Bhojeshwar Temple
Bhojpur Shiva Temple is a famous huge heritage active temple of lord Shiva in Madhya Pradesh state. It was founded by the Parmar king of Dhar, Raja Bhoj in 1010-53 and was named after him. It is situated on the outskirts of Bhopal city and is 28 kilometers in distance. Bhojpur is famous as an archeological site because of its magnificent remains of Shiva Temple and Cyclopean dam. The Shiva Temple has earned the title of the Somnath of the East and is called Bhojeshwar Temple.
How To Reach:
By Air: The nearest airport to Bhojpur
temple is at Bhopal, which is 28 km away from this site. Pre-paid taxi services
are available from Bhopal Raja Bhoj airport to Bhojpur temple.
By Train: The nearest railhead to the temple is Bhopal
Railway Station which is at a distance of 30- 32 kilometres.
By Road: The temple is situated at a distance of 17 km from the heart of the city-
Bhopal. Cabs and the Taxi charges are Rs 100/150 from Bhopal city.
History
Bhojpur got its holy name
from king Bhoja.
He is popular as the most celebrated ruler of the Param?ra dynasty. Legends say
that there is no archaeological evidence from Bhojpur before the 11th
century, however a fact confirmed by local old residents which recount how
Bhoja made a vow to build a series of dams "to arrest the streams of nine
rivers and ninety-nine rivulets". They also found a location in the
kingdom that allowed the great king to fulfil this vow and the dams were built
at Bhojpur on his order. The dams were built of cyclopean masonry
and one of them was opened on the orders of Hoshang Shah of Malwa in the late 15th
century. He ordered the dam to be broken at the request of local merchants in
Bhopal and Vidisha,
according to Persian chronicles.
Architecture
The temple is a
simple square with outside portion of 66 feet, there are no re-entrant angles
usual domes, though it is incomplete but has a magnificent soaring strength of
line and is supported by four pillars. Like dome the pillars are also massive
but they retain a remarkable elegance due to their tapering form. Divided into
three sections the lowest is an octagon with facets of 2.12 feet, from which
springs a 24-faced section. The doorway is richly carved from above and from
below it is plain throwing sharp relief against the two exquisitely sculpted
figures that stand on the either side. The other three sides are balconies each
supported by massive brackets and four intricately carved pillars.
