Rarheswar Shiv Mandir

Rarheswar Shiv Mandir, known locally as Rahreswar Shibtola, is a Shiva temple in Durgapur and one of the most respected shrines of the area. Its name recalls Rarh Desh, the old name of this region, and tradition credits its founding to the king Ballal Sen. It is now a monument in the care of the Archaeological Survey of India, listed under the 1958 act.

Built of sandstone and laterite and once coated in lime plaster, it is a saptaratha temple whose shikhara and crisp angular edges set it apart from other temples nearby. The sanctum holds a large lingam, the Rarheshwar Shiva Linga, marked with sandalwood paste and offered china roses, kolke and other flowers.

A legend says that Shiva came to an ailing king in a dream and told him to build this shrine so that he might recover. Priests still perform daily puja and aarti, and green grounds surround the old stone tower.