Hidden Gem of Gujarat - Roda Temples , Himmatnagar

I had heard about Roda temples of Gujarat sometime around 2011 and since than I was looking for opportunity to visit them. 8 years later I could fulfill my wish when my photography friends decided to do photo-walk there. Located some 15 kms from Himmatnagar on Khed- Tasia road these temples are worth visiting for history and photography lovers alike.

 Check  Location of Roda temples. Tiny and rusty board by ASI can be easily missed. 

Once you take a turn towards the direction of the temples , you ride on the dirt track among the wheat fields. For city folks like us , fresh air and bountiful fields were pure delight. As a photographer I itched to photograph the vista. 

Wheat Fields on way to Roda Temples, himmatnagar, india

Roda group of temples, built in 8th or 9 th century , were badly damaged in 2001 earthquake. ASI has surely done a wonderful job of restoring them and it seems the restoration work is still in progress. All the temples are at elevated level and one gets a feeling that in old times a river must be flowing along these temples. It is believed that originally there were some 125 ( numbers vary from 109 to 125) temples in the area , today only 6 of them remain. 

First thing I noticed about the temples was their architecture. I felt the affinity to temples from southern part of India. later on when I started reading about it, I came to understand that they can be compared to temples of Hampi and other places in Karnataka.  

Shiva temple Roda, Himmatnagar

A glimpse of this Shiva temple. albeit in state of semi-ruin was enough to convince me about the beauty I should expect as we go further ahead. In the first precinct one can see this Shiva temple apart from Bird Temple. Few remains of the carving inside are proof how people from that era valued life other than humans.

Bird Temple, Roda, Himmatnagar, india

Cool winds and cloudy atmosphere made our trip all the more pleasant. Important point to note here is that one must carry enough water and food supply as there are no restaurants or "Dhaba" nearby. And this must be one of the most ideal place to do picnic, so why not carry your food!

As we went further ahead on the dirt track, we found another gem, best of them all, precinct with three temples with "Kund" in front of them. "Kund" (reservoir) was quite similar to the one at Modhera Sun Temple. May be they were built during the same period. Shiva temple had a Shivling and saw steady stream of visitors as it was a Shivratri day. Out of three, one temple was in ruins with just a base on the view. Third one, according to the information I have gathered, is a Vishnu temple. 

Kund at Roda Temples, Himmatnagar

Shiva Temple at Roada , Himmatnagar

We forgot time in this peaceful and divine surroundings. It was so interesting to go back in time and  contemplate history of bygone era. 

to be continued....