About Nawagaon Ancient Brick Temple
The Nawagaon Ancient Brick Temple is a historic Hindu temple located in Nawagaon village in Bemetara district, Chhattisgarh. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, it is constructed entirely of bricks and represents the early brick temple architecture of central India. Dated to around the 7th to 8th century CE, the temple features a sanctum with a Shiva lingam and a curvilinear shikhara. It is a protected archaeological site noted for its antiquity and architectural style.
Visitors guide
Visitors can expect a small, ancient brick-built temple set in a quiet rural village landscape. The structure consists of a square sanctum housing a Shiva lingam topped by a brick shikhara. The exterior shows weathered brickwork and simple architectural detailing typical of early Chhattisgarh temples. The surroundings are open agricultural fields with minimal tourist infrastructure, offering a calm setting for sightseeing, photography and brief worship.
Key highlights
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Ancient brick construction dating to early medieval period
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Sanctum enshrining Shiva lingam
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Curvilinear brick shikhara in Nagara style
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Example of Chhattisgarh's early brick temple architectural tradition
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Protected archaeological monument in rural village setting
History of Nawagaon Ancient Brick Temple
Believed to have been built around the 7th to 8th century CE during the early Kalchuri period, the Nawagaon Brick Temple is an early example of brick temple architecture in Chhattisgarh. Executed in brick in Nagara style, it illustrates the region's early medieval temple building tradition and is recognized as a protected ancient monument.
Culture & Context
The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and remains a place of local reverence. It represents the cultural heritage of Chhattisgarh's brick temple tradition and the continuity of Shaivite worship in a rural village context.
Route
| By air | Nearest airport is Swami Vivekananda Airport, Raipur, from where the temple is reached by road via Bemetara. |
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