File:6th to 7th century Rajivalochan Vishnu Temple, Rajim, Chhattisgarh - 46.jpg

English: Rajim is on the banks of river Mahanadi, and about 70 kilometers southwest of Sirpur also on the banks of Mahanadi (Sirpur is referred in early Indian manuscripts as Sripura, Shripura, the later era capital of Somavanshis and Dakshina Koshala).

Rajim and Sirpur were a major pilgrimage sites and a trading port between 400 CE and 1300 CE, before they were destroyed. Both sites have a collection of temples, with hilly mounds that have been excavated. Some temples have partially survived. The excavated sites have revealed temples and ruins of Buddhist, Hindu (Shiva, Vishnu) and Jaina arts. Both sites have brick temples from 6th to 7th century, and well as later built sandstone temples. The motifs, reliefs and icons at Sirpur monuments and Rajim group of temples show similarities, and in some cases are nearly identical in both form and location.

Michael Meister, an art historian at University of Pennsylvania specializing in South Asia temple architecture and its history, dates the Rajivalochan temple to about 600 CE. The Rajim temple are a case study of Kutina-Latina fusion form of Hindu temple architecture. It also shows chandrasala (simhakarnas) on the shikaras (spire). Both – Rajivalochana and Lakshamana at Sirpur – feature kutas that miniature structures formed into pillared pavilion superstructure. The Rajim and Sirpur temples have differences, attesting to ongoing innovations being tried by the architects and artisans of India. These aspects make these temples as significant to establishing the history and evolution of temple architecture in ancient and mid-1st millennium India. In recent centuries new walls have been built and whitewashed, but the major intricate artwork has been left in their original state.

The Rajivlochan temple is a part of many other temples in Rajim. It is the largest and the main temple. The temple sanctum has a square plan, along with open square mandapas that lead one into another. The pillars and entrances of the mandapas and sanctum have intricately carved artwork on stone that appears like wood. They present a different iconographic interpretations of Vishnu-related legends such as Varaha, Narasimha and others. Goddesses Ganga and Yamuna are also presented in a different form, each standing on a crocodile (makara) and turtle respectively like the rest of India. Playful aerobatics and gymnasts are also a part of the reliefs and artwork, some shown as climbing up vines and trees, others swinging with ropes.

The iconography on door jambs of Rajivalochan Visnu temple before the sanctum mirrors those excavated in Sirpur monuments site.

The Rajivalochan temple is an active temple and attracts major influx of pilgrims on Hindu festivals.