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Rare 8th-Century 'Pratihara-Style' Ganesha Temple Foundations Discovered in Rajasthan’s Remote Jalore District

📅 April 7, 2026 📰 Hindustan Times
Rare 8th-Century 'Pratihara-Style' Ganesha Temple Foundations Discovered in Rajasthan’s Remote Jalore District

Archaeologists exploring the foothills of the Aravalli range in Jalore have discovered the sandstone foundations of an 8th-century Gurjara-Pratihara temple. The site is unique for its primary dedication to Lord Ganesha, featuring a central plinth surrounded by several smaller subsidiary shrines. Fragments of lattice windows (Jali) and carved pillars suggest a highly developed artistic style synonymous with the early medieval period in Western India.

The excavation also yielded a rare copper plate charter dating to the reign of Nagabhata I. The inscription records the establishment of a Sanskrit school adjacent to the temple, reinforcing the idea that these sacred sites served as vital centers of learning and intellectual exchange in the Rajasthan desert.

Original source: Hindustan Times