Category:Satmahala Group of Temples, Kalcha-Bhadwahi

Satmahala Group of Temples, Kalcha-Bhadwahi 

A group of Hindu temples from c. 8th to c. 12th century in north Chhattisgarh
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Instance of	Hindu temple
Location	Surguja district, Surguja division, Chhattisgarh, India
23° 01′ 07.28″ N, 82° 55′ 27.48″ E
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This is a large group of Hindu temples found in Kalcha–Bhadwahi, Sarguja district in north Chhattisgarh. The name "Satmahala" comes from sat (seven) and mahal (palace), based on the seven distinct brick temple ruins and building foundations found near historic manmade reservoirs here. After excavations of a few of many mounds within 500 meters of these seven, five additional structures were unearthed. As of 2016, the Satmahala group of temples consists of twelve monuments. Some are made of stone, others of brick on stone foundation or brick foundation. The excavations have yielded many items of Hindu artwork that show signs of natural erosion as well as deliberate damage such as chopped faces, broken limbs, broken noses, and such. Additionally farmers have discovered and returned items found in fields and ponds. These include temple parts, statues of Ganesha, Nandi, Shiva, Parvati, Durga, Kartikeya, Vishnu avatars, Lakshmi, Surya, Brahma, Saraswati, Ganga, Yamuna, and others.

The Satmahala group of temples range from small to large temple foundations, all have square architectural plans, include mandapa, antarala and in some cases Shiva linga. Some sanctums suggest that they were possibly for Vishnu or Shakti goddess or Surya or some other deity – unclear because sufficient evidence is unavailable. The iconographic style and broken inscription panels suggest the oldest temple in Satmahala group is from the late 8th century, many are from the 9th to 11th century, a few from 12th to 13th century. These are from Somvamshi era and the Tripuri–Kalachuri era. The large number of temples, man made reservoirs here suggest that this area was once a major city or pilgrimage area through about the 13th century. The decline and its destruction came in or after the 14th century.