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Martand Temple

Martand Temple is considered one of the many important sites of archaeological significance in India and second in stature to Orissa’s Konark Temple. It is situated 9 km away from Anantnag and to the south of Mattan in a place called Kehribal.

Built using huge limestone slabs, the architecture of this temple is reminiscent of Aryan Kashmir. Situated atop a plateau, it provides breathtaking views of Kashmir valley below.

The ruins here provide a fantastic insight into Kashmiri architecture style. They are an example of how architecture in those days skillfully blended aspects of Gupta, Gandharan, Roman, Greek, Syrian-Byzantine and Chinese architectural styles. The temple’s magnificent courtyard has pillars with a central shrine. This shrine measures 220 feet in length and 142 feet wide. There are 84 smaller shrines that surround it. Today, Martand Sun Temple is regarded as one of the many sites of national importance in Jammu and Kashmir. It is also listed as a centrally protected monument.

History of Martand Temple

Martand temple was built as a dedication to the sun God in 8th century AD by Lalitaditya Muktapida, ruler of then Karkota Dynasty. Some historians attribute the beginning of its construction to Ranaditya. In the early part of 15th century, this temple was destroyed completely by Sikandar Bushikan. It is believed that it took him a whole year to bring it down to a state of ruin. Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the first of Sikh gurus, came to this temple in 1700 to preach Hindus about the teachings and relevance of Sikkhism.

Getting There and Around


By Air

The closest airport is at Srinagar, which is a 5 hour drive from Anantnag. Almost all airlines operate regular flights to Srinagar from major cities like Delhi, Mumbai and Chandigarh.

By Rail

Jammu Tawi is a major railway station in Jammu and closest to Anantnag. There are regular train services from major cities of India like Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai and Trivandrum. One can hire taxis from here to reach the temple site.

By Road

There are many buses that ply between Jammu and Anantnag. Srinagar too is well connected to neighboring cities like Chandigarh, Jammu, Delhi, Leh and Phalgam. Private taxis can be hired to complete the rest of the journey up to Anantnag.

Accommodation

To visit Martand Temple, one can either stay at Anantnag or Srinagar. Both places have places to stay for the luxury and budget traveler. One can also stay at a star hotel in Srinagar for a comfortable and long stay in this paradisiacal region.

Best Time to Visit

Anantnag sees moderate climate for most parts of the year. Generally it is cool during autumn and spring seasons. Summers are mild with a little rain. July is supposed to be the hottest month while December and January are cold. Barring these few months, Anantnag can be visited at anytime of the year.

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