Babor Devi Bhagwati Temple- Jammu and Kashmir

Address

Babor Devi Bhagwati Temple Bador, Manwal District, Udhampur Division, Jammu and Kashmir- 182127

Diety

Amman: Devi Bhagwati

Introduction

Babore temples house the ruins of 6-temple architecture within a radius of 1km is an imposing site of immense archaeological importance in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. This temple is dedicated to goddess Devi Bhagawati. Believed that presently three temples are seen in Manwal that can be attributed to Babour period . The Nandi Temple, Shiva Temple and Devi Bhagwati Temple. Devi Bhagwati temple, is a treasure house in terms of architecture and profusely carved images on stones. The temple site is about 50km away from Udhampur city in Dhar Road near Manwal in Udhampur district. Presently, the Babore temples are managed by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

Puranic Significance

The Manwal (Babour) temples were built around 10th and 11th century AD. Devi Bhagwati temple, is a treasure house in terms of architecture and profusely carved images on stones. One can see Nandi , Natesha( dancing Shiva) , Standing Ganesha , saint and soldier images , human images and geometrical decorations on stones . A mixture of Kashmirian and Kalinga style of temple architecture, the Devi Bhagwati temple is a little place where Pooja is still performed. This temple is also constructed on a raised rectangular platform which is approached by a flight of stairs on the west side. It has two principal square sanctums divided from each other by a luxuriant cell. Each of the sanctums is preceded by a porch having two fluted pillars surmounted by a very baroque vase and floral capitals. The decoration over the architrave above the columns of the porch of the sanctum on the northern side of the mandappa contains ornamented Navagraha panel.