Archaeologists in Madhya Pradesh have unearthed the foundations of a 6th-century temple complex dedicated to the river goddess Narmada. The site, located near the banks of the river in the Khargone district, represents a rare transition between Gupta and early medieval architectural styles, featuring high-relief carvings of riverine deities and floral motifs unique to the central Indian landscape.
The excavation revealed a raised stone platform and the lower sections of a garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum) containing a beautifully preserved limestone icon of Narmada seated on a crocodile. Experts believe the temple was a center for early river-worship rituals and likely served as a major pilgrimage stop for travelers moving between the northern and southern kingdoms of the Indian subcontinent during the late 6th century.