Sirpur town owns a lot of history to its name. This town is an integral part of the Mahasamund district of the central Indian state, Chhattisgarh. River Mahanadi flows through it. This beautiful place wad a vital town in the era of Lord Buddha. This holy place served as an important center for Buddhists right from 6th to 10th century. This place has the honor of the great Buddhist monk Dalai Lama visiting it in the year 2013. People believe that this place was once buried under mud in the 12th century and later it was rediscovered. When it comes to tourism, Sirpur has the perfect blend of Hindu and Buddhist monuments.
1. Laxman Temple
You can literally relive the history and can get mesmerized at the same time by the beauty of the brick formations here at the Laxman temple in Sirpur. The symmetry and the carving on the walls of this temple are really worth watching. Many inscriptions are inscribed on the pillars of the temple, which explain the lifestyle of the common people of that era. This man-made architectural wonder has been a constant source of inspiration for many architects.
2. Buddha Vihara
Buddha Vihara is regarded as one of the most visited places by the Buddhist pilgrims. The idols and the stones that have been excavated from this place provide strong evidence that once this place had been an active center of Buddhist activities. These idols have drawn the attention of not only Buddhist pilgrims but also of historians who are trying to join the missing links of Buddhism. This place is the perfect example of the Buddhist architectural wonders. One can witness the beauty of the architecture at this place.
3. ASI Museum
There are lots of surprises waiting for you at ASI museum if you are a historian or architect or an explorer of the past. Many people come here in search of the true Buddhist and Hindu cultural evidence. This museum is located in the premises of the Laxman temple here at Sirpur. In this museum, you are likely to see the passionately crafted idols relating to different religions like Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. Among all the marvelous pieces that you get to see here, “Chaturmukhi Shiva Lingam” stands out to be a very famous one.
4. Barnawapara
The lush green grounds of this place give you a warm welcome with its cool breeze whenever you turn up to visit this place. It is nearly 15 kms away from the heart of Sirpur. There is a wildlife sanctuary called Barnawapara wildlife sanctuary, which has been the abode for many rare wild animals and wild plants. This place has derived its name from the two forests Bar and Nawapara, that are located at this place. A visit here gives you a lot of enjoyment. The journey to this sanctuary is pretty exciting.
5. Baleshwar Temple
Baleshwar temple complex was believed to be lost under the debris in the 12th century. Recently it has been excavated. The name to the temple complex is put in order to pay tribute the great king Mahashivgupt Balarjun. The folklore says that he is the visionary behind the construction of this temple complex. It is also believed that he has also constructed many shrines in and around Sirpur. Many idols of this king have been excavated by the archaeological department in the past few years. There are about 3-4 temples at each corner of the complex. All these temples have been dedicated to the great Lord Shiva.
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