Baroli Group of Temples
Chittorgarh, Rajasthan
The village of Baroli, also known as Badoli near Rawatbhata, is home to nine ancient temples built around the 10th to 11th centuries CE. The Baroli group of temples, designated a monument of national significance under the Jodhpur Circle of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), encompasses eight of these nine temples, standing as a testament to the exquisite artistry and architectural prowess of the Pratihara style. The temples are dedicated to various deities; Shiva who is represented in three temples, Vishnu in his reclining Sheshashayi and Vamana form, Mahishasuramardini who is deified in two temples, one of which is outside the complex walls, and Ganesha.
The Baroli temples share a common layout, featuring a garbhagriha (inner sanctum) for housing deities, an antarala (vestibule), and a mandapa (pillared hall). Each temple’s vertical design follows a specific order: a pitha (platform base), vedibandha (decorative mouldings at the base), jangha (the main wall section), and finally, a latina shikhara or nagara-style spire.
But the architectural details in these temples also reflect unique characteristics. A Shiva Temple (Temple 3) inside the water tank, showcases intricate jali (lattice) work. The Ghateshwar Temple stands out as the most prominent structure within the group, with a huge Nandi figure and the rangamandapa (also known as the Shringara Chaori structure in the ASI list) in front of it. The temple has many later and modern inscriptions all over the floor of its mukhamandapa (front porch).
The module on the Baroli group of temples comprises an overview article, an allied article, two image galleries, and architectural drawings. The overview article provides a foundational understanding of the art and architecture of all the nine temples in the group. It sheds light on the captivating sculptures of various deities housed in these temples, delving into the iconography of these figures and revealing their symbolic attributes and meanings. The allied article discusses the Ghateshwar Temple in detail focusing on the architectural and sculptural details. It highlights the interplay of decorative motifs along with the incorporation of human and animal figures. The first image gallery showcases the architectural and sculptural details across all temples, while the second image gallery offers a visual tour of the Ghateshwar Temple.