Ancient Temples of Kalachuri Period

• Amarkantak, often referred to as Tirtharaj or King of Pilgrimage is situated at an altitude of 1000 m in Anuppur district of Madhya Pradesh (MP). 
• Amarkantak is located at the junction of the three central Indian ranges of Vindhyas, Satpuras and Maikal.

Ancient Temples of Kalachuri Period, Amarkantak, Madhya Pradesh (MP)

• The mighty rivers of Son and Narmada originate from Amarkantak. 
• According to legend Son and Narmada were to marry each other but Sone refused and flowed eastwards to join the Ganges near Patna.

Pateleshwar Temple, Kalachuri Temple Complex, Amarkantak, MP

• Narmada took the opposite direction and flowed westward through the entire stretch of central India and finally draining into the Arabian Sea.
• Amarkantak is a pilgrimage not only for the Hindu but also for the Jains and the entire town is dotted with innumerable temples.
• Narmada Udgam Temple (see photo), the temple built to mark the source of the Narmada River, is the holiest spot in the whole of Amarkantak.
• This temple complex consisting of a series of small white washed temples built around a water body, which marks the source of the mighty Narmada. 
• Sadly these temples, like most of the temples of Amarkantak, are new structures.

Johila Temple, Kalachuri Temple Complex, Amarkantak, MP

• The only old structures in the ancient pilgrimage of Amarkantak are the Ancient Temples of the Kalachuri Period, located bang opposite the Narmada Udgam Temple complex.
• The temples were built by the Kalachuri kings, who ruled central India during the 10 – 12 th century.
• According to legend Shankaracharya built the Surya Kunda in Amarkantak, in 8th century AD, to specify the origin of Narmada.
• It is also said that Shankara installed the idol of lord Shiva in Pateleshwar Temple, strangely the Pateleshwar temple was built much later during the reign of Kalachuri King Karnadeva (1041 – 1073).

• The temple complex located next to the ancient man made water body has several structures belonging to the Nagara style of architecture.
• The Pateleshwar Temple is crowned with a pancharath sikhara and has a pyramidal mandap.
• The Karna Temple, the largest and the most prominent temple in the Kalachuri Temple complex, is crowned with a towering ornate sikhara.
• The complex also contains several other temples including the Johila Temple, Vishnu Temple and Shiva Temple. Another interesting structure in the Kalachuri Temple complex is the Pancha Math Temple. 
• A series of five small temples, of different architectural style, located on a single raised platform.

• Today the Kalachuri Temple complex is a protected monument under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and the complex is very well maintained with manicured lawns and landscape gardening.
• Sadly it is hardly visited by the thousand of pilgrims, thronging Amarkantak, the Tirtharaj or King of Pilgrimage