CENTER FOR ART AND ARCHAEOLOGY

Udayamperur, Baroque Architecture, Kerala

Ugrasen-ki-Baoli, Delhi

The earliest inscriptions connected with the Ujjivanatha temple at Uyyakondan Tirumalai are found on the pillars of the inner enclosure. An inscription that can definitely be attributed to Parantaka's reign is from his thirty-fourth regnal year that is 941 CE. There are subsequent inscriptions from the time of Uttama Chola (971 - 988 CE) and Sembiyan Mahadevi as well. The principal deity of this temple is called Tirukkarkkudi Paramesvarar. References: M.W. Meister and M.A. Dhaky, 1963, p. 172, S.R. Balasubrahmanyam, 1971, pp. 22-23.

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.