Popular Temple
Sun Temple, Modhera
Modhera, Mehsana district, Gujarat
A Chaulukya-era sun temple and its great stepped tank
At a glance
- Location
- Modhera, Mehsana district, Gujarat
- Presiding deity
- Surya, the sun god
- Temple type
- Popular Temple
- Tradition
- Other tradition
- Nearest railway station
- Mehsana Junction (~25 km)
- Nearest airport
- Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, Ahmedabad (~100 km)
- Best time to visit
- November to February. The Modhera dance festival is held here in January.
History
The Modhera Sun Temple stands on the bank of the Pushpavati river and was built in the 11th century during the reigns of Bhima I and Karna I of the Chaulukya (Solanki) dynasty. The complex has three parts: the gudhamandapa, the sabhamandapa, and the great stepped tank known as the Surya Kund.
Spiritual significance
It is worth being clear that Modhera is no longer a place of worship: it is a monument maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India and no regular puja is performed there. Its importance is architectural and sculptural — the hundreds of small shrines set into the steps of the Surya Kund, and the carving on the pillars, are the reason to go.
Plan your visit
Darshan timings
The monument is generally open from sunrise to sunset and charges an entry ticket. It is not a working temple.
Timings change on festivals and special occasions. Confirm with the temple's official source before you travel.
About two hours from Ahmedabad by road. Many visitors combine it in one day with the Rani ki Vav stepwell at Patan, roughly 35 km away.
Continue your Surya bhakti
Devotional texts for this deity, already on the site.