Chhattisgarh Pushes for UNESCO World Heritage Tag for Sirpur

Chhattisgarh government is preparing a comprehensive proposal to secure a UNESCO World Heritage Site tag for Sirpur, a major 5th–12th Century archaeological centre. The site is located in Mahasamund district, about two hours from Raipur.

A Multi-Religious Archaeological Landscape

• Sirpur (also known as Shripur and Sripura) spans Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain traditions.
• The site comprises 34 monuments situated along the Mahanadi River.
• Excavations have uncovered:
  • 22 Shiva temples
  • 5 Vishnu temples
  • 10 Buddhist viharas
  • 3 Jain viharas
• The earliest monuments date to the 5th Century AD.

History of Discovery and Excavations

• First discovered in 1882 by Alexander Cunningham, British engineer and the first Director-General of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
• Excavations paused for decades and resumed in:
  • 1950s,
  • 1990s, and
  • 2003, revealing a vast early-medieval urban layout.

Capital of Dakshina Kosala

• Sirpur was a thriving capital under the Panduvanshi and later Somavamshi rulers.
• The remains show:
  • Palace complexes
  • Market structures
  • Residential quarters
  • Brick and stone temples
  • Stupas, viharas, meditation cells
  • Advanced water management systems

Architectural Marvels

Lakshmana Temple

• A 7th-century brick temple dedicated to Vishnu.
• Considered one of India’s finest surviving brick temples.

Surang Tila Complex

• Dramatic structure built on a high terrace, accessed by 37 steep steps.
• Features panchayatana-style architecture: one main shrine surrounded by four subsidiary shrines.

Sacred Riverine Cultural Landscape

• Sirpur’s position along the Mahanadi River integrates temples, ghats, and urban ruins into a continuous sacred landscape.
• This aligns with UNESCO’s concept of a “combined work of nature and humankind,” strengthening the site’s nomination value.

Source: IE