Kala Dera Shiva Temple, Jammu and Kashmir

Address

Kala Dera Shiva Temple, Manwal District, Udhampur Division, Jammu and Kashmir- 182127

Diety

Shiva

Introduction

Manwal is a town in Udhampur district of Jammu and Kashmir, India. It lies 28 km (17 mi) away from the district headquarters of Udhampur. Manwal is a small town surrounded by the Shivalik Mountains. Kala Dera temple refers to a black temple which is dedicated to Lord Shiva and faces east. The literal translation for Kala Dera is “Black Stones”. It comprises a Garbhagriha (Sanctum), an Antarala (Vestibule), an Ardhamandapa (Entrance Porch) and a Mandapa (Hall). The temple is built on a high platform and heralded by a Mandapa. The entrance is through a flight of stairs in the east direction. The superstructure is somewhat missing and the temple has two columns of the sanctum, the entrance to the Mandappa and the bases of four jambs. Between the sanctum and the Mandappa lies a porch which also contains similar pillar bases. The noteworthy architectural members lying at the site are fluted, shafts, carved ceiling with inverted lotus flowers beside sculptures which have been preserved. A second temple is Saptaratha on plan externally and is also built on an elevated platform. There is a Makara-Mukha (makara-faced) pranala through which the water flows into a small rectangular storage tank and is carved out of a single block. The roof of Mandappa is supported on four fluted columns surmounted by capitals. Besides the principal entrance facing the central aisles, it has two smaller entrances at the rear end. The figures on the jambs of the door and porch are now damaged. A well can be spotted in close vicinity. Presently, these temples are managed by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).