Usha Mandir

Usha Mandir is a 10th-century Pratihara stone temple located in Bayana, Bharatpur district, Rajasthan. Commissioned in 956 CE by Queen Chitralekha, wife of Raja Lakshman Sen, the temple is dedicated to Usha, daughter of the demon king Banasura. The quadrangular structure features a courtyard with rows of pillars forming aisles and is protected as a monument of national importance by the Archaeological Survey of India.

Visitors can explore a historic 10th-century stone temple with a quadrangular layout entered through a small gateway. The interior consists of a courtyard surrounded by rows of pillars forming aisles, with the main worship area situated in front of the gateway. Adjacent to the temple stands the Usha Minar (Lodhi Minar), an unfinished circular tower built in red sandstone. The site offers insight into Gurjara-Pratihara architecture and medieval Indian history within the Bayana fort precinct.

The Usha Mandir was built in 956 CE (V.S. 1012) during the reign of Gurjara-Pratihara ruler Samrat Mahipal by Queen Chitralekha, wife of Raja Lakshman Sen. The temple is associated with Usha, daughter of the demon king Banasura from Hindu mythology. The adjacent Usha Minar was started by Ibrahim Lodi around 1520 CE (A.H. 926) and completed by Nizam Khan, governor of Bayana. The temple was later destroyed during the reign of Iltutmish in 1224 CE, and a mosque was built at the same site. The monument is protected by the Archaeological Survey of India under Act No. LXXI of 1951.

The temple holds significance in Hindu mythology as it is dedicated to Usha, daughter of Banasura. It represents Gurjara-Pratihara architectural heritage and reflects the layered religious history of Bayana, where Hindu temples and Islamic structures coexist. The site demonstrates the region's importance during the medieval period under various dynasties including the Pratiharas, Ghurids, and Lodhis.