Douglas Barrett and Moreshwar Dikshit (1960), Mukhalingam Sirpur and Rajim temples, Heritage of Indian Art Series, Vol 2. 
4. Odette Viennot (1958), Le Temple de Ramachandra a Rajim, Arts Asiatiques, École française d’Extrême-Orient 
5. Saurabh Saxena (2011), Rajim – Prayaga of Chattisgarh

Odisha

Odisha is an eastern state of India with ancient roots. Excavations here have unearthed examples of some of the oldest known city-forts in the world. The Buddhist, Hindu and Jain monument ruins of Odisha have been variously dated between the 400 BCE and 100 BCE. Some of the earliest evidence of murals and inscriptions in India are found here. The first millennium left a legacy of beautiful syncretic arts and monuments with inscriptions from the Buddhist, Hindu and Jain heritage. Kalinga architecture, Saurism (Surya, the Sun god) and above all Shaivism flourished here for centuries.

(Source: Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0)

Many of the Odisha monuments were built near its scenic river banks, valleys of the Eastern Ghats, and the hill tops. Modern era highways and roads completed in Odisha since 2010, have significantly improved year round access and the journey experience than ever before. On other pages we discuss the following historic sites of Odisha (arranged east to west, the map can be zoomed, drag-moved, clicked to get relative location). Some of the historic sites or temples in Odisha and other states have the same name; therefore, they must be identified by both name and location as we do on this page.

[We had posted here a customized Google My Map for "Historic sites of Odisha" in May 2022. On or about June 17 2022, some Google employee deleted our map without explanation and due process, alleging it violated Google Maps terms/policies. This action has been under review and under legal advice, we are reposting an updated version of it. Our due diligence suggests that Google has allowed equivalent maps for Christian churches and historic sites, Islamic mosques and historic sites, Jewish synagogues and historic sites worldwide for many years (see examples on the About Us page of this website). It is difficult to understand why Google would target and discriminate against equivalent maps for Buddhist, Hindu, Jain, Sikh temples and sites in India. We continue to pursue the Civil Rights issues, the apparently selective abuse against certain religious communities by a Google employee, and the applicability of anti-discrimination statutes in the USA. We believe the following to be unlawful and wrong: targeted discrimination against anyone based on religion or national origin, interpreting Google's terms and policies differently for different religious or national origin group(s), denying access or service to a section of the public based on religion or national origin, and enabling religious persecution through such behavior by market dominant companies such as Google.]

