Archaeologists working in the rugged terrain of the Aurangabad district have announced the discovery of a previously unknown rock-cut temple complex dating back to the 6th-century Early Kalachuri dynasty. The shrine is uniquely dedicated to the war god Kartikeya, a rare find for this period in the region, which is more commonly associated with Shaivite or Buddhist rock-cut architecture. The temple features a monolithic sanctum and a pillared porch carved directly into the basalt cliffs.
Inside the sanctum, researchers found an impressively preserved sculpture of Kartikeya seated on his peacock mount, holding a spear. The walls are adorned with friezes depicting martial scenes and early iconographic forms of the god's attendants. Preliminary analysis suggests this site may have been a significant military shrine for the Kalachuri rulers before their influence waned in the Deccan. This discovery provides critical new data on the transitional art styles between the Gupta and early medieval periods.