Sirpur Cultural and Archaeological Landscape in Chhattisgarh

About Sirpur Cultural and Archaeological Landscape in Chhattisgarh

• Location: Sirpur Village is located in the Mahasamund district of Chhattisgarh.
  • It is situated on the eastern banks of theMahanadi River.
• Architectural Features:
  • It was an important settlement between the 5th and 12th centuries.
  • Its remains include Hindu temples, Buddhist monasteries and Jain structures, making it an important site for understanding the region’s religious and cultural history.
    • The site has 22 Shiva temples, five Vaishnava temples, 10 Buddhist viharas and three Jain viharas.
    • The Lakshmana Temple (dedicated to Lord Vishnu) is one of the finest brick temples in India, built around the 7th century.
    • Apart from being a multi-religious urban centre, it was once a flourishing capital of Dakshina Kosala under the Panduvanshi and later, the Somavamshi kings.
    • It has remains of palace complexes, market structures, residential quarters, brick and stone temples along with Viharas, stupas, meditation cells and water management systems.
    • Its distinctive feature is the combination of a riverine trade centre, a multi-faith religious landscape and an extensive archaeological urban complex within a single site.
    • The town naturally forms four thematic clusters — Buddhist monastic, Hindu temple, civic–administrative and Riverine Sacred Landscape.
  • Present-Day Landscape: The area includes around 300 houses and nearly 1,500 people. 
    • The buffer zone is home to tribal communities such as the Gond and Baiga.
    • Barnawapara Wildlife Sanctuary, located within the property’s buffer zone, further highlights the coexistence of nature, historical heritage and traditional communities.