In a remote sea-cliff near the Konkan coast, researchers have identified a previously undocumented rock-cut shrine belonging to the Shilahara dynasty. The shrine is dedicated to a syncretic form of Varuna and Shiva, featuring a massive bas-relief of a deity standing atop a makara (mythical sea creature). The site is believed to have been a sacred landmark for medieval Indian mariners navigating the Arabian Sea.
The interior of the cave temple remains remarkably intact, housing a collection of stone anchors and votive coins from across the Indian Ocean, including Fatimid dinars. Archaeologists state that the shrine’s orientation allows the setting sun to illuminate the central icon during the winter solstice, highlighting the advanced astronomical calibration used by the Shilahara architects.