A major conservation project at a remote Shiva temple in the Khandwa district of Madhya Pradesh has uncovered architectural features previously unknown to the Paramara dynasty. During the removal of century-old sediment layers, workers discovered four ritual pedestals inlaid with deep-blue cobalt glass, a material rarely associated with medieval Indian temple interiors. These pedestals were strategically placed to catch the first light of the solstice through specific roof apertures.
Archaeologists from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) suggest that the use of cobalt indicates a sophisticated trade network connecting central India with the Middle East during the 11th century. The restoration has also brought to light a series of intricate friezes depicting the Samudra Manthan (Churning of the Ocean) that still retain traces of their original mineral pigments, offering a rare glimpse into the polychrome splendor of early medieval Hindu architecture.