OK, Here goes. Basically I'll try to focus on temples built during the Maratha empire for a start, then later on we can move onto older and more modern constructions.

Maratha temple architecture is quite diverse in itself, but also unique because the medieval era saw the influence of Indo-Islamic architecture come into the region. As a result, the styles are often eclectic and quite interesting.

I'll start off with a relatively unknown but IMO excellent example:

Talkeshwar Temple in Anjanvel (Guhagar, Ratnagiri)

Notice how simple it is. None of the intricate detailing that you associate with your typical nagara-style temple. Infact without the Shikhara, you could almost mistake it for a mosque.

http://img353.imageshack.us/img353/1502/00057.jpg

http://img353.imageshack.us/img353/7623/00046.jpg

http://img26.imageshack.us/img26/9603/img7695z.jpg
http://picasaweb.google.com/nimsarkarashish/TalkeshwarLightHouse#5341925479589624962

yea... when I saw the second pic I was like this looks so much like a mosque!

Infact, the previous temple is not carved from stone at all. I'm not sure what the construction material is, but I won't be surprised if it is just bricks and plaster.

A more famous example is the Trimbakeshwar Temple (Nashik). This is of course a very typical nagara-style temple in black basalt stone that is popular in the region. It is supposed to have been commissioned by Nanasaheb Peshwa but I'm unsure of the exact date. Around 1750 it should be. However, notice how the entrance porches have ornamental arches. They are typical of all Maratha architecture and used everywhere - temple gates, house windows, palace windows, city gates, fort gates.

http://img31.imageshack.us/img31/4637/4147754538a90bfe2be9b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/atanumaity/4147754538/sizes/l/

http://img31.imageshack.us/img31/2482/4147753152f33a3ae07fb.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/atanumaity/4147753152/sizes/l/

http://img58.imageshack.us/img58/8499/338593068179bd838d4fb.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/15357325@N00/3385930681/sizes/l/

http://img63.imageshack.us/img63/4987/326286560835f1811c8bg.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/anjanesh/326286560/sizes/l/

^^
Do these temples come under the Govt. control/private parties or organizations/ASI?

^These two are not listed anywhere on ASI website, so I'm not sure who is responsible for running them.

Siddheshwar Temple in Solapur. The architecture is overall Nagara, but the style of construction resembles a South Indian temple in many ways. The temple is made from black stone although the shikhar doesn't feature carving, but rather stucco-work like South Indian temples. Even the motifs resemble South Indian ones.

http://img191.imageshack.us/img191/1659/576475321625400892fo.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/paragsm/576475321/sizes/o/

http://img191.imageshack.us/img191/2051/417031390288cb5d2effb.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kallapur/4170313902/sizes/l/

http://img191.imageshack.us/img191/2189/4147361696a4cf4220b6b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/yogeshp/4147361696/

http://img651.imageshack.us/img651/4595/4147363452ea871e6837b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/yogeshp/4147363452/in/photostream/

Siddheshwar Temple in Solapur.

This temple looks good. Thanks for the description Marathaman.

BTW, Is this a new temple or one which is undergoing renovation?

^Its from the 17th-18th century though I couldn't find the exact date.

This is what the typical traditional coastal temple looks like. The walls are made from Laterite blocks, and tiled roofs. But such temples are a rare sight nowadays.

Shri Arya Durga Temple, Devihasol
http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/5056/32048179.jpg

Another one in Sindhudurg district. You can see the white plaster peeling off to reveal the laterite blocks.

http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/270/30223547.jpg

Marathaman - thanks a ton. Do you have any photo-documentary of the temples of Waii ?

Also - anything on the Waadas of Maharashtra? I remember you showing some random image of a hamlet in Maha - no electricity, no roads etc..but that hamlet looked as if it had MANY MANY WAADAS. Were u lucky finding the name of that hamlet though?

Cheers
p2p4

^p2p4, if you leave the main highways and go into the interiors, it appears that there are thousands of villages which are yet untouched by "modernity", or the ugly cement-concrete construction that is so ubiquitous nowadays. I found both of these on google maps.

Marathaman you have the one at Ganpatipule?

