CENTER FOR ART AND ARCHAEOLOGY

The Uktavedesvara temple at Kuttalam is one of the better, bigger and architecturally one of the best-composed temples built by Sembiyan Mahadevi, seemingly before the seventh year of Rajaraja I (992 CE). Reference: M.W. Meister and M.A. Dhaky 1963, pp. 191-192.

The Uma-Mahesvara temple at Konerirajapuram is a foundation of Sembiyan Mahadevi built in memory of her deceased husband, Gandaraditya during the reign of her son Uttama Chola (971 – 988 CE). The temple was built in or before 974 CE. This is a fully developed early Chola temple. The inscriptions of these temples are telling of the role of the temples in the day-to-day life of the community. The temple was not only a place of worship but was the nerve-centre of the social, political and administrative activity. An interesting feature is the existence of a panel of portraits of the king and the queen worshipping the linga and also a portrait of the architect of the temple. Some of the finest bronzes are found in the temples of Konerirajapuram other than at Tiruvenkadu. The bronze of Bhogesvari at Konerirajapuram is perhaps the earliest of Sembiyan castings. References: B. Venkataraman, 1976, pp.16-21; M.W. Meister and M.A. Dhaky, 1953, p.181, S.R. Balasubrahmanyam, 1971, pp. 165-172

Remains of an unfinished fort are located on a hill top in Sohna, near NH 28 and Tauru Road. The remains comprise of some walls and bastions constructed in stone. It Is believed to be built by Jats of Bharatpur and was occupied by British.

This Masjid is small structure located at the corner of a street, near Multani Chowk Area. It is a single storied brick structure covered with plaster with an ornate façade. The building is accessible through a number of steps leading to a verandah and on to main door. Façade is constructed of detailed stonework- a main cusped arched entrance and two small arches of each side of the main arch. A small pavilion Is located right above the entrance enhancing the main façade. The terrace is marked with a small room at the first floor level. A continuous chajjas and parapet run along the perimeter of the structure. Currently the structure lies in a deteriorated state of preservation.

Uton Wali Masjid is located overlooking a rectangular courtyard. It is situated in the neighbourhood of Sheikh Musa Complex. The two sides of the courtyard perpendicular to the masjid form arcaded verandah and the fourth side facing the masjd forms the entry to the courtyard. A vault flanked by two domes on either side cover the interior of the masjid. The masjid is constructed in stone with plastered interiors. It is in a dilapidated state and poor state of repairs.

The Uttamadanisvara temple at Kilattanaiyam is built by Muttaraiyar Uttamadani. Although no inscription of his alias Ko-Ilango is found here, a Rajakesarivarma inscription attributable to Rajaraja Chola (985 – 1010 CE) or perhaps to Chola Gandaraditya (949 – 957 CE) is found here, that refers to the temple Uttamadanisvara. The temple’s architecture and extant sculpture are earlier than this inscription. The temple should be placed in the third quarter of the ninth century or early tenth century. Reference: M.W. Meister and M.A. Dhaky 1963, pp. 142-143.