About Mahadev Temple, Tambdi Surla
Mahadev Temple at Tambdi Surla is a 12th-13th century Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, located in the Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary and Mollem National Park in Goa. Built in the Kadamba-Yadava style using black basalt stone, it is the only surviving specimen of this architectural style in Goa and an ASI protected Monument of National Importance. Its remote forest location allowed it to survive historical invasions, making it the oldest extant Hindu temple in the state.
Visitors guide
Visitors can expect to see a small, ancient basalt stone temple featuring intricate carvings of deities, elephants, and lotus motifs characteristic of Kadamba architecture. The site includes a pillared mandapa with a headless Nandi statue and an inner sanctum housing a Shiva linga. The temple is situated in a secluded forest clearing within a wildlife sanctuary, offering a serene environment surrounded by dense vegetation. Visitors may also observe active Hindu worship rituals as it remains a functional religious site.
Key highlights
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Oldest surviving Hindu temple in Goa dating back to the 12th-13th century
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Only preserved example of Kadamba-Yadava architecture in basalt stone in Goa
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ASI protected Monument of National Importance located inside Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary
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Intricate bas-relief carvings depicting Shiva, Vishnu, Brahma and their consorts
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Active place of worship where Mahashivratri festival is celebrated annually
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Remote forest setting at the foot of the Western Ghats that protected it from historical destruction
History of Mahadev Temple, Tambdi Surla
Built during the 12th-13th century under the Kadamba dynasty, possibly by Queen Kamladevi, it is the sole surviving Kadamba-era basalt temple in Goa. Its isolated location deep within the Western Ghats forests enabled it to escape destruction during Islamic invasions and the Portuguese Goa Inquisition, unlike most other ancient Goan temples. It was rediscovered in 1935 and subsequently declared a Monument of National Importance by the Archaeological Survey of India.
Culture & Context
The temple remains an active center of Shaivite worship and is particularly significant during the annual Mahashivratri festival when devotees from surrounding villages gather for celebrations. It represents a rare fusion of Jain stylistic influences with Kadamba-Yadava craftsmanship in Hindu temple architecture. Local legends associate the site with a resident king cobra believed to guard the inner sanctum, adding to its spiritual folklore.