A team from the Odisha State Archaeology Department has identified a previously unknown 10th-century Shiva temple in the dense forests of Angul district. The temple, built during the reign of the Somavamsi dynasty, features a rare architectural innovation: a foundation platform supported by massive stone elephant busts that appear to be emerging from the earth. While the 'Gaja-Prishta' (elephant back) style is known in the region, this literal representation of elephants as structural supports is considered a unique stylistic evolution.
The sanctum sanctorum remains remarkably intact, housing a polished chlorite Shivalinga and several friezes depicting the marriage of Shiva and Parvati. Researchers believe the site was once a major pilgrimage stop on the ancient trade route connecting the Mahanadi valley to the northern highlands. Local conservationists are now working to document the Sanskrit inscriptions found on the temple's outer walls, which detail land grants by the local nobility for the temple's upkeep.