Arthuna

Arthuna is a village in Banswara district in southern Rajasthan, known for a large spread of temple ruins. Most of the remains belong to the 11th and 12th centuries, when the area was held by the Parmar dynasty, and the carved pillars, walls and panels show the skill of the masons who worked here.

The best known building is the Mandaleshwar temple, dedicated to Shiva, whose sanctum holds a Shivling around which many local stories have grown. Smaller shrines such as the Batuk Bhairav and Kantheshwar temples stand among the ruins, their sculpted reliefs showing deities and religious scenes. Local people still come to worship at some of the shrines, and a full day is usually needed to walk round the site.