Home | Excursion Ahmedabad | Sun Temple (Modhera)

The 11th century Sun temple of Gujarat is situated at Modhera ,80 kms from Ahemedabad, which is similar to the Sun Temple at Konark and is dedicated to the Sun God, Lord Surya. Although the temple has lost its magnificence of the past, but it is still a supper architectural piece. The temple was built during the rule of the Solanki dynasty that serves as the venue for the Dance Festival held in January each year. Sun temple at Modhera was constructed in 1026 AD by the Solanki King Bhimdev I of Patan. The Solankis were worshiping Sun God and therefore built this temple in the honor of Lord Surya. However, the temple was looted by Mahmud Ghazni.

The most outstanding feature of the Modhera Sun temple is that the first beam of the sun falls on the god at the time of the equinoxes. The temple has a distinctive architecture which houses a number of other wonderful buildings in the surrounding areas. The main edifices of the temple are the Surya Kund, the Sabha Mandap and the Guda Mandap (Sanctum Sanctorum). Besides these, there is a striking hall in between the Sabha Mandapa and the Sanctum Sanctorum. It has amazing pillars and arches and shows the special aspects of the Sun God in each month.

The carvings on each inch of the structure are complicated and worth with various figures and natural objects.