The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has launched a high-priority restoration project for the 11th-century Bhojeshwar Temple in Bhojpur, Madhya Pradesh. Known for its massive 18-foot-tall Shivalingam, the temple is an unfinished masterpiece of Parmar King Bhoja. The project aims to address structural stresses in the colossal stone slabs that form the ceiling, which have begun to show signs of shifting due to their immense weight.
Engineers are utilizing fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) rods and traditional lime-mortar grouting to stabilize the architecture without altering its historic aesthetic. This phase of restoration also includes the conservation of the ancient mason's marks and drawings etched into the surrounding quarry stones, which serve as a unique architectural manual for how the temple was intended to be completed nearly a millennium ago.