^Yeah not tough to find. Though I avoid posting it because hate that pink paint.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4021/4374402313_526c9edd39_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/45129757@N06/4374402313/

Here are some decaying temples inside Kolaba Fort - a Maratha Sea fort in Alibagh.

http://picasaweb.google.com/manojstats/AlibaghColabaFort#
http://img710.imageshack.us/img710/9583/sdc11577n.jpg

http://img694.imageshack.us/img694/186/sdc11476j.jpg

http://img694.imageshack.us/img694/6128/sdc11507a.jpg

http://img694.imageshack.us/img694/551/sdc11442a.jpg

http://img694.imageshack.us/img694/4760/sdc11517.jpg

^^
awesome.
Nice to see a temple with tiled roof in Maharashtra.:cheers:
Thanks Marathaman.

Some of them don't seem to be in a good shape :( do people not worship in these temples any more?

^The local villagers probably do, but they have no money to repair it.

Usually whatever small "repairs" are done involve cement, plastic sheets and tin roofs.

Marathaman -

What type of tower is this and what was it used for?
Those protruding "hands", were they used for lighting?
and what style of architecture is this?
It's rather interesting.
Thanks.

http://img694.imageshack.us/img694/4760/sdc11517.jpg

Its used for holding oil lamps.

It is actually called DeepMaal (Deep is 'earthen lamp', Maal is Marathi conversion of Sanskrit 'Maalika' Row.) Many old temples have them.

Hello,

I have a number of old photos of temples in the areas around Ahmednuggur, Pune and the Konkan taken for my great great grandfather who was serving in those areas.

Does anybody know if they survive, and can anybody locate them for me?

http://img689.imageshack.us/img689/1306/cjbartonphotoalbum2045.jpg
By cuddalore (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/cuddalore), shot with DMC-LZ2 (http://profile.imageshack.us/camerabuy.php?model=DMC-LZ2&make=Panasonic) at 2010-04-06

http://img689.imageshack.us/img689/3026/cjbartonphotoalbum2058.jpg
By cuddalore (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/cuddalore), shot with DMC-LZ2 (http://profile.imageshack.us/camerabuy.php?model=DMC-LZ2&make=Panasonic) at 2010-04-06

http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/9238/cjbartonphotoalbum2062.jpg
By cuddalore (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/cuddalore), shot with DMC-LZ2 (http://profile.imageshack.us/camerabuy.php?model=DMC-LZ2&make=Panasonic) at 2010-04-06

Regards

Nick Balmer

^I can't recognize any of them. The last one seems to be an Islamic tomb rather than a temple, though I cannot be sure since some temples of the period were influenced by Islamic architecture.

There is some writing above and below the photos. Maybe if you could type that out here it could help.

Hello,

I have added as much of the captions as I can read. Some are difficult to be sure of. I hope they are enough for somebody to recognise where they are.

http://img689.imageshack.us/img689/1306/cjbartonphotoalbum2045.jpg

Hindu Temple near Bhingar Ahmednuggur

http://img689.imageshack.us/img689/3026/cjbartonphotoalbum2058.jpg

Temple at Aringaum near Nuggur


http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/9238/cjbartonphotoalbum2062.jpg

Aurungabad

Regards

Nick Balmer

A village temple in Guhire village (Nashik Distt.)

http://img97.imageshack.us/img97/2781/mphoto20101.jpg
http://picasaweb.google.com/hrushikeshw/Pabargad#5171154098084095026

Sangameshwar Temple, Saswad:

http://picasaweb.google.com/zakasrao/SonoriFortAndJejuriTrip#

http://img30.imageshack.us/img30/3756/dsc03600w.jpg

http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/2241/dsc03601f.jpg

Tulapur

http://picasaweb.google.com/shivaramdeshpande/Tulapur#5469491882341636274
http://img685.imageshack.us/img685/5651/tulapur4.jpg

Sangameshwar Temple, Saswad:


this is really nice architecture, it should be maintained to its good condition.... btw how to go there from Mumbai(thane)...any info??

http://img689.imageshack.us/img689/3026/cjbartonphotoalbum2058.jpg

Temple at Aringaum near Nuggur

Regards

Nick Balmer

Hi - these ones are located at Orchha in Madhya Pradesh, I think:

http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/489/4537311359db41b55137.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ghostfacebuddha/4537311359/sizes/m/

http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/9238/cjbartonphotoalbum2062.jpg

