Khidrapur

The artistic temple of Kopeshwar or Mahadev at Khidrapur is a treasure-house of

beautifully carved sculptures and a rare architectural marvel. The entire temple rests on a
gajapeeth which is a semi-circular platform resting on the back of 92 carved elephants.

------------MTDC

Khidrapur Temple

The artistic temple of Kopeshwar or Mahadev at Khidrapur is a treasure-house of

beautifully carved sculptures and a rare architectural marvel.

The entire temple rests on a gajapeeth which is a semi-circular platform resting on the
back of 92 carved elephants.

This temple is located near Kolhapur

---------http://thecomforts.com/thecomforts_directory.asp?spc=2226

Holy Khidrapur (Kopeshwar)

The Kopeshwar, Ancient & artistic temple situated on the bank of Krishna is a fine
example of ancient sculpture. It was built in 11-12 century by Shilahar. In the interior you
see first Vishnu(Dhopeshwar) and Shivling facing north. But there is no nandi who has
separate Mandir. Separate Actor-Pendal, hall, old pillars, carvings of gods & male-female
artists in various poses are attractive. The ceiling is semicircular with matchless
engravings. On the outside complete 'Shivaleetamrit' is carved When sati Parvati jumped
into Daxa's sacrifice, Lord Shiva was angry. He got peace of mind in this temple. From
entrance to Shivaling, we feel peace, coldness and dark. In Shravan, on Monday &
Shivratri the mandir is crowded. The palanquin celebration is simply spectacular!

-----------------http://kolhapur.nic.in/Htmldocs/khidrapur.htm

Khidrapur
It is to the east of Kolhapur, ancient & artistic on the bank of the Krishna. It was built in 11-12
century by Shilahar. ln the interior we first see Vishnu (Dhopeshwar) & Shivaling facing
north. But there is no Nandi who has separate Mandir. Separate Actor-Pendal, hall, old
pillars, carvings of gods & rnale-fernale artists in various poses are attractive. The ceiling is
semi-circular with rnatchless engravings. On the out side, complete 'Shivaleelamrit' is
carved.

When sati Parvati jumped into Daxa'.' sacrifice, Lord Shiva was angry. He got peace of rnind
in this temple From entrance to Shivaling, we feel peace, coldness & Dark Shankaracharya
had appointed servants for the management. In Shravan on Monday & Shivaratri the Mandir
is crowded. The Palanquine celebration is simply spectacular!

The Kopeshwar, Ancient & artistic temple situated on the bank of Krishna is a fine example
of ancient sculpture. It was built in 11-12 century by Shilahar. In the interior you see first
Vishnu( Dhopeshwar) and Shivling facing north. But there is no nandi who has separate
 Mandir. Separate Actor-Pendal, hall, old pillars, carvings of gods & male-female artists in
various poses are attractive. The ceiling is semi-circular with matchless engravings. On the
outside complete 'Shivaleetamrit' is carved When sati Parvati jumped into Daxa's sacrifice,
Lord Shiva was angry. He got peace of mind in this temple. From entrance to Shivaling, we
feel peace, coldness and dark. In Shravan, on Monday & Shivratri the mandir is crowded.
The palanquin celebration is simply spectacular!

--------------------------http://www.ourkolhapur.com/khidrapur.php?hisp=1

Why you must visit the Khidrapur temples

I felt a momentary sense of disappointment when Aadam, my rickshawallah from the

former prinicipality of Kurundwad, announced that we were finally nearing the marvel
called Khidrapur. Houses with tiled roofs and huge trees were turning into dark
silhouettes as the moon rose over the village. The pale yellow glow of electric lights and
televisions crackling behind half-shut doors were the only signs of life around. Except for
a woman busy scouring utensils outside her tea-stall under a huge banyan tree, the
village was readying to retire. A young vendor of coconuts, flowers and other pooja
articles tried to pull off the last sale of the day as I stood at the threshold of a Chalukyan
wonder, 60 km off Kolhapur city.

An unlit red and blue plaque at the narrow, unembellished entrance announced the
provisions of a certain archaeological Act that protects heritage structures. It came with a
warning about the imprisonment or fine or both that vandals can attract. I felt as though I
was entering an ordinary village house. Till I crossed the stone threshold, that is. I saw a
narrow walkway studded with pillars that were truly spectacular.

Often described as the Khajuraho of Maharashtra, the Khidrapur temple complex is a

distinct piece of art. I had gone with strange images of the temple and its surroundings
which had been submerged by the massive monsoon floods this year. But life seems to
be returning to normalcy in the region and the temple itself was a revelation of sorts.

Another wonder awaited me inside the swargamandap. The moon that now hung over
the akasha gawaksha -- a huge circular sky window -- lit up the sculptures. It fell over the
dikpals, the guardian deities of eight directions cut into the pillars of the swargamandap.
And also flooded a small part of the adjoining sabha mandap.

It was a truly amazing sight. I wondered why Cousens, an archaeological survey

assistant working with the Bombay Survey in the late 19th century, found Khidrapur
disappointing. James Burgess, an archaeological surveyor who rose high enough in the
department to head the western circle of the Britishers’ Archaeological Survey in 1906,
has made some passing references to this temple in his diary after he and his survey
team visited the region sometime in April 1983. Burgess tells us that his assistant found
the temple disappointing because though it is large, ‘it is a comparatively late structure of
the style of the great temple in Kolhapur city and that at Yeoat (Yavat near Pune),
uncompleted and lacking in delicacy’.

Later-day archaeologists, however, list the Khidrapur temple complex, which consists of
the Kopeshwara and Jain temples, as an exceptional monument. The erotic sculptures
of Khidrapur are just one facet of the amazing range of sculptures that depict various
joyful emotions.

The temple is built as if resting on a gajapeeth, a platform on the backs of many carved
elephants. You can see the elephants clearly in daylight, Aadam told me. I cursed myself
for reaching Khidrapur so late.

Aadam turned out to be another wonder. He hails from a family of patharwats -- stone
hewers. What’s unique about the temple? I asked him. “Saaheb,” he said, “whoever built
this must come from a thriving community. Look at any of these stone figures, they all
look very happy. There is no place for unhappiness and grief.” He gave me a completely
different outlook on Khidrapur.

Khidrapur is another example of the monumental neglect of Maharashtra’s treasures. It

is associated with the mythological story of Shiva’s wrath when, unable to bear her
husband’s humiliation, Parvati burnt herself in a yadnya hosted by her father King
Daksha.

Khidrapur still receives promises of aid from tourism managers in the government. The
latest in the long list of hitherto unfulfilled assurances is a Rs 47-lakh State government
aid. The plans for the temple’s restoration are amazing, and I have my own anxieties
about these. Better roads, a tourist home, a ghat on river Krishna and a solar energy-
based illumination are lined as priority projects. But there is more to be done. Getting
locals involved, for one. If packaged properly to suit all pockets, the Khidrapur temples
could be turned into a great tourist destination. Why think of only the Taj in the moonlight
when Khidrapur could be as stunning?

--------------(Published in Pune's The Maharashtra Herald on December 15, 2005.)