NANDED

In Nanded, architecture has served as both a witness to and participant in historical change. The district’s built landscape tells the story of shifting power, belief, and identity. Each structure carries traces of the time it was built, the people who shaped it, and the communities that gave it purpose.

The built heritage of Nanded district reflects a confluence of dynasties, faiths, and architectural traditions that shaped the Deccan over centuries. From early rock-cut forms and medieval stone mandirs to fortified towns and 19th-century Sikh monuments, the district holds sites that mark shifting political and cultural landscapes. Post-Vakataka cave architecture at Shiur, Chalukyan mandir design at Hottal, Rashtrakuta and Sultanate-era influences at Kandhar Fort, and the Indo-Sikh style of Takhat Sachkhand Sri Hazur Sahib reveal how varied dynasties left their mark on Nanded’s built environment. Regional traditions blend with external influences, as seen in structures like the Kaleshwar Mandir, where South Indian forms meet local mandir styles. Together, these sites trace Nanded’s long history of exchange, continuity, and adaptation through built form.

The Shiur Caves in Hadgaon Taluka, Nanded district, are an early example of rock-cut architecture and follow a simple, post-Vakataka style. Carved into a low rocky outcrop along the eastern face near the Penganga River, the caves are dated to the post-Vakataka period (after 5th century CE), likely under the brief rule of the Vishnukundin dynasty from Andhra Pradesh. The caves are significant for their rare Vaishnavite iconography and their stylistic links with cave architecture in Vidarbha, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh.

The Shiur Caves consist of three rectangular excavations, each divided into a nave and aisles by crude square pillars. The interiors are unadorned except for carvings of Vishnu and scenes from the Harivamsa, such as Kaliyamardan and Putana Vadh, found on the pillar faces. While Cave I and Cave II contain rudimentary mandirs carved into the rear wall, Cave III features an unfinished circumambulatory passage and a later-added Shivling and Nandi. Unlike the more refined Brahmanical and Buddhist caves in western India, the Shiur caves lack formal facades and carved entrances, instead displaying a raw, functional style. Their emphasis on pillar carvings over wall sculpture points to regional artistic exchange across the Deccan.

The Siddheshwar Mandir in Hottal village, Nanded district, is an important 12th-century Shiv Mandir built in the Hemadpanthi architectural style during the Kalyani-Chalukya period. Located near the Maharashtra-Karnataka-Andhra Pradesh border, Hottal—historically known as Navaru or Pottal—was once a sub-principality under the Chalukya dynasty. The Mandir reflects the skilled stonework and intricate design associated with the later Chalukya rulers, particularly under Somesvara II (1068–1076 CE).

The Siddheshwar Mandir features local stone masonry, elaborate carvings, and a traditional layout that includes subsidiary mandirs. It is part of a larger Mandir complex that includes the Mahadeva Mandir, Nandi Mandir, and Parashurama Mandir, all of which are state-protected monuments. Restoration work in 2012 helped preserve the Mandir’s historic character while maintaining the integrity of its original design.

Kandhar Fort is located in Kandhar town of Nanded district, built in a style that combines early Deccan and Indo-Islamic architectural influences. The fort is situated along the banks of the Manyad River and spans approximately 24 acres. Its origins are traditionally traced to the Kakatiya dynasty (between the 9th and 14th centuries CE), with structural contributions made during later periods by the Rashtrakutas, Delhi Sultanate, Ahmadnagar Sultanate, and Mughals.

Kandhar Fort is believed to have originally been constructed using wood and later rebuilt in black stone. The existing fort features a 12-meter-high enclosure wall and two layers of fortification. The inner wall has undergone some restoration, while the outer wall is largely in ruins. The moat surrounding the fort is attributed to the Rashtrakuta period, and its depth and water-filled design served as a key defensive mechanism.

Kandhar Fort incorporates strategic features such as 18 watchtowers, multiple bastions, and cannons placed along its perimeter. Entry to the fort is through grand stone gateways like the Jinsi Gate, Machali Gate, and Rangin Darwaza, each showcasing intricate stonework. The fort’s flat terrain required strong fortification and clever engineering to withstand attacks, which is evident in its layered ramparts and defensive layout.

Kandhar Fort houses several significant structures such as the Sheesh Mahal, Ambar Khana, Rani Mahal, and Lal Mahal. The Sheesh Mahal, likely built over an earlier Rashtrakuta palace, still retains elements of glasswork and remnants of a bath with separate hot and cold-water storage. The Ambar Khana functioned as a granary, while the Rani and Lal Mahals reflect Mughal architectural influences and were used for residential and administrative purposes.

Kandhar Fort also contains unique features such as a stepwell from the Yadava period and a man-made reservoir known as Jatatunsagar. Religious figures placed within the fort include Mahavir, Bhagwaan Ganesh, and Shivlings. On a nearby hillock stands an Ancient Idgah, indicating the site’s continued spiritual and cultural relevance across centuries.

One of the most distinctive features of Kandhar Fort is a 60-foot-tall stone yaksha statue, attributed to the Rashtrakuta period. The scale and craftsmanship of this sculpture reflect the artistic excellence of early medieval Deccan art and suggest the fort’s importance as both a military and cultural center.

Takhat Sachkhand Sri Hazur Abchalnagar Sahib in Nanded is an early 19th-century Sikh gurdwara built in Indo-Sikh architectural style, with gilded domes and marble inlay work. It is one of the five takhts (takht meaning seats of authority) in Sikhism and holds deep historical significance as the site where Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh Guru, spent his final days and passed away in 1708.

The construction of the current structure was commissioned by Maharaja Ranjit Singh and completed between 1832 and 1837. The main sanctum, Angitha Sahib, marks the cremation spot of Guru Gobind Singh. It features intricately gold-plated walls and a dome topped with a gold-plated copper kalash. The site blends spiritual reverence with regal architectural grandeur.

The Kaleshwar Mandir in Vishnupuri near Nanded is built in a blend of South Indian and Maharashtrian architectural styles. The Mandir is dedicated to Bhagwaan Shiv and is centered around a swayambhu Shivling, believed to have manifested naturally. It is located along the banks of the Godavari River, approximately 8 km from Nanded city. While the exact date of construction is unclear, local traditions trace the Mandir’s origins to a time when a cow was observed pouring milk at the site possibly a hundred years ago in the early 20th century, leading to the discovery of the Shivling and the establishment of the Mandir.

The Kaleshwar Mandir features stone pillars and a carved roof, with detailed reliefs depicting scenes from the Ramayan and Mahabharat. These carvings integrate devotional storytelling into the structural elements of the Mandir. The use of sculpted columns to support the roof reflects southern influence, while the overall layout and devotional focus are typical of regional mandir forms found in Maharashtra.