Temples of Gujarat
Art & Culture › Architecture · Topic 1.13
The temples of Gujarat are the western Indian variety of the Nagara style, called the Solanki or Maru-Gurjara style, built mainly between the 8th and 13th centuries under the Maitrakas, Chalukyas (Solankis) and Vaghelas. They have a Nagara shikhara, richly carved walls, ornamental arches (toranas) and stepped water tanks. The Sun Temple at Modhera (Mehsana), built in 1026 CE under Bhima I, and Rani ki Vav at Patan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2014, are the leading examples. Other major sites are Somnath, Dwarka, the Jain hills of Palitana and Girnar, and Champaner-Pavagadh (UNESCO 2004).
5 min read · UPSC Prelims · Art & Culture · Architecture
At a Glance
- Style Solanki or Maru-Gurjara, a western Nagara form
- Period About 8th to 13th century CE
- Key sites Modhera, Patan, Somnath, Palitana, Dwarka
- UNESCO Rani ki Vav (2014), Champaner-Pavagadh (2004), Dholavira (2021)
- Signature Stepwells and ornate carved toranas
- Exam link UPSC Prelims, Art and Culture: Architecture
Where Does It Fit?
Gujarat temples continue the regional Nagara topics after Odisha and Gwalior. They share ideas with the Rajasthan temples, especially the Jain marble temples that follow in the next topic. Previous topic: Gurjara-Pratihara, Kachchhapaghata, Tomara Key temples Teli ka Mandir, Sas-Bahu, Bateshwar group…">Temples of Gwalior. Next topic: Temples of Rajasthan.
Which Are the Major Temples and Monuments of Gujarat?
| Monument | District | Dynasty and date | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Modhera Sun Temple | Mehsana | Solanki, Bhima I, 1026 to 1027 CE | Three parts, a sanctum, a gudha mandapa and an open assembly hall (sabha mandapa), plus the Surya Kund tank with 108 small shrines. Faces east, and the rising sun is said to light the sanctum image at the equinox |
| Rani ki Vav | Patan | Solanki, queen Udayamati, 11th century | Stepwell built like an inverted temple on seven levels, with over 500 principal sculptures. UNESCO 2014 |
| Somnath temple | Gir Somnath (Prabhas Patan) | Ancient, rebuilt in 1951 | One of the 12 jyotirlingas. The present temple is in the Chalukya style, rebuilt after independence under K. M. Munshi and Sardar Patel |
| Dwarkadhish (Jagat Mandir) | Devbhumi Dwarka | Rebuilt in 15th to 16th century | Vishnu temple with a five-storey tower, one of the Char Dham |
| Palitana temples | Bhavnagar | 11th century onward | Over 800 Jain temples on Shatrunjaya hill, the most sacred pilgrim hill of the Shvetambaras |
| Girnar Jain temples | Junagadh | 12th to 15th century | Group of Jain temples on Mount Girnar, with the Neminatha temple |
| Champaner-Pavagadh | Panchmahal | Chauhan and Sultanate, 8th to 16th century | Archaeological park with Hindu, Jain and Islamic monuments. UNESCO 2004 |
| Sidhpur Rudra Mahalaya | Patan | Solanki, Siddharaja Jayasimha, 12th century | Ruined large Shiva temple complex |
What Are the Features of the Solanki Style?
- Nagara base: a curved shikhara over a square sanctum on a raised platform
- Mandapas: halls with ornate ceilings, often with sabha mandapa open on the sides
- Toranas: carved arches, called kirti toranas, at entrances, as at Vadnagar and Modhera
- Sculpture: fine figures, apsaras and gods on the outer walls, with lathe-turned pillars
- Stepped tanks: kunds with steps and small shrines, such as the Surya Kund
- Stepwells (vavs): underground water stores shaped like temples, a Gujarat specialty
- Material: sandstone in the north and marble in Jain temples
- Solar alignment: the east-facing Modhera sanctum receives the first rays of the sun
What Else Should You Remember?
- Solanki dynasty: The Solankis, also called the Chaulukyas of Anhilwara (Patan), ruled Gujarat from 942 CE with Mularaja as the founder. Bhima I, Siddharaja Jayasimha and Kumarapala are the best known
- Jain patronage: Under Kumarapala and the minister Hemachandra, Jainism flourished, and Jain temples were built at Palitana and Girnar
- Modhera note: Modhera is dedicated to Surya. Its walls carry the twelve Adityas in niches
- Rani ki Vav and the note: The stepwell was built in memory of Bhima I, according to tradition by his queen Udayamati. It is shown on the reverse of the Rs 100 note issued from 2018. It was later silted over and re-excavated by the Archaeological Survey of India in the 1960s to 1980s
- Rani ki Vav UNESCO: Inscribed in 2014 as Rani-ki-Vav (the Queen’s Stepwell) at Patan, Gujarat
- Adalaj: The Adalaj stepwell near Gandhinagar was built in 1498 under the Vaghela chief Veer Singh and his queen Roopba, and completed under Mahmud Begada
- Somnath history: The temple was raided several times, most famously by Mahmud of Ghazni in 1025 CE, and rebuilt, the latest in 1951
- Ahmedabad: The Historic City of Ahmedabad was India’s first World Heritage City in 2017, with the Sidi Saiyyed mosque and Jami masjid
- Sun temple comparison: Modhera in Gujarat can be compared with Konark in Odisha and Martand in Kashmir, as in Nagara style Period About 7th to 13th century CE Main towers Rekha deul, pida deul,…">Temples of Odisha
- Sultanate buildings: The Gujarat Sultanate built mosques in a blend of Hindu-Jain and Islamic styles, discussed in Provincial Style
- Dholavira: The Harappan site in Kutch is listed in Harappan Period (town planning, Great Bath, granaries)
- Compare: General Nagara features are in Nagara Style, and the Rajasthan examples are in Temples of Rajasthan
Why Does It Matter for the Exam?
