Excavations in rural Uttar Pradesh have unearthed the foundations of a 3rd-century BCE brick temple dedicated to the Maruts, the Vedic storm deities. This Mauryan-era structure is one of the few surviving examples of early standalone temples before the widespread adoption of rock-cut architecture in the Indian subcontinent.
The site contains rare terracotta votive plaques depicting turbulent weather patterns and warriors in chariots, providing a unique glimpse into early religious practices and iconography. Archaeologists noted that the temple layout follows an apsidal plan, similar to early Buddhist chaityas but clearly dedicated to Brahmanical deities based on the specific ritual artifacts found within the layers.