Pavaya - Stone Temples
Distance : 68km from Gwalior
¤ Temple Attractions
About an hour and a half away from Gwalior, en route to Jhansi, Uttar
Pradesh, is a beaten track that leads to the ruins of Pavaya and the
neighbouring Dhoomeshwar Mahadeo Temple. You’ll reach the village
of Pavaya after you cross the bridge on River Parvati. Travel a bit
further, and you will reach a T-junction. A left turn leads you to
Pavaya or Padmavati as it was earlier known, while the right track
branches off to the Dhoomeshwar Mahadeo Temple.
¤ Attractions of Ruins Dating Back To Naga Kings
 Pavaya
or Padmavati is a fascinating stone complex of ruins which date back
to the reign of the Naga Kings. There is no proper road leading to
these ruins, which results in tourists often passing them by.
The terrain is rich in dry scrub vegetation that has happily sprouted
between the monuments. The uneven ground suggests that there might
well be some buried monuments or structures waiting to be unearthed.
This was the capital of the Naga Kings, which was later abandoned and
left to the mercy of nature.
According to the Puranas (check Ancient Scriptures & Folklore of
India for details), the decline of the Kushana Dynasty in the third
century a.d. led to the emergence of the Naga Dynasty. Naga influence
soon spread from Vidisha to Mathura, and Pavaya or Padmavati became
their base. Lord Shiva, the Destroyer of the Universe according to
Hindu mythology, was the deity worshipped by the kingdom. Forgotten
and neglected, the site needs to be explored thoroughly to gain a
fresh insight into it.
These stone ruins are spread over an area of half a kilometre, and
consist of four main structures and a few Chhattris(cenotaphs). A
dome, each with arched doors and windows tops these four cube-like
structures. Not far from these ruins stands the lonely, deserted Fort
built by the Parmar dynasty, during the medieval era.
¤ Dhoomeshwar Mahadeo Temple
The Dhoomeshwar Mahadeo Templeis all of 3 kilometres from the Pavaya
ruins. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, it stands boldly on the rocky banks of
the Sindh River that flows nearby. In keeping with the usual
architecture of Hindu temples, it has steps leading to its four
sections, namely the ardha mandapa(small hall), the mandapa(middle
hall), the antaralaya (inner chamber), and the garbha griha or the
sanctum sanctorum. The three outer sections have been plastered white,
while the inner sanctum retains its original yellow sandstone colour.
The Dhoomeshwar Mahadeo Stone Temple is very similar to the Kandariya
Stone Temple at Khajuraho, but it bears no sign of the era it belongs
to. However, the Shivalinga (symbolic phallus of Shiva) enshrined
inside the sanctum is very ancient, while the marble flooring is the
contribution of the devotees of Shiva, who flock to the temple in
large numbers.
The temple comes alive during the festival of Shivaratri (check
Religion for details), with the zest and enthusiasm of scores of
devotees.
¤ Tourist Information
Be prepared for a rather rough ride, as the road leading to both these
places is rather bumpy. Take along sufficient supply of snacks and
water or cold drinks, as none are available near these ancient stone
monuments. |
