Modhera Sun Temple

• The Modhera Sun Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to the solar deity Surya located at Modhera village of Mehsana district, Gujarat, India.
• Modhera Sun Temple is situated on the bank of the river Pushpavati.
• It was built after 1026-27 CE during the reign of Bhima I of the Chaulukya dynasty.
• No worship is offered now and is protected monument maintained by Archaeological Survey of India.
• The Modhera Sun Temple complex has three components: 
  • Gūḍhamanḍapa, the shrine hall; 
  • Sabhamanḍapa, the assembly hall and 
  • Kunḍa, the reservoir.
• The halls have intricately carved exterior and pillars. The reservoir has steps to reach the bottom and numerous small shrines.
• The temple is suspected to have been built to commemorate the defense of Modhera by Bhima I against Mahmud of Ghazni.
• The temple complex is built in Maru-Gurjara style also known as Solanki style.
• The exclusively carved temple complex and the magnificently sculpted kund are jewels in the art of masonry of the Solanki period apparently which was also known as the Golden Age of Gujarat.
• 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 Site in December 2022.
• Modhera dance festival
  • The Tourism Corporation of Gujarat organises an annual three-day dance festival known as Uttarardha Mahotsav at the temple during the third week of January, following the festival of Uttarayan.
  • The objective is to present classical dance forms in an atmosphere similar to that in which they were originally presented.

Other Important Sun Temples in India:

• Sun Temple at Konark, Odisha
• Martand Sun temple, Kashmir
• Katarmal Sun Temple, Uttarakhand
• Dakshinarkaa temple Gaya, Bihar
• Bhramanya temple, Unao, Madhya Pradesh
• Surya Prahaar temple, Assam
• Suryanar Kovil Temple at Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu
• Suryanarayana temple at Arasavalli, Andhra Pradesh