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Bhojpur |
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Founded by
the legendary Parmar king of Dhar, Raja Bhoj ( 1010-'53 ),
and named after him, Bhojpur, 28 km from Bhopal, is
renowned for the remains of its magnificent Shiva Temple
and Cyclopean dam.
The temple, which has earned the
nomenclature
of the Somnath of the East, is know as the Bhojeswar Temple.
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In plan a simple square,
with an exterior dimensions of 66 feet, it is devoid of the re-entrant
angles usual in such buildings. The richly carved dome, though
incomplete, has a magnificent, soaring strength of line and is
supported by four pillars. These, like the dome, have been convinced
on a massive scale, yet retain a remarkable elegance because of their
tapering form. Divided into three sections, the lowest is an octagon
with facets of 2.12 feet, from which springs a 24-faced section. |
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Richly carved above, the
doorway is plain below, throwing into sharp relief the two exquisitely
sculpted figures that stand on either side. On the other three sides
of the structure are balconies, each supported by massive brackets and
four intricately carved pillars. The lingam in the sanctum rise to an
awe-inspiring height of 7.5 feet with a circumference of 17.8 feet.
Set upon a massive platform 21.5 feet square, and composed of three
superimposed limestone blocks, the architectural harmony of lingam
and platform creates a superb synthesis of solidity and lightness. |
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Also incomplete, and
with a similar stone-raising ramp, is a Jain shrine that stands close
to the Bhojeshwar temple. Three figures of the tirthankaras are
contained within, one being a colossal statue of Mahavira 20 feet
high, and the other two of Parsvanath. Rectangular in plan, this
temple probably belongs to the same period as the Bhojeshwar. |
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West of Bhojpur once lay
a vast lake, but nothing remains except the ruins of the magnificent
old dams by which its waters were contained. The site was chosen with
great skill, as a natural wall of hills enclosed the whole area except
for two gaps, 100 yards and 500 yards in width respectively. These
were closed by gigantic earthern dams, faced on both sides with
enormous blocks of sandstone, many being 4 feet long, 3 feet broad and
2.5 feet thick, set without mortar. The smaller dam is 44 feet high
and 300 feet thick at the base, the larger dam 24 feet high with a
flat top 100 feet broad. These embankments held up an expanse of water
of about 250 square miles. This great work is ascribed to Raja Bhoj,
but it may possibly be of an earlier date. |
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The lake was destroyed
by Hoshang Shah of Malwa ( 1405-34 ), who cut through the lesser dam,
and thus, either intentionally or in a fit of destructive passion,
added an enormous area of the dam, and the lake took three years to
empty, while its bed was not habitable for thirty years afterwards.
The climate of Malwa is said to have been considerably altered by the
removal of this vast sheet of water. |
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Top |
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How to go |
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Both Bhojpur and Bhimbetka are connected by bus with Bhopal.
Bhopal is also the most convenient base for visiting Sanchi. |
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Bhopal, on the
Delhi-Madras and Delhi-Mumbai mainline is the most convenient
rail-head. |
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Bhopal ( 28 km from Bhojpur, and 40 km from Bhimbetka ) is the
nearest airport. It is connected with Mumbai, Delhi, Indore and
Gwalior. |
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Hotel Palash (MPT), Hotel Panchanan
( MPT ),
Ashok Lake View
( MPT/ITDC ), Jehan Numa Palace, Imperial Sabre,
The Residency, Amer Palace,
Hotel Nisarga,
Hotel Ramsons International,
Hotel Mayur,
Hotel Raj Tilak, Youth Hostel. |
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