Modhera

Hundred and something km north of Ahmedabad lies the Modhera Sun Temple. It resembles the more well known Surya Mandir in Konark but predates it by a couple of centuries.

I really was expecting more in terms of size, but was there is itself amazing. In front of the temple is a large kund with multiple steps to the bottom. In the upper corners and sides are shrines to various gods, including Shiva and Ganesha.

The main temple itself is split into two buildings. Its said that King Bhim I would often have dance performances in the front portion. The main section was for religious discources.

While the surroundings of the Surya Mandir are quite well maintained with luscious green lawns, the complex is not well serviced. I caught an 8am bus from Ahmedabad, got off at a major intersection, and waited for a bus. With no signs to indicate one was on the way, I caught a shared jeep, and soon found myself in the back of an oversized ute with 20 other people!

The jeep-ute-thing stopped at the bus stand, and had I not asked there was no way I would have known that Modhera had anything near to an exquisite thousand year old temple.