Shiv Temple

The temple design is a collaborative effort with the priest and surrounding villagers, constructed through ‘Shramdaan’ (self-build) on a shoestring budget using local basalt stone. Decorative elements were sieved out through discussion to adhere to traditional temple architecture. The temple silhouette evokes a conventional shikhara temple, with only essential embellishments. The dense foliage creates a traditional ‘mandapa’ (pillared hall), a place with trees as walls and sky the roof. Stepped seating negotiates steep contours, transforming the space for festivals and gatherings. Religious iconography, like statues of holy cow Nandi, blends into the landscape. An ashtadhaatu temple Kalash is held by a frame anchoring a skylight, illuminating the inner sanctum.

Location
Wadeshwar, Maharashtra

Size
465 Sq.M

Design Team
Sameep Padora, Minal Modak, Vinay Mathias

Year of Completion
2010

Status
Built

Photographer
Edmund Sumner

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