Archaeologists working along the coast of Ganjam, Odisha, have unearthed the ruins of a 10th-century temple complex belonging to the Imperial Ganga dynasty. The discovery is significant due to the presence of a monolithic sandstone altar carved in the shape of a traditional medieval merchant vessel, suggesting the site was specifically dedicated to a maritime deity invoked by trans-oceanic traders for safe passage across the Bay of Bengal.
The excavation has revealed several granite friezes depicting naval expeditions and trade interactions with Southeast Asian kingdoms. Lead researcher Dr. Ananya Das noted that the temple's architectural style bridges the transition between early Kalinga and mature Ganga styles, featuring advanced hydraulic drainage systems designed to protect the structural foundation from seasonal coastal surges and rising sea levels.