A team of heritage explorers has identified a pristine 10th-century temple deep within the Sheopur forest of Madhya Pradesh. Attributed to the Kachchhapaghata dynasty, the structure is dedicated to the sun god and is notable for its unique floral-lattice sandstone windows (jalis). These windows were engineered to diffuse harsh sunlight into a soft, golden glow that specifically illuminates the main idol only during the morning hours.
The temple's exterior is adorned with intricate friezes of musicians and celestial dancers, many of which remain remarkably intact due to the site's isolation. Local authorities are now working with the Archaeological Survey of India to map the surrounding area, which appears to have been part of a larger, unrecorded settlement. Preliminary studies of the masonry suggest that this temple served as a model for the more famous structures later built in the Gwalior and Morena regions.