Bhojpur

• The enigmatic temple of Bhojpur is an incomplete Hindu temple situated in the Bhojpur Village of Madhya Pradesh.
• Dedicated to Lord Shiva, it houses a 7.5 feet high lingam in its sanctum and is believed to have been constructed in the 11th century during the reign of King Bhoja. The temple’s construction was left abandoned for reasons that are still unknown.
• Construction material can still be found at the site, with architectural plans engraved on the surrounding rocks. Historians speculate that it could be due to a sudden natural disaster, war or lack of resources. The temple has been designated as a Monument of National Importance by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
• There are many theories revolving around what may have happened that led to the abandonment of the Bhojpuri Temple’s construction.
• One theory is presented by the peculiar construction style of the edifice, where the temple does not have a ‘Mandapa’ connected to the inner sanctum.
• Another unique construction feature is the temple’s rectilinear roof which defies the typical curvilinear dome tower. These divergences have led some to believe that Bhojpur Temple was perhaps a funerary monument constructed by Bhoja for the peace of soul of his father Sindhuraja or of his uncle Munja.
• The lingam in the Bhojpur Temple is built using three superimposed limestone blocks with a height of 7.5 feet and a circumference of 17.8 feet. The total height of the lingam is 40 feet with a square platform as a base. It is the tallest lingam of its kind in the world.