Aurungabad

This is a tomb in Aurangabad:

http://img200.imageshack.us/img200/4707/2607137054b502dc976c.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/26147775@N02/2607137054/sizes/m/

Sangameshwar Temple, Saswad:

http://picasaweb.google.com/zakasrao/SonoriFortAndJejuriTrip#

http://img30.imageshack.us/img30/3756/dsc03600w.jpg

http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/2241/dsc03601f.jpg

Looks like a grassy hill...

http://img694.imageshack.us/img694/4760/sdc11517.jpg

what on earth is this ? I ave never seen any temple structure like this before. Thanks for this thread, very infrmative.

This is an interesting one. It looks brand new and under construction to me. The stone is laterite. Fusi - you can see the same structures (albeit smaller ones here). Its located at Dive-agar.

Rather strange - the type of construction is rather old. I'm wondering if its a new temple or an old one being renovated. The laterite blocks look brand-new though. They haven't darkened with age. I'm stumped.

http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/7039/47020096370e50c37993b.jpg

http://img820.imageshack.us/img820/1910/4702009869f995d0aabcb.jpg

http://img693.imageshack.us/img693/5759/4702011931e1483e8f29b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pointnclick/4702011931/sizes/l/

More Konkan temples:

http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/5113/3250994766371efef388b.jpg

http://img188.imageshack.us/img188/193/3251004986e737596fe4b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/shrirang_khandekar/3251004986/

http://img31.imageshack.us/img31/4500/3537514653854f1cdf5eb.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rohidas_gaonkar/3537514653/

http://img532.imageshack.us/img532/8854/700162899ed4dc9373fb.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jrossetti/700162899/

what on earth is this ? I ave never seen any temple structure like this before. Thanks for this thread, very infrmative.

Fusionist

These are known as 'DEEPASTHAMBH' - literally as pillars of diyaas (oil lamps). These used to be lit up every day but due to oil price / affordability, they are lit up mostly during festive seasons (or individual festive days).

These DEEPASTHAMBS were pretty common in most of Konkan temples.

Maratha - I believe the Dive-Agar temple was newly built? Give it a few more years and the stone will show its age (dark maroon or dark reddish black). My only hope is that the temple committees - like many others in Kokan region, DO NOT bring their fornicative ideas by applying plaster and paint in the hope of making them look modern. I'd give anything to keep that temple (a rarity at that) to remain as it is in its current form.

By the way, Maratha, thanks a ton for posting these pix on Kokan region temples. I have a bond with kokan region. Will write up more in forthcoming posts.

NOTE - Is Shrirang Khandekar related to Anant Khandekar?

Cheers
p2p4

^You're welcome P2p4. I've been trying to find Konkani temples that haven't been painted over with flourescent shades but haven't been successful thus far :(

Here's one in Aade that seems in acceptable condition:

http://img717.imageshack.us/img717/7581/dsc00431d.jpg
http://picasaweb.google.com/sardesai.sandeep/IndiaKokanDapoliAade#

Particular thanks for the Konkani temple pictures, Marathaman. :)

Marathaman,

Great work....recently I came across an interesting site called www.YourHouse.in....This site has a lot of unique stuff ...like even films about Architecture ,poems,book,etc....It's by an Architect Hitesh Sompura ...very interesting as it has lot of info about Temple Architecture as well......there is also a site which has 3D models of greatest buildings...I forgot the name....anybody has an idea?

-Pooja

Prof. Marathaman is the only professional on this forum. As soon as he has out of his self imposed exile, he will reply.

Thank you

...

