A major archaeological breakthrough in Vidisha has revealed the foundations of a temple dating back to the 3rd-Century BCE Mauryan era. The site features fragments of the iconic highly-polished Chunar sandstone columns, characteristic of the period's royal architecture, suggesting that the temple enjoyed patronage from the Mauryan court.
This discovery is particularly important as structural temples from the Mauryan period are extremely rare. The excavation reveals a rectangular brick platform with a central drainage system, indicating that the site was used for elaborate water-based rituals. The findings reinforce Vidisha's status as one of ancient India's most critical religious and commercial crossroads.