Kaleshwari Group of Monuments

The group includes intricately-carved temple ruins, two stepwells, a reservoir, structures with panels of erotic sculptures and idols scattered all over the site.

[1][2][3] It's believed that the site was selected for constructing the complex since it was situated on the old trade route from Gujarat to Rajasthan[4] There was an ancient settlement known as Lavaneshwari at this place is still known as Lavana.

The Shiva temple was erected with Mulaprasada (Shrine Proper) and Sabhamandapa (Assembly Hall) in the 10th century.

The Shikar Madhi was built by Vakhat Singh from ruins of ancient structures in the first half of the 18th century.

[2][5][6][7] The ruins were restored in the 2000s by the State Archeology Department of Gujarat and are promoted as a tourism spot.

[2][7] The monuments include intricately-carved temple ruins, two stepwells, a kund, structures with panels of erotic sculptures and idols scattered all over the site.

[2][3][7][8] The Ghummatwalu Mandir is restored from the number of idols and pillars from the original temple belonging to the 10th century.

The restored temple is erected in reduced size by recreating cella (Grabhagriha) inside the original Shrine Proper (Mulaprasada) which can be identified by partially surviving pitha or plinth.

[2][5][7][8][9] The Shikar Madhi was built by Vakhat Singh (1735-1757), the king of Lunavada, from ruins of ancient structures for night stay when he used to come here for hunting.

It has panels of erotic sculptures and idols of the dancing Ganesha, Maheshmardini, Vishnu, Chamunda and Darpan Kanya, dating back to the 10th century.

[3][5][7] East of the Shikar Madhi, there is another group of monuments on the hillock reached by flight of 230 steps.

Except the four-pillared entrance and the lower parts of the sanctum and mandap, the temple has been recently restored.

The image of the large feet in the temple is popularly associated with Hidimba, the demoness wife of Bhima.

Each side has a short flight of five steps perpendicular to the edge and also facing each other leading down to the lower apron.

She built a longer but narrower stepwell which offended her mother-in-law so she cursed the water with impurity.

[2][5][7][12] The northern wall of Sasu ni Vav has sculptures of Lajja Gauri, a woman giving birth to a child; of Shitala with four hands, one having a broom, and riding a donkey.

It has carved shaft brackets and is deeper than the other stepwell suggesting the underground flow following the slope of the site.