Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All India Reserve Jangal Masrur Joni-I Masrur Temple

Masrur Temple

15 monolithic temples emulate an eroding sand castle.

Reserve Jangal Masrur Joni-I, India

Added By
ser flac
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
  Dhruvaeng/CC BY-SA 4.0
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Intricately carved from one single piece of sandstone, almost nothing is known about the Masrur Temples. Besides conjecture and legend, there are no hard facts connecting the complex to a people or even a time period.

When the temples were first constructed, there were 19 in total, all ranging in size and complexity. Over the years, invasion and natural disaster has left only 15 ruins standing, but the high concentration and unique architecture make it one of the most intriguing temple sites in India.

According to legend, as good a source as any with the given information, the temples were built by the pandava, five brothers who engaged in a massive war with their cousins in the Hindu epic Mahābhārata. Later archeological speculation supposed the temples were built in the 9th century by wealthy traders, who built the complex as a shrine to Siva, Rama, Lakshamana and Sita. A number of stone statues depicting these deities still exist inside of the larger temples.

Along with the actual structures, a 50 meter-long reservoir that is also hollowed from sandstone lies in front of the main structure, and reflects the stone-carved mystery in its waters.

Related Tags

Temples Architectural Oddities Ruins Outsider Architecture Architecture
Atlas Obscura Adventures

Delhi and Rajasthan: Colors of India

Discover Colorful Rajasthan: From Delhi to Jaipur and Beyond.

Book Now

Community Contributors

Added By

serflac

Edited By

Michelle Cassidy

  • Michelle Cassidy

Published

November 30, 2011

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Masrur Temple
Masrur
Reserve Jangal Masrur Joni-I, 176026
India
32.072875, 76.137204
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Losel Doll Museum

Sidhpur, India

miles away

Jwala Ji Temple of Kangra

Jawalamukhi, India

miles away

Aqsa Mosque

Qadian, India

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of India

India

Asia

Places 354
Stories 107

Nearby Places

Losel Doll Museum

Sidhpur, India

miles away

Jwala Ji Temple of Kangra

Jawalamukhi, India

miles away

Aqsa Mosque

Qadian, India

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of India

India

Asia

Places 354
Stories 107

Related Places

  • Kenmure Hill Temple.

    Johnstone, Scotland

    Kenmure Hill Temple

    A mysterious ruin shrouded in more folklore than fact.

  • A relief of surgical instruments.

    Nagoa Ash Shatb, Egypt

    Temple of Kom Ombo

    One of its engravings is believed to be among the first representations of medical and surgical instruments.

  • Golubac Fortress after renovation.

    Golubac, Serbia

    Golubac Fortress

    This 14th century castle withstood years of battle but is now sliding off the hills into the Danube.

  • The hypocenter and surrounding devastation immediately after the detonation of the bomb

    Hiroshima, Japan

    Hiroshima's Hypocenter

    A plaque marks the site directly below the mid-air detonation of the atomic bomb over Hiroshima.

  • Concrete building at the abandoned Murphy Ranch.

    Los Angeles, California

    Rustic Canyon's Murphy Ranch

    World War II-era Nazi compound nestled in the Santa Monica hills.

  • (Flickr/ynwa2005)

    Jiangmen, China

    Kaiping Dialous

    Massive fortified towers blend North American and Chinese architecture.

  • The Prague Metronome slicing through summer skies. (Macskafaraok/Flickr)

    Prague, Czechia

    Prague Metronome

    Steadily reminding Czechia of its past.

  • The town of Visoko in 1973 with the “Pyramid of the Sun” in the background. (Wikimedia Commons)

    Visoko, Bosnia and Herzegovina

    Visočia, the Bosnian Pyramid of Visoko

    Controversial site of what could be Europe's first pyramid.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.