Sirpur Archaeological Site:
Government is planning to prepare Chhattisgarh’s 5th Century Sirpur archaeological site for UNESCO tag.
- Sirpur Archaeological Site is located in Chhattisgarh located on the banks of river Mahanadi.
- It was the flourishing capital of Dakshina Kosala under the Panduvanshi and later Somavamshi kings.
- It was discovered by Alexander Cunningham.
- Key Features of Sirpur Archaeological Site:
- Excavations revealed temples, Buddhist and Jaina .
- Lakshmana Temple (dedicated to Vishnu), one of India’s finest brick temples which was built around the 7th Century.
- Surang Tila complex: It is built on a high terrace and has multiple shrines in the panchayatana style (one main shrine surrounded by four subsidiary ones).
- Tivaradeva Mahavihara: It houses a significant Buddha statue.
- It was a major Buddhist centre with large viharas, meditation halls and excavated stupas.
- Archaeologists have also uncovered a 6th Century market complex, showing Sirpur was both a religious and commercial hub.
