The 8 Best Things to do in Kawardha, Chhattisgarh

Reviewed By Saurabh2402 - Raipur, India

The temple has many religious sculptures and erotic sculptures as well. If you are a lover of ancient India, then you have to pay a visit to this temple and see how the Shiva Linga is beautifully sculptured. As a part of my long drive journey, I started from Raipur to Kawardha via Bemetara (It's a 141.5 Km Ride-One Way) by road. We continued on the highway(NH-30) up to Kawardha, stopping once for a snacks refreshment & twice - thrice for the cattle to pass. From Kawardha, we took a smaller road to Bhoramdeo Temple that snaked through the low hills and fairly dense forests(Lushy Green in Rainy Season or In winter Season,It is best to visit during August to October for the greenery.). There was hardly any habitation along the way and the road was empty except for the occasional moped or two. At first view, the temple stunned me. The fact that there could be a temple so beautiful, yet so unknown, miles away from civilisation was equally intriguing and surprising. Previously i had seen only pics of Bhoramdeo, but coming face to face wit it, i was at a loss of words. I remember how it actually took me about half an hour to get over the initial feeling and start shooting. As you can see, the temple is surrounded by tall leafy trees that block most of the sunlight. Even when the sun is pretty high-up in the sky the courtyard is dark, which complicates a good exterior shots. The trip was over two years ago and back then i was not as proficient with the camera as i am now. As a result i got some really crappy shots of the temple from the outside. Built around 1089 AD by Lakshman Dev Rai in the Paramara style of Malwa, the temple houses excellent examples of Vaishnava, Shaiva and Jaina sculptures. The coming together of such a body of art from different religious planes at one particular place proves the existence of a reign which was tolerant to all religions. Legend has it that the temple was dedicated to the tribal deity, Bhoramdeo, a form of Shiva. As with most Hindu temples, the garbha-griha of the temple faces east. The temple’s location in the middle of a dense forest, miles away from the historical routes has ensured that the sculptures have remained sheltered from the forces of nature and the destructive tendencies of mankind. The place is nicely maintained and is peaceful. We did not experience crowd and did darshan comfortably. School children, families, couple and groups were visiting and found the place also good for picnic because of big garden and also play area. There is also a water body and boating is available.It is situated in a huge campus which also houses a museum.The whole temple is full of marvellous architecture. There are a few more small temples and a huge garden and is covered with large mountains and full of trees everywhere. A small lake and a large garden complete the set Good for short time spending with Friends. Full of greenery in the season of monsoon. Own car adds a piece of delight in exploring nearby attraction. There is also a lake nearby which provides boating facilities. Standing there and seeing the many sculptures depicting the many poses leaves all with a mixed feeling of spirituality and sensuousness. The surrounding places are also beautiful. The drive is through villages and it gives a good glimpse of a typical peaceful village life. Make sure to drive back when there is still light. The over all experience is very satisfying. You can spend some real peaceful time.