Stories set in stone
- POSTED ON: 19 May, 2020
- TOTAL VIEWS: 693 Views
- POSTED BY: Madhuvanti S. Krishnan
- ARTICLE POINTS: 150 Points
Not always is beauty found in all that which is complete. Sometimes, it can also be seen and experienced in things that are incomplete or broken. Some of the most mysterious ruins in India bear testimony to this. Here are a few of them.
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Kachari ruins, Dimapur, Nagaland
Kachari Ruins or The Dimasa Kachari Ruins are a series of mushroom-domed pillars. They were created by the Dimasa Kachari Kingdoms that ruled there before Ahom invasion during the 13th century. The purpose and origin of the pillars are mysterious. While a few of them stand in full glory, others have crumbled. It is also believed that a game similar to chess was played here with the mushroom-shaped domes.
Somapura Mahavihara ruins, Paharpur, Bangladesh
An eighth-century Buddhist monastery in Paharpur, Naogaon District, Bangladesh, it is one of the largest Buddhist monasteries in the Indian subcontinent, with the complex itself covering more than 20 acres, almost a million square feet (85,000 sq. meters). While no specific reason for the vihara being in a state of ruins has been mentioned, according to scholar Sukumar Dutt, “The ruins of the temple and monasteries at Pāhāpur do not bear any evident marks of large-scale destruction. The downfall of the establishment, by desertion or destruction, must have been sometime in the midst of the widespread unrest and displacement of population consequent on the Muslim invasion.”
Bhangarh Fort, Rajasthan
Bhangarh is a city that was built in 1613 and is famous for its historic ruins within the Bhangarh Fort. It is situated in the Alwar district in Rajasthan. During the rule of Bhagwant Das, the town was established as the residence of his second son Madho Singh, the younger brother of the general of Emperor Akbar, Man Singh I. The ruins are full of mystery: from myths about an old sage cursing the city, to a tantrik’s failed attempt to marry Bhangarh’s princess Ratnavati.
Kakanmath temple, Shihoniya, Madhya Pradesh
A ruined 11th-century Shiva temple located at Sihoniya in Madhya Pradesh, it was built by the Kachchhapaghata ruler Kirttiraja. Originally, the site had a temple complex, with a central temple surrounded by four subsidiary shrines. Now, only the ruins of the central temple stand — its outer walls, balconies and a part of its spire have fallen. It is speculated that the damage probably happened during an earthquake. The temple is classified as a Monument of National Importance by the Archaeological Survey of India.
Hampi ruins, Karnataka
On the banks of the Tungabhadra River in Karnataka, lie the ruins of Hampi, where the capital of the Vijayanagara kingdom once stood. From 1336 to its fall in 1565, when it was attacked by Muslim invaders from the North, this was the Hindu capital of the Vijayanagara Empire. Besides the magnificent Virupaksha Temple, the ruins are home to several fascinating structures including the Lotus Mahal, the Stepped Tank, and the iconic stone chariot, among others. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986.