Kiradu Temples

Getting there

• By air

  The nearest airport to Barmer is at Jodhpur, around 220 km away.

• By train

  Trains reach Barmer, which is well connected to Jodhpur and through it to other major cities of India.

• By road

  State-run buses connect Barmer town with Jodhpur, Jaipur and Udaipur. Kiradu is about 35 km from Barmer.

Why devotees come here

The Kiradu temples are a group of ruined Hindu temples in Barmer district, Rajasthan. At least five stand in ruins, and the Someshvara temple, dedicated to Shiva, is the best preserved. Its walls and columns are carved with figures of animals and people, mostly still in place.

Kiradu town lies in the Thar Desert. It was once known as Kiratakupa. Epigraphic evidence suggests the temples were built in the 11th and 12th centuries by vassals of the Chalukya (Solanki) monarchs, and inscriptions dated 1153 to 1178 CE have been found at the site. An 1178 inscription records repairs to a temple damaged by the Turushkas during the reign of Bhima II.

The art historian Percy Brown called the style the Solanki mode. Today it is more often called Maru-Gurjara architecture. Michell dates the Someshvara temple precisely to 1020. Its shikhara, the tower over the shrine, has collapsed. Its mandapa, the hall in front of the shrine, has lost most of its roof, and its columns form an octagon.

The walls and columns are still heavily carved with sculptures of animals and humans, and most of them remain in place. Michell dates the Vishnu temple to the early 10th century, earlier than the Someshvara temple. The Kiradu temples are known for their Solanki style of architecture and their remarkable sculptures.

Tips for your visit

• The Vishnu temple at the far end has only its carved mandapa columns standing.
• The site also has three Shiva temples in varied condition, mostly with only the sanctuaries remaining, and a stepwell.

Questions people ask