Sirpur

laxman temple,sirpur

Fig. Lakshman Mandir

Sirpur town owns a lot of history to its name. This town is an integral part of the Mahasamund district of the central Indian state, Chhattisgarh. River Mahanadi flows through it. This beautiful place wad a vital town in the era of Lord Buddha. This holy place served as an important center for Buddhists right from 6th to 10th century. This place has the honor of the great Buddhist monk Dalai Lama visiting it in the year 2013. People believe that this place was once buried under mud in the 12th century and later it was rediscovered. When it comes to tourism, Sirpur has the perfect blend of Hindu and Buddhist monuments.


architects

Fig. Antique architecture


You can literally relive the history and can get mesmerized at the same time by the beauty of the brick formations here at the Laxman temple in Sirpur. The symmetry and the carving on the walls of this temple are really worth watching. Many inscriptions are inscribed on the pillars of the temple, which explain the lifestyle of the common people of that era. This man-made architectural wonder has been a constant source of inspiration for many architects.

History

Sirpur, also referred to as Shripur, Sripura or Sripur in ancient Indian texts and inscriptions, is a major archaeological site along the Mahanadi River.Sirpur was capital of Panduvanshi dynasty in ancient times.

The site has been significant for its temple ruins of Rama and Lakshmana of the Ramayana fame, as well as those related to Shaivism, Shaktism, Buddhism and Jainism. The site excavations after 1950, particularly after 2003, have yielded 22 Shiva temples, 5 Vishnu temples, 10 Buddha Viharas, 3 Jain Viharas, a 6th/7th century market and snana-kund. The site shows extensive syncretism, where Buddhist and Jain statues or motifs intermingle with Shiva, Vishnu and Devi temples.

The location is mentioned in the memoirs of the Chinese traveler Xuanzang as a location of monasteries and temples. It was visited in 1872 by Alexander Cunningham, a colonial British India official. His report on a Laxman temple at Sirpur brought it to international attention.

statue

Nearest places to visit

Transport

Sirpur is accessible from Raipur by a four-lane National Highway 53. Regular bus services connect Raipur and Sirpur.

The nearest railway station is Mahasamund railway station (35 km).

The nearest airport is the Swami Vivekananda airport at Raipur (IATA: RPR), with daily flights to major cities in India.