Another of the Ashtavinayaka group - Mahaganapati temple in Ranjangaon

Beautiful wooden hall with stone sanctum sanctorum. Not a fan of the paint job on the Shikhara though.


http://www.panoramio.com/photo/17433416
http://img42.imageshack.us/img42/4197/17433416.jpg

Mayureshwar Mandir, Morgaon

Very typical Maratha-style temple of the Ganpatya sect. Probably 17th century or so.

http://picasaweb.google.com/SachinSharadPatil/MORGAONYEAR2010#
http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/7095/dsc05035e.jpg

http://img801.imageshack.us/img801/5601/dsc05028r.jpg

http://img823.imageshack.us/img823/8747/dsc05029k.jpg

http://img709.imageshack.us/img709/3117/dsc05021t.jpg

A family temple within the Manmohan Rajwada at Phaltan
http://picasaweb.google.com/amar.khadake/ManmohanRajwadaPhaltan#
http://img109.imageshack.us/img109/535/photo1067.jpg

http://img828.imageshack.us/img828/718/photo1061.jpg

http://img820.imageshack.us/img820/892/photo1060l.jpg

http://img837.imageshack.us/img837/1121/photo1071g.jpg

http://img842.imageshack.us/img842/9899/dscn1505k.jpg

Narsimha temple at Dhom village:
http://picasaweb.google.com/ranten/WaiNovember2010#
http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/6570/dsc2067.jpg

http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/3873/dsc2071.jpg

http://img593.imageshack.us/img593/2961/dsc2073.jpg

http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/3096/dsc2079s.jpg

Temple inside Sajjangadh fort, Satara dist.

http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/8633/199x.jpg
http://picasaweb.google.com/suniurgreat/SataraKasPlatuSajjangadhTosegharWaterfall#5529337153454307378

http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/3561/200s.jpg

Ganesh temple at Anjarle

http://img809.imageshack.us/img809/6114/snv31327.jpg
http://picasaweb.google.com/supratik.roy/KonkanTripMay08#5202754772126599522

http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/5241/img7431l.jpg

http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/4033/img2103x.jpg
http://picasaweb.google.com/abhijitvakil/KardeDapoliTrip#5540557688017887394

Kankaditya mandir, Kansheli (Ratnagiri dist.)

http://img713.imageshack.us/img713/3798/p1011968.jpg
http://picasaweb.google.com/kiran.natkhat0801/Ratnagiri#5544795315863136130

http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/9535/p1011970.jpg

Mahalakshmi Mandir, Kolhapur

A very important temple (one of the Shakti Peeth). Apparently it was first built in 700AD, but has been patched up and added to over the years (after suffering destruction atleast once it seems).

You can clearly make out the original black-stone staggered-square structure and the later Maratha/Peshwa additions (white Shikharas, wooden tiled-roof hall, deepmaal etc. etc.)

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/8569/52231247292982f88261b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/asawarig/5223124729/

http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/3163/5223153337d9bc7b709eb.jpg

http://img249.imageshack.us/img249/1514/5223119213ba7f17f4f1b.jpg

http://img528.imageshack.us/img528/9633/5223146943ef07a9103db.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/asawarig/5223146943/sizes/l/

Wow Maratha !!! I was in Kolhapur in 2008 and I've visited this temple. The renovation seems very recent.

Keep on the great work ! I am reporting you to BT and RT for the commendable work ;)

Lai jhyakk ra pora!!, Lai jhyakk

ek dam chhaan ahe he mandir.... nice

Very nice pics :cheers:

Another patched-up temple: Nagnath temple at Aundha. The Shikharas are Maratha-period but the temple is much older and has suffered destruction.

http://img574.imageshack.us/img574/6230/dsc03147.jpg
http://picasaweb.google.com/adarsh.bio/AundhaNagnath#

http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/7208/dsc03150e.jpg

http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/4660/dsc03157z.jpg

Very nice thread. The Konkan temples are unique. The greatest of them all in Maharashtra, in my opinion is the Kailash temple in Ellora. Nothing can beat that in scale and in the ambition of its builders. Maharashtra is blessed with a very large number of temples, some ancient, some from the Maratha period and some more modern. It probably boasts more Jyotirlinga temples (particularly holy sites for a Shaivite) than any other state - Trayambakeshwar, Grishneshwar and Bhima Shankar. There are totally 12 of them across India.

Am I the only one who thinks that these white washes are going to be another eyesore by next monsoon? This is such a sloppy job - you can see the paint run-off ! Why can't they leave temples in their original stone texture. Laments, laments, laments...

Another patched-up temple: Nagnath temple at Aundha. The Shikharas are Maratha-period but the temple is much older and has suffered destruction.

http://img574.imageshack.us/img574/6230/dsc03147.jpg
http://picasaweb.google.com/adarsh.bio/AundhaNagnath#

http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/7208/dsc03150e.jpg

http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/4660/dsc03157z.jpg

Am I the only one who thinks that these white washes are going to be another eyesore by next monsoon? This is such a sloppy job - you can see the paint run-off ! Why can't they leave temples in their original stone texture. Laments, laments, laments...

