Neelkanth Temple, Kalinjar Fort

Meenakshi Mallik has added a photo to the pool:

This photograph was taken at the Kalinjar Fort, Uttar Pradesh.

The Neelkanth temple in the Kalinjar fort is a symbol of its spiritual past. Kalinjar drew spiritual power from being described as the abode of Shiva in the Koorma Purana.

This temple was built by the Chandela ruler Parmardi Dev. It is located in a corner of the fort and is accessed via a long flight of steps that lead to it. On either side of the steps and throughout the entire courtyard around the temple is a range of rock cut figures of gods and goddesses, with Shiva in his myriad forms being the dominant theme.

The actual temple bears the marks of assault but has survived. The mandapa of the temple has only pillars standing and no roof. Each pillar has wonderful rock cut designs and that only indicates the grandeur of the temple in its prime.