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| Rajiv Lochan temple, Rajim Chhattisgarh |
At Rajim, Chhattisgarh’s sacred heart, where the Mahanadi and Pairi rivers converge, a historic pilgrimage site beckons. Once a capital and pilgrim stop en route to Bhubaneswar–Puri, this tirtha-kshetra, enriched by the distant Sondur river, pulses with spiritual legacy, captivating devotees and history enthusiasts.
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| 6th-century Ganga |
Rajim’s east bank boasts Chhattisgarh’s finest carved stone temples, dating from the 6th to 12th centuries. The Rajiv Lochana Temple, a 6th–7th-century Vishnu shrine, dazzles with intricate pillars and reliefs of Ganga, Yamuna, Rama, Krishna, and more, alongside a preserved Buddha statue, hinting at the region’s mixed Hindu and Buddhist heritage.
Across the river, the Kuleshvara Shiva Temple in Navagaon stands resilient on its octagonal platform, its mandapa pilasters adorned with Kartikeya and Mahisasuramardini. Recent excavations near Sita Bari reveal lost temple ruins, fueling archaeological intrigue.
South of Rajiv Lochana, the restored Ramachandra Temple showcases 7th–9th-century carvings from Sirpur’s ruins, depicting Vishnu and Shiva legends. Rajim has over a dozen temples and temple ruins. For students, India-lovers, and global travelers, Rajim unveils a tapestry of art, faith, and heritage.
The Rajim historic sites are best appreciated by comparing them to Arang, Sirpur and other sites along the Mahanadi river in Chhattisgarh. The Rajim artwork details are similar to those found in eastern Madhya Pradesh, northern Odisha, Telangana and Karnataka.
- Krishna Deva (1995), Temples of India
- DM Stadtner (1976), From Sirpur to Rajim: the art of Kosala during the seventh century, University of California Berkeley
- Douglas Barrett and Moreshwar Dikshit (1960), Mukhalingam Sirpur and Rajim temples, Heritage of Indian Art Series, Vol 2.
- Odette Viennot (1958), Le Temple de Ramachandra a Rajim, Arts Asiatiques, École française d’Extrême-Orient
- Saurabh Saxena (2011), Rajim – Prayaga of Chattisgarh