The Ramgarh Crater And The Temple Within It

In the district of Baran in the Indian state of Rajasthan, about 200 km south of capital city Jaipur, lies a prominent impact crater. The crater is located within an extensive flat terrain of Neoproterozoic sandstone in the western end of the Vindhya range. The crater is about 4 km across with a rim some 250 meter high. Because of its elevation and the surrounding flat plain, the crater can be spotted from a distance as far as 50 km. The crater acquired its name from the village of Ramgarh that lies outside the crater rim. At this location, the rim is breached by the Parvati river which flows into the crater interior to form a small wetland and a lake.

Aside from its extra-terrestrial origin, the crater is famous for the 10th century Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, which is located near the centre of the crater.

The Ramgarh Crater as seen from an aeroplane flying at around 9000 feet. Credit: Wikimedia Commons

The Ramgarh crater was first visited by geologist Frederick Richard Mallet of Geological Survey of India. Rai Bahadur Kishan Singh Rawat (1850–1921), a colonial era Indian explorer and cartographer, was first to map it. It was A.R. Crawford, a geophysicist from the Australian National University at Canberra, who first suggested that the crater might be an impact crater. Crawford visited the crater in 1970 and found “brecciated rock” that had formed “without any specific indication of faulting.” He also found shatter coned colluvium in the middle of the crater—a clear evidence of meteorite impact.

Located almost at the centre of the crater is the Bhand Devra Temple, a stunning 10th-century structure dedicated to Lord Shiva. Commissioned by Raja Malaya Verma of the Nag dynasty, the temple was constructed to commemorate his victories and devotion to Shiva. Later, in 1162 AD, it was renovated by Raja Trisna Verma of the Med dynasty.

The temple’s design features an audience hall (mandapa), a vestibule, and a sanctum crowned by a magnificent spire. Intricate carvings on its eight pillars showcase gods, goddesses, apsaras, and features Khajuraho-style erotic sculptures.

The temple complex comprises two other temples dedicated to the Mother Goddesses, namely Kisnai and Annapurna. One of the prominent features of this site is the grand fair that takes place annually on Kartik Purnima day.

The Bhand Devra Temple

The crater rim as seen from the distance. Credit: Ranthambhore Tale's

Inside the crater. Credit: Ranthambhore Tale's

Wetlands inside the crater. Credit: Ranthambhore Tale's

References:
# The Curious Ring Structure Of Ramgarh In Vindhyans 0f Rajasthan, Geological Survey of India
# Possible Impact Structure in India, Nature