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Description: | Photograph of the Teli-ka-Mandir temple under repair at Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh, taken by an unknown photographer around 1882, from the Gladstone Collection. The temple was built in the middle of the eighth century during the rule of the Pratiharas. It is situated in the spectacular fort that rises 100 metres (350 ft) above the town of Gwalior in central India, and is its oldest monument. The temple presents a unique blending of Indian architectural styles. The rectangular sanctuary is covered by a masonry tower 25 metres high, with a barrel vaulted roof. The niches on the outer walls, which no longer house the sculptures, are covered by gavakshas, arch-like motifs, a North Indian type of decoration. The doorway is decorated with carved figures of river goddesses, amorous couples (mithuna), foliation motifs and a flying Garuda on the lintel. The temple was reconstructed in 1881-83. This view shows the temple under restoration, with scaffolding along the façade, with other temples and ruined structures in the foreground. Short inscriptions dating to the 8th century and the surviving images in the temple indicate that it was dedicated to the Goddess. | License: | http://www.bl.uk/services/copy/permission.html | Rights holder: | British Library | Source: | Collect Britain | Creator: | Unknown | Identifier: | http://www.collectbritain.co.uk/personal... | Language: | en-GB | Go to resource |
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