Can't you make out? Those pinnacles are relatively recent additions - probably brick coated with succo-work. They are not the original black-stone carved pinnacles which were probably destroyed sometime during the middle ages.

Think of southern Gopurams - that's the aesthetic and method that has been applied during the Maratha period to patch up the temple - and hence the painting which is part of that aesthetic.

Although I agree that they could have done a better job of decorating the vimana rather than just splash on some white paint. If you're filthy rich you could donate some money to help them do a better job ;)

Thanks for the dig Maratha ;), but neither am I a filthy rich person and NOR DO I agree that to decorate a temple with good aesthetics you need to pour in millions/billions of donation rupees. Kal raat ko theek se neend nahi aayee to mujh par kaheko bhounk rahe ho sardar?

Can't you make out? Those pinnacles are relatively recent additions - probably brick coated with succo-work. They are not the original black-stone carved pinnacles which were probably destroyed sometime during the middle ages.

Think of southern Gopurams - that's the aesthetic and method that has been applied during the Maratha period to patch up the temple - and hence the painting which is part of that aesthetic.

Although I agree that they could have done a better job of decorating the vimana rather than just splash on some white paint. If you're filthy rich you could donate some money to help them do a better job ;)

Am I the only one who thinks that these white washes are going to be another eyesore by next monsoon? This is such a sloppy job - you can see the paint run-off ! Why can't they leave temples in their original stone texture. Laments, laments, laments...

Can't you make out? Those pinnacles are relatively recent additions - probably brick coated with succo-work. They are not the original black-stone carved pinnacles which were probably destroyed sometime during the middle ages.

Think of southern Gopurams - that's the aesthetic and method that has been applied during the Maratha period to patch up the temple - and hence the painting which is part of that aesthetic.

Although I agree that they could have done a better job of decorating the vimana rather than just splash on some white paint. If you're filthy rich you could donate some money to help them do a better job ;)

i am more annoyed by the 'vandanvaar' of cables and the crappy light fixtures. why can't that be removed and some effort spent on light design.

Sant Eknath Mandir, Paithan
http://picasaweb.google.com/hemantsk56/AurangabadAjinthaVerulTrip#
http://img529.imageshack.us/img529/333/jbjgjgbj.jpg

Place called Nagar (in Kolhapur dist. I think).
http://picasaweb.google.com/surgandha7/GetTogatherAtNagar#

http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/1693/dece2010166.jpg

http://img34.imageshack.us/img34/282/fgssdf.jpg

http://img825.imageshack.us/img825/282/fgssdf.jpg

http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/282/fgssdf.jpg

Trimbakeshwar
http://picasaweb.google.com/ranjit.gadgil.1/TrimbakeshwarTemple#5560846788203357410
http://img832.imageshack.us/img832/4581/09012011e.jpg
http://picasaweb.google.com/nagasrirs/RatnaSistersShirdiTour#
http://img823.imageshack.us/img823/217/dsc00721l.jpg

http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/1888/dsc00718f.jpg

Yamai Mandir in Aundh (Satara dist.)
https://picasaweb.google.com/shrikant5000/WindmillsSataraTrip#
http://img806.imageshack.us/img806/7817/dscn4288r.jpg

http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/3646/dscn4291i.jpg

Very nice. Is it the same Aundh which has Nageshwar Jyotirling temple?

Nageshwar Mandir in Nageshwar Peth, Pune. The temple dates from 13th century but most of the present structure is Maratha period.
http://travelogueunlimited.blogspot.com/2010/11/nageshwar-temple-pune-photo-feature.html
http://img703.imageshack.us/img703/2653/nageshwarsomwarpeth2528.jpg

http://img194.imageshack.us/img194/4449/nageshwar252852529.jpg

http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/1101/nageshwaroldvishnudatta.jpg

http://img715.imageshack.us/img715/2204/nageshwar2528312529.jpg

http://img16.imageshack.us/img16/893/nageshwardeepasthamba.jpg