The restoration of a forgotten 10th-century Kalinga-style Sun Temple in the dense forests of Bastar, Chhattisgarh, has led to the discovery of three subterranean ritual chambers. These rooms are accessible via a concealed stone staircase and contain intact sandstone idols of the Vedic deities Indra and Varuna, along with a rare central pillar used for solar tracking.
Archaeologists believe these chambers were used for secret esoteric rituals during the equinoxes. The architectural style bridges the gap between the Odisha Sun Temples and the central Indian Nagara traditions, suggesting a significant cultural exchange during the Somavamsi period.