Frog Temple Oel

The Frog Temple (Medhak Mandir) is a distinctive 19th-century Shiva temple located in Oel town, Lakhimpur Kheri district, Uttar Pradesh. Built on the back of a large stone frog, it is the only temple of its kind in India. Constructed between 1860 and 1870 by Raja Bakshi Singh of Oel State, the temple follows tantric Manduk architecture with an octagonal lotus-shaped base and houses a Narmadeshwar Shivling.

Visitors can expect a unique two-storey temple structure built atop a large stone frog in the centre of Oel town. The temple has an octagonal base designed like an open lotus, arches and terracotta work, and an inner sanctum housing a Narmadeshwar Shivling. The surrounding courtyard is open for circumambulation, photography of the exterior, and observing tantric architectural details. The setting is a small town temple complex with shops for offerings nearby.

Built between 1860 and 1870 by Raja Bakshi Singh, ruler of Oel Estate, and designed by architect Kaptaan Singh. The temple was constructed according to Manduk Tantra of Tantra Shastra, where the frog is considered auspicious and symbolic of prosperity. It is regarded as the only temple in India built on a frog base and represents a rare example of tantric temple architecture from the 19th century.

Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the temple enshrines a Narmadeshwar Shivling brought from the Narmada River. It holds religious importance for Shaivite devotees and followers of tantric traditions. The frog base is associated with good fortune and fertility in local belief. The temple is a focal point during Maha Shivratri when devotees gather for prayers and fairs.