Bhojeshwar Temple

Bhojeshwar Temple stands at Bhojpur, about 28 km from Bhopal, and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It was commissioned by Raja Bhoj, credited with founding Bhopal, but was never completed; suggested reasons include a natural disaster, a lack of resources and the king turning to the defence of the Somnath Temple. An iron stairway leads up to a 7.5-foot lingam set on a 21-foot platform.

The design is unusual: there is no mandapa, and a rectilinear roof takes the place of a curved shikhara. Four large pillars hold up a 40-foot stone dome, and bell carvings decorate the entry wall. After long neglect the Archaeological Survey of India restored the temple, repairing the lingam and adding a fibreglass dome. It is on the UNESCO tentative list.