Bithoor

Bithoor :
The wonderful Ghats at Bithoor.









Photographed by Ashish Misra

Brick Temple of Gupta Period at Tenduli, Fatehpur

Brick Temple of Gupta Period :

The Caturbhuja Baba temple, as it is locally known, faces north. A garbhagrha  is square interally but c\octagonal externally showing eight bhadras flanked by subhadras and karnas  and thus representing an astasala. One of the eight bhadras  is cut off straight so as to form the entrance to the garbhagrha through the antarala. Temple is heavily restored, it preserves most of the original features due to sensible conservation. On account of these repairs major portions of the sikhara and half of the jangha are practically reconstructed using the available old material mixed with new ones. Rebuilt is about 5ft. 6 in. high, approached by a flight of steps. The jangha is fully covered with floral scrolls and consists of eight bhadras  of which those on the cardinals are treated differently from the other. The sikhara  is exuberantly adorned with jalaka of scrolls. It seems to had been of saptabhum. karna-amalakas four of which are clearly discernible.

Photographed by Ashish Misra

Brick Temple Of Gupta Period At Bahua, Fatehpur

Brick Temple Of Gupta Period:

Bahus is situated 80⁰ 40" east and 25⁰  50" north on Fatehpur-Banda Road, 21 Km away from Fatehpur district headquarters. A medieval brick temple called as Kakora Baba temple is discovered in this village. Present form of the temple is very dubitable original. It seems that it has gained a new form created by the old bricks dressed on the pattern of an old and original temple. The entrance to the garbhagrih constructed later on. It is approached by a flight of steps constructed with stone architectural fragments and bricks. 10^th-11^th century AD. The doorframe is of panchasakha veriety. Each jamb is decorated with patra, puspa, rupa, patra and khalva sakhas. Sakhas is given from inner to the outer side of a jamb. Lintel is created by continuation of all sakhas and one additional architrave. Rupasakhas exhibit eight panels, four on each jamb. Every panel contains a male divinity standing in tribhanga  holding trisula  and other objects, Flanked by two  surasundaris, one on each side, This sakhat lintel shows three embossed niches and a navagraha-patta. The niches contain Brahma in left, Siva in centre and Visnu in right. Siva seated in ardhaparvankasana, wielding a trisula, sarpa and kamandalu and the fourth, lower right hand is in abhaya mudra, is shown as lalatabimuryba Brahma is seated in maharajalalitasana. It carries sruva, pustaka and kalasa with kiwer right in  abhayamudra. Visnu is on the left of Siva. He has gada, cakra  and sarikha. The navagra has namely Surya, Chandra, Mangala, Budh, Guru, Sukra, Sani Rahu and Ketu are well depicted, The Surya seated in utkutikasana and holding two lotuses, one in each hand and the busts of Rahu and Ketu are noteworthy. Beautiful kirttimukha in the centre. Dvarapalas are conspicuous here by absence which is something very peculiar and significant for this period. Garbhagrha is plain excepting for the four pilasters and the ceilling. The pilasters are of bhadraka type. The ceiling is nabhichandakavitana relieved with scrolls, foliage and lotus. A fragment, lower portion of Uma-Mahesa image of 8.5x5.0 cm and pieces of some other images are collected in the garbhagrih.10^th early 11^th cent. An image of Nandi with broken head which might have been related to this temple.

Photographed by Ashish Misra

Brick Temple Of Gupta Period At Korari

Brick Temple of  Gupta Period:

Kurari:-Village Ladgawan is situated at a distance of about 19 km. from Fatehpur on Banda-Sagar Road. About 1 km. from Ladgawan is village Kurari. The monument is leaning 3-4 degree towards north "In plan it is a polygon sixteen sides externally standing on a circular plinth with a circular chamber 6.8" in diameter. The walls are 3.4” thick. The chamber was covered with a pointed dome with brick and to end after the Hindu fashion and there was a second domed chamber, above to lessen the weight on the walls. Outside the whole surface of the walls is richly decorated with deeply cut arabesque ornament in perpendicular lines, the edge of each face being distinctly marked by sunken lines by the omission of a brick in every alternate course".

Photographed by Ashish Misra

Semi Circle Temple At Behta Bujurg:

Behta village is 3 km from Bhitargaon.

Photograph on 6-12-2009

The temple has a unique type of Architecture while seeing it looks just as most of the part of it is submerged in the ground. At present the repairing of the temple is been done. 


Photographed by Ashish Misra

Bhitargaon Brick Temple of Gupta Period

Bhitargaon :: 59 km south west of Kanpur is the site of Gupta era temple. Built of brick, as large as 0.47 m × 0.22 m × 0.07 m, this late 5th century temple is the only shrine of its kind having a Shikhra ,surviving  in the country today.Set in mud mortar the total height of the temple is 15.41 meters.Inside the temple only the sanctum or garbha griha and the porch exists.Above the sanctum there was an upper chamber which was damaged when the spire was struck by lightening some time in 18th century

The most remarked feature of the temple is it’s recessed plan. The interior of the temple is plain but on the out side it is decorated with carved brickwork and neumerous terracotta panels of skilful workmanship. It dates back to 600 AD.and is the sole surviving record of this early phase of temple architecture in India.Restored a few years back the temple exhibits unique terracotta sculptures and figures of makaras(water monsters) and gargoyle like images.

 Present:  But present day (Photograph dated: 6-12-2009) the monument found to be in its worst condition. Most of the images on it are broken. The upper part of the temple as you can see in the Photograph is completely broken. The Archaeological Department is working on it to preserve it .

At present it is fully renovated.
Photographed by Ashish Misra

All Souls Church : Kanpur

All Souls Cathedral Church:
It has amongst its historical remains the memorial Church where 'All souls cathedral' was raised in honor of the fallen at the 'Wheeler's entrenchment' in 1962. After 1947, the marble Gothic screen was transferred to the Church yard. 


Photographed by Ashish Misra

Brick Temple of Gupta Period: Thithaura, Fatehpur

Brick Temple Of Gupta Period :

Thithaura :Pancayatana temple : About 10 km. from Bahua and 22 km. from Fatehpur district headquarters, in the south-west direction there is a village named Thithaura. A brick temple "Bharahare Baba" is significant as a specimen of medieval brick temple architecture in north India. Facing east it is elevated on a jagati. It is pancharatha on plan. The garbhagrih is square measuring 3.20 m. exteriorly and 1.55 m. interiorly. Vertically the temple's prasada is divisible in four parts namely-vedibandha, jangha, kantha and sikhara. The vedibandha, comprises khaura, kumbha, kalasa, antarapatta, kapota and vasantapattika mouldings. The jangha  shows five projections namely ratha, pratirathas  and karnas  on each side. Early medieval and medieval periods. 

Photographed by Ashish Misra