- Match type: Modhera with the Sun, Rani ki Vav with Patan, Palitana with Jainism
- UNESCO years: Champaner-Pavagadh 2004, Rani ki Vav 2014, Ahmedabad 2017, Dholavira 2021
- Dynasty: Solanki or Chaulukya of Anhilwara
- Feature: stepwell as an inverted temple
- Common errors: giving Modhera to the Pratiharas, or the stepwell to the Mughals
As an analytical point, Gujarat’s heritage shows how water architecture and temple architecture were joined, so conservation of vavs also supports local water security. For Mains, this connects heritage with climate adaptation and rural water systems.
Why Is This Topic Important?
- Prelims Many UNESCO sites in a single state
- Mains Water heritage and tourism
- Link Jain pilgrimage architecture
What Came Next?
The next topic covers the temples of Rajasthan. Next topic: Temples of Rajasthan.
Key People and Terms
- Vav Stepwell
- Kund Stepped tank
- Sabha mandapa Open assembly hall
- Bhima I Solanki king, Modhera
- Jyotirlinga Shiva shrine of light
- Kirti torana Ornamental gateway
Exam Corner
Points to Remember
- Modhera: Bhima I, 1026 CE, Mehsana.
- Rani ki Vav: Patan, UNESCO 2014.
- Champaner-Pavagadh: UNESCO 2004.
- Palitana: over 800 Jain temples.
- Somnath rebuilt in 1951.
Do Not Confuse With
- Modhera and Konark Gujarat versus Odisha sun temples
- Rani ki Vav and Adalaj Solanki queen’s stepwell in Patan versus later stepwell near Gandhinagar
- Dholavira and Champaner Harappan versus medieval site
Memory Hook
Solanki carved the Sun at Modhera and sank a temple into the earth at Patan.
Mains Angle
Questions ask about water heritage and religious pluralism. These points give a frame.
- Water heritage Vavs and kunds
- Pluralism Hindu, Jain, Islamic
- Tourism UNESCO sites
- Revival Somnath and temples
A Question You May Face
An original practice question, not a past paper question.
“Discuss the contribution of the Solanki rulers to temple and water architecture in Gujarat.”
How to Answer
- Intro Solanki context.
- Temples Modhera, Sidhpur, Jain.
- Water Rani ki Vav, kunds.
- Conclusion Heritage and water security.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Solanki style of temple architecture?
The Solanki or Maru-Gurjara style is the western Nagara style of Gujarat and Rajasthan, developed under the Solanki dynasty between the 10th and 13th centuries. It has a curved shikhara, richly carved walls, ornamental toranas, open assembly halls and stepped tanks. The Modhera Sun Temple is its best known example.
Who built the Modhera Sun Temple?
The Modhera Sun Temple in Mehsana district, Gujarat, was built by the Solanki king Bhima I in 1026 to 1027 CE. It is dedicated to Surya and has a sanctum, a hall and an assembly hall, with the Surya Kund tank in front. It was designed to catch the first sun rays.
Where is Rani ki Vav located?
Rani ki Vav is in Patan, the old Solanki capital Anhilwara, in northern Gujarat. It is a stepwell of the 11th century built like an inverted temple on seven levels with hundreds of sculptures. UNESCO inscribed it as a World Heritage Site in 2014.
What is the difference between Modhera and Konark?
Modhera in Gujarat was built by the Solanki king Bhima I in 1026 CE and has a stepped tank. Konark in Odisha was built by the Eastern Ganga king Narasimhadeva I in the 13th century and is shaped as a chariot. Both are sun temples of the Nagara tradition.
Why is Gujarat important for UPSC art and culture?
Gujarat has Harappan Dholavira, Champaner-Pavagadh, Rani ki Vav and Ahmedabad among its UNESCO sites, and temples such as Modhera, Somnath, Dwarka and Palitana. Prelims asks for dynasty, district and year, and Mains uses vavs and temples to discuss water heritage and tourism.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 Rani ki Vav is a stepwell at Patan.
A UNESCO site since 2014.
2 The Modhera Sun Temple was built by the Pratiharas.
By Bhima I of the Solanki dynasty.
3 Champaner-Pavagadh became a World Heritage Site in 2004.
Panchmahal district, Gujarat.
4 Palitana is a major Jain pilgrimage site in Gujarat.
On Shatrunjaya hill.
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