Bhitargaon Temple Kanpur

Getting there

• By air

  Kanpur Airport (KNU) is the airport listed for Kanpur city.

• By train

  Kanpur Central (CNB) is among the railway stations listed for Kanpur.

• By road

  Regular buses run from other major cities of the country to Kanpur.

Why devotees come here

Bhitargaon Temple stands in Bhitargaon village, Kanpur Nagar district, Uttar Pradesh. It is considered the oldest surviving brick and terracotta Hindu shrine with a roof and a high shikhara.

The district government site considers Bhitargaon Temple the earliest surviving temple built by the Guptas. It was built in the 5th century, during the Gupta period. It is counted as the oldest surviving brick and terracotta Hindu shrine with a roof and a high shikhara.

Bhitargaon is a town near Kanpur city in Kanpur Nagar district, Uttar Pradesh. The temple is a terraced brick building, fronted with a terracotta panel. It is built on a square plan with double-recessed corners, and it faces east. A tall pyramidal spire rises over the garbhagriha, the inner sanctum. The total height from ground to top is 68.25 feet. The sanctum is double storey.

The walls carry terracotta panels showing Shiva and Vishnu. The terracotta sculpture has both secular and religious themes, including Ganesha and Durga Mahishasuramardini. The upper chamber was damaged in the 18th century. The first storey of the sanctum fell in 1850, and thunder damaged the shikara in 1894.

Tips for your visit

• The temple is in Bhitargaon village in Ghatampur tehsil, not in Kanpur city, so name the village to your driver.
• The walls carry terracotta panels of Shiva and Vishnu, so look for them on the brick walls.

Questions people ask