Bateshwar Group of temples, (M.P.)

Bateshwar temples (or Batesara, Bateśvar) - Padavali, Chambal Valley, District Morena district (Madhya Pradesh). Also, situated about 30 kilometers from the city of Morena Madhya Pradesh, India.
Temples built between 6th to 9th century.

According to Madhya Pradesh Directorate of Archaeology, They are a group of nearly 200 sandstone Hindu temples and their ruins in north Madhya Pradesh in post-Gupta, early Gurjar-Pratihara style of North Indian temple architecture. 

According to Michael Meister, an art historian and a professor specializing in Indian temple architecture, the earliest temples in the Bateshwar group near Gwalior are likely from the 750-800 CE period.the Bateshwar site illustrates the conception and construction of "Mandapika shrine" concept in central India.

According to the Cunningham's report of 1882, "confused assemblage of more than one hundred temples of various sizes, but mostly small".
The largest standing temple was of Shiva and the temple was locally called Bhutesvara. However, to his surprise the temple had a relief of Garuda on top, leading him to speculate that the temple may have been a Vishnu temple before it was damaged and reused.
The sanctum doorway was flanked by river goddesses Ganga and Yamuna.
According to Gerd Mevissen, Complex has many interesting lintels, such as one with Navagraha, many with Dashavatara (ten avatars of Vishnu) of the Vaishnavism tradition, frequent display of Saptamatrikas (seven mothers) from the Shaktism tradition. that the temple complex must be dated after 600 CE. The diversity of the theological themes at the site suggest that this complex was once a hub for temple-related arts and artists.

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In 2004, (KK Muhammad) an official from Archaeological Survey of India arrived on the Bateshwar complex and now in ruins. It was not easy to restore it. Morena was also famous for Chambal bandits. At that time, there were still a few operating gangs. Muhammad met and convinced them for the restoration and offer protection. The process still continues and so far 80 of the temples have been restored. Rest of the artifacts are still lying around the compound. currently, Area is safe for visitors.

According to Muhammed, the Bateshwar complex was "built on the architectural principles enunciated in two Sanskrit Hindu temple architecture texts, Manasara Shilpa Shastra composed in the 4th century CE, and Mayamata Vastu Shastra written in the 7th century CE".

Bateshwar Temple Group (6th to 9th centuries) 

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Vishnu Temple :-

On the same hill, there is one more temple known as Vishnu temple. This is large temple compare to the Bateshwar temple group.
Vishnu temple is 200 meters away from the Bateshwar temples.

Entrance of Vishnu temple

Interior of Vishnu temple

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