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Information about Bhojpur
Founded by the legendary Parmar King of Dhar, Raja Bhoj
(1010-1053), and named after him, Bhojpur, 28 km from
Bhopal, is renowned for the remains of its magnificent
Shiva temple and Cyclopean dam. The best season to visit Bhojpur is from July to March.
Tourist Attractions in Bhojpur |
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temple
which has earned the nomenclature of the Somnath of the
east, is known as the Bhojeshwar Temple. The temple was
never completed and the earthen ramp used to raise it to
dome-level still stands. Had it been completed, it would
have had very few rivals. As it is, even with the
ravages of time, it remains one of the best examples of
temple architecture of the 11th - 13th centuries. The
lingam in the sanctum rises 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. 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.
Jain Temple
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 of a colossal statues of Mahavira 20 feet
high, and the other two of Parswanath. Rectangular in
plan, this temple probably belongs to the same period as
the Bhojeshwar.
Cyclopean Dam
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 earthen 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. 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 highest fertility
to his possessions. According to a Gond legend, it took
an army of them three months to cut through 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.
How to reach Bhojpur
By Air
Bhopal (28 km from Bhojpur) is the nearest airport. It
is connected with Mumbai, Delhi, Jabalpur, Indore and
Gwalior.
By Rail
Bhopal, on the Delhi-Chennai and Delhi-Mumbai mainline
is the most convenient rail-head.
By Road
Bhojpur is connected by bus with Bhopal. |
