Madhya Pradesh has a hoary past with monumental archeological and architectural heritage ranging from prehistoric rock-shelters to a rich variety of edifices such as rockcut caves, stupas, viharas, temples of different faith and orders mosques, tombs, churches forts, palaces, tanks and reservoirs belonging to different periods of regions long history. These monuments are maintained and preserved by the Directorate of Archaeology, Archives & Museums and Archeological Survey of India. The State Department of Archaeology and Archaeological Survey of India looks after nearly 335 and 282 Archaeological monuments respectively. The monuments highlight different types of conservation measures undertaken in respect of selected monuments since independence. Here we are giving the brief introduction about the important monuments of Madhya Pradesh.
Bhimbetka, discovered during the last decade, this group of over four hundred rock-shelters containing paintings of men and animals in myriad forms has justifiably become famous as one of the richest group of rock shelter paintings in the world.
Vidisha, the ancient mercantile city was a focal point of various cultures from the Mauryan times to about the Mughal times as is evident from the remains of these periods located in and around the town. On the outskirts of the ancient city can still be seen the Garuda pillar containing a Brahmi inscription erected by a Greek, Heliodoras, stating that it was set up by him in honour of Vasudeva (Vishnu) proclaiming the fact that Heliodoros embraced Hinduism and become a Bhagavata.
About 6 Kms. west of Vidisha, at Udaigiri, are twenty rock-cut caves carved into an isolated sandstone hill. Dating back to circa fourth-fifth century A.D., cave nos. 1 and 20 are jaina as can be seen from the trithankara images installed. The other caves are Brahmanical. Of these, Cave No 5, with its majestic representation of the Varaha (Boar) incarnation of Vishnu, holding aloft on its right tusk, Privithvi, the earth goddess, is an outstanding specimen of early Indian art. These caves are important from the point of view of art, architecture, history and epigraphy of early Gupta period.
The Bagh Caves are famous for paintings akin in style and form to those at Ajanta. The painting adorn the walls and ceilings of rock-cut caves which were excavated for the residence, meditation and for holding the religious congregations of Buddhist monks. The rock-cut Buddhist caves were executed between the fourth and seventh centuries A.D., on a hilly slope of the ancient Vindhyas. Of the nine caves at Bagh, only five (Nos. 1-5) which are all viharas, have survived. Cave No. 2 the best preserved in the series, has a large hall in the centre with cells for months on three sides. At the rear end, is a large central cell enshrining a stupa.
Located on a hill top, nearly 91 metres in height, the stupas at Sanchi constitute some of the most impressive and extensive Buddhist remains in India. The site is unique not only for Buddhist stupas but also because it contains remains covering a period of about 1300 years, from the third century B.C. to the eleventh century A.D. one of the stupas, No. 3, enshrines relics of two foremost disciples of the Buddha, Sariputra and Maudgalayayana.
The most imposing edifice is Stupa 1, also known as the Great Stupa, with its hemispherical dome about 36.60 metres in diameter and 16.46 metres in height. At the ground level of the Great Stupa is the lower part of an Ashokan pillar containing a damaged inscription of Ashoka.
An outstanding example of paramara art and architecture of the eleventh century, is the Nikanthesvara temple at Udayapur built by Udayaditya, the Paramara King. Built in twenty two years, the structure is in a perfect state of preservation and the fineness of the sculptures all round the temple walls is indicative of the skill of the builders.
Bhojpur is famous for the Shiva temple, datable to circa eleventh century, this incomplete structure with its massive proportions and bold conception, enshrines a linga and yonipatta of massive dimensions. In the area around the temple can still be seen sculptures and architectural members in various stages of execution outlines of designs of the temple and the ramp over which the material for the temple was transported. .
Khajuraho is well known for its magnificent temples, built during tenth-eleventh century A.D. of about 85 temples originally built at Khajuraho, only 25 now survive. The temples, which adorned Kharjuravahaka, the capital city of Chandellas, are unrivalled for the profusion of ornamentation. In the Kandariya Mahadeva temple, the largest of the group, details of bewildering complexity are massed together to form a perfectly balanced unity. Each of the 800 statues in the temples in a masterpiece of sculptural art. The Lakshmana temple stands on a high platform of masonry with smaller shrines at the four corners thus presenting a panchayatana type of temples. The Parsvanatha and the Ghantai temples are equally remarkable for their beautiful design. Profusion of sculptures and graceful pillars.
The city of Orcha has some magnificent palaces, the more important are the Jahangir Mahal and Raja Mahal containing enormous rooms with high ceilings, wall painting and silver-framed mirrors. It is totally medieval city.
Dominating Gwalior city is the Fort rising some 300 ft. above the plains, on a standstone hill. The main attractions of this fort are the man Mandir, two early temples known as the Teli-Ka-Mandir, the Sas-Bahu temple datable to the eighth and tenth-eleventh centuries A.D., respectively and the Jain monolithic statues. The city itself has a number of monuments, the most popular being is the tomb of Muhammad Ghaus with its beautiful Jali work & Gujri Mahal with valuable antiquities.
The deserted capital of sultans of Mandu lies on a verdant plateau redolent of past glory and the romance of Rupmati and Baz Bahadur. Among its many ruins are the white marble tomb of Hoshang Shah with its beautiful screents, the Jama Masjid, a fine specimen of architecture, the beautiful Jahaz Mahal with halls, baths, turrets and cupolas, the Hindola Mahal, the famous Rupmati Pavilion built on a hill and overlooking the plains of Nimar, 366m. below, and a number of tanks and baolis, tombs and palaces.
Other lesser known but important monuments are the Gadarmal and Dasavatara temples and monolithic pillar at Badoh Pathari, the temples at Gyaraspur, the seven-storeyed Birsingh palace with its exquisite murals at Datia, the Mandsaur fort with its two ambitiously carved gigantic door jambs portaying Siva, dating back to the 6th century A.D., the Paramara temples at Un, the Brick temple at Sirpur, the Gupta temple and exiquisite sculptures at Nachna and Eran, Medieval temples with exquisite sculpture at Bhoramdev in Rajnandgaon of Chhatisgarh.
