The
Martand Sun temple is situated on top of a plateau, near the town of
Anantnag. It is a medieval temple dedicated to Bhaskar, the Sun God.
King Lalitaditya, a Kshatriya of Surya (Solar) dynasty, got the Martand
Sun temple constructed to commemorate Surya. This beautiful Martand
temple has a colonnaded courtyard, with the shrine in its center. Built
with 84 columns, the temple offers a magnificent view of the Kashmir
valley. Martand temple of Kashmir counts amongst the best and most
memorable works of King Lalitaditya.The architecture and style of the Martand Sun temple counts amongst the rare ones in the world. Built up of hard and square limestone, the Martand temple serves as a living proof of the skill and talent of the Hindu Kashmiris of the bygone era. Apart from the exquisite architecture, another attraction of the Martand temple is its picturesque surroundings. The temple, standing in a square field with the beautiful snow covered mountains serving as its backdrop, presents an awe-inspiring sight.
