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Deogarh Tour India
Deogarh is situated on the right bank of the Betwa
River at the end of the Lalitpur range of hills. The cliffs,
immediately overhanging the bank rise to a height of 300 feet and
form a long steep ridge of red sandstone. Deogarh is of great
antiquarian, epigraphical and archaeological importance and has
figured in the history of the Guptas, the Gujaras - the
Pratiharas, the Gondas, the Muslim rulers of Delhi, and Kalpi,
the Marathas and the British. The thickly forested hills around
Deogarh harbors a variety of wildlife.
The jewel of Deogarh however is in afield by a well close to the
hanks of the Betwa. This is the Dashavatar Temple dedicated to
Lord Vishnu. It belongs to the Gupta period and is dated to about
the 6th century AD. It is the earliest known Panchayatan temple
of north India. It bears an inscription attributable to Govinda,
Viceroy of Malwa and brother ofthe great Kumargupta I. A row of
superbly sculpted panels adorn the terraced basement which rises
above the high plinth of the temple. A doorway with intricately
carved figures of Ganga and Yamuna leads to the garbhagriha or
sanctum sanctorum. The temple is particularly well known for its
Rathika panels in recesses along its three side walls.
These fine stone reliefs depict scenes from Vaishnava mythology,
and are identified as the Gajendra Moksh panel, Nar-Narayan
Tapasya andtheAnantasayi Vishnu. Only the lower portion remains
of the shikhar, once the most important part of the temple.
Tourist Attractions
Deogarh
Dashavatar Temple
This fine Gupta Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu is
the earliest known Panchayatan temple in North India. Built in
the 6th century AD, under the Gupta period, it is the earliest
known Panchayatan temple of North India. The temple bears an
inscription attributable to Govinda, Viceroy of Malwa, and the
brother of the great Kumaragupta I. A row of superbly sculpted
panels adorns the terraced basement, which rises above the high
plinth of the temple. A doorway with intricately carved figures
of Ganga and Yamuna leads to the garbhagriha or sanctum
sanctorum. The temple is particularly well known for its Rathika
panels, in recesses along its three side walls. These fine stone
reliefs depicts scenes from Vaishnava mythology, and are
identified as the Gajendra Moksha Panel, Nar-Narayan Tapasya and
the Anantasayi Vishnu.
Jain Temples
These 31 Jain Temples are somewhat
later in origin than the Vishnu temple, but are no less
remarkable. They are situated inside the fort of Karnali on the
hills overlooking the Betwa.
Deogarh Archaeological Museum
The site museum has a fine collection of
sculpture, discovered from the surrounding.
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