	site	Curated photo album
1	Trilochan temples, Jajpur		Satellite map
2	Biraja Temple, Jajpur		Satellite map
3	Ratnagiri Buddhist site, Ratnagiri		Satellite map
4	Mahakala temple, Ratnagiri		Satellite map
5	Barahanath temple, Jajpur		Satellite map
6	Pancha Pandab temple, Daraba Singharpur		Satellite map
7	Udayagiri Buddhist site, Udayagiri		Satellite map
8	Lalitagiri Buddhist site, Lalitagiri		Satellite map
9	Trilochan temples, Kundeswar		Satellite map
10	Langudi Buddhist site, Salipur–Mirzapur		Satellite map
11	Kaimabada monolithic elephant, Kaimabada		Satellite map
12	Tarapur Buddhist site, Tarapur		Satellite map
13	Barahi temple, Chaurasi, Chaurasi		Satellite map
14	Kashi Vishwanatha temple, Nuapitapada		Satellite map
15	Angeswara temple, Nuapitapada		Satellite map
16	Durga Madhav temple, Madhab Niali		Satellite map
17	Surya temple, Konark-Puri		Satellite map
18	Madhav temple, Ganeswarpur		Satellite map
19	Bhubaneswar Mahadev temple, Balia Jagatsinghpur		Satellite map
20	Ambikei temple, Ganeswarpur		Satellite map
21	Panchu Pandab temple, Ganeswarpur		Satellite map
22	Sobhaneswar Mahadev temple, Niali		Satellite map
23	Gangeshwari temple, Sansarfal–Erabanga		Satellite map
24	Budhikeswara temples, Deulidharpur		Satellite map
25	Madhukesvara temples, Deulidharpur		Satellite map
26	Buddhanath and Devi temples, Garedi panchana		Satellite map
27	Budhalinga temple, Mundamal		Satellite map
28	Chatesvara temple, Chaudwar		Satellite map
29	Virat Gadi, Chaudwar		Satellite map
30	Kapaleswar temple, Chaudwar		Satellite map
31	Chuasath Yogini temple, Hirapur		Satellite map
32	Jaleswar Mahadev temple, Kalarahanga		Satellite map
33	Muktesvar group, Bhubaneswar		Satellite map
34	Bringeswara temple, Dhauli		Satellite map
35	Dhauli site, Ashoka Rock inscription, Dhauli		Satellite map
36	Bharatesvar group, Bhubaneswar		Satellite map
37	Rameswar temple, Bhubaneswar		Satellite map
38	Bindu sagar mandir samuh, Bhubaneswar		Satellite map
39	Lingaraja group, Bhubaneswar		Satellite map
40	Kutaitundi temple, Khiching		Satellite map
41	Kichakeswari temple, Khiching		Satellite map
42	Sitabinji Rock Monument, Sitabinji Keonjhar		Satellite map
43	Sitabinji fresco, Sitabinji Keonjhar		Satellite map
44	Kapileswar temples group, Bhubaneswar		Satellite map
45	Jagannath temples complex, Puri		Satellite map
46	Gopinath Deb temple, Sakhigopal		Satellite map
47	Khileswar temple, Khileur		Satellite map
48	Mahadev Chandrashekhar temples, Kapilash Pahad		Satellite map
49	Aragarh Buddhist site, Aragarh		Satellite map
50	Mahimagadi Temples complex, Joranda		Satellite map
51	Somanath temples complex, Ghoradia		Satellite map
52	Bani Bakreswar temple, Sauria		Satellite map
53	Annakotesvara temple, Latadeipur-Denkanal		Satellite map
54	Naganath temple, Naganabasti		Satellite map
55	Bhabakundalesvara temple, Manikpatna-Satapada		Satellite map
56	Durga and Ramnath temples, Baideswar		Satellite map
57	Baidyanath temple complex, Baideswar		Satellite map
58	Gopinatha Dev temple, Baideswar		Satellite map
59	Singhanath temple, Baideswar		Satellite map
60	Ashtashambhu temples complex, Kualo		Satellite map
61	Nilamadhab temples complex, Kantilo		Satellite map
62	Daksha Prajapati temple, Banapur		Satellite map
63	Maa Bhagabati temple, Banapur		Satellite map
64	Champanatha Mahadeva group, Champeswar		Satellite map
65	Rock-cut Sleeping Vishnu, Bhimakanda		Satellite map
66	Shiva temple ruins, Bajrakote		Satellite map
67	Bhringesvara temple ruins, Bajrakote		Satellite map
68	Ashoka inscriptions, Jaugada fort, Ganjam		Satellite map
69	Mausi Maa temple Athagada, Patharapalli		Satellite map
70	Athagada group of temples, Patharapalli		Satellite map
71	Radha Krishna Temple, Baragam (Baragaon)		Satellite map
72	Nrusinghanatha Swami Temples, Baragam (Baragaon)		Satellite map
73	Kunti, Yudhisthira group of temples, Mahendragiri		Satellite map
74	Rameswar temples group, Boudh		Satellite map
75	Charisambhu Vishnu Shiva temples, Jagati-Subarnapur		Satellite map
76	Huma Leaning Bimaleswar temples, Charpali-Tabada		Satellite map
77	Kosalesvar temple, Baidyanath (Rupali)		Satellite map
78	Kapileswar temple, Charda		Satellite map
79	Dhabaleswar temple, Mohanagiri		Satellite map
80	Pataleswar temples, Paikopoda		Satellite map
81	Patneswari temple, Patnagarh		Satellite map
82	Kosaleswar temple, Patnagarh		Satellite map
83	Indralath temples, Ranipur-Jharial		Satellite map
84	Chausathi Yogini and other temples, Ranipur-Jharial		Satellite map
85	Harishankar temples, Patnagarh		Satellite map
86	Nursinghnath temple, Paikamal-Bargarh		Satellite map