Teli ka Mandir

The date of the temple has been argued from its inscriptions and style. The ASI notes that it bears a number of short inscriptions and graffiti whose script dates to the 8th century, and on that evidence, together with its art and architecture, assigns it to the middle of the 8th century, the time of King Yashovarman of Kannauj. Madhya Pradesh Tourism instead places it in the 9th century, under the Pratihara king Mihira Bhoja, and Wikipedia records estimates ranging from the early 8th to the early 9th century.

The origin of the name, 'the oilman's temple', is unknown. Madhya Pradesh Tourism repeats a local legend that it was built with money donated by oil merchants, but Wikipedia notes that no inscription or text supports this. The ASI records that the fort, known in early inscriptions as Gopagiri, was taken by Iltutmish in 1232 CE; Wikipedia states that the temple was badly damaged in that period. By the 19th century it was in ruins, and repairs were begun between 1881 and 1883 by Major Keith, a British officer stationed at Gwalior.

Architecture and sacred features

According to the ASI, the temple is about 28 m high, with a rectangular sanctum of the triratha type and a large projecting portico (kapili) on the east, approached by a flight of steps. Wikipedia gives the platform as a square of about 18 m (60 ft) and the barrel-vaulted crown as running at right angles to the long side of the sanctum. There is no closed hall in front; instead a circumambulatory path runs round the sanctum.

The tall doorway is framed by the river goddesses Ganga and Yamuna, guardian figures, couples and stacked horseshoe-shaped (gavaksha) ornament, with Garuda above. The outer walls have many niches, now empty, under tall pediments. Madhya Pradesh Tourism notes that the pavilions at the eastern entrance were added later, during British-era work.