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 Bhojeshwar
Temple
In plan, a simple square with an exterior dimension of 66 feet, it is
devoid of the re-entrant angles usual in such buildings. The richly
carved dome though incomplete has a magnificent soaring strength of line
and is supported by four pillars. These like the dome have been
conceived on a massive scale, yet retain a remarkable elegance because
of their tapering form. Divided into three sections, the lowest is an
octagon with facets of 2.12 feet, from which springs a 24-faced section.
Jain Temple
Also, incomplete, and with a similar stone-raising ramp, is a Jain
shrine that stands close to the Bhojeshwar temple. Three figures of the
tirthankaras are contained within; one of a colossal statues of Mahavira
20 feet high, and the other two of Parswanath. Rectangular in plan, this
temple probably belongs to the same period as the Bhojeshwar.
Cyclopean Dam
West of Bhojpur once lay a vast lake, but nothing remains except the
ruins of the magnificent old dams by which its waters were contained.
The site was chosen with great skill, as a natural wall of hills
enclosed the whole area except for two gaps, 100 yards and 500 yards in
width respectively. These were closed by gigantic earthen dams, faced on
both sides with enormous blocks of sandstone, many being 4 feet long, 3
feet broad, and 2.5 feet thick, set without mortar. The smaller dam is
44 feet high and 300 feet thick at the base, the larger dam 24 feet high
with a flat top 100 feet broad. These embankments held up an expanse of
water of about 250 square miles. This great work is ascribed to Raja
Bhoj, but it may possibly be of an earlier date.
 Bhojeshwar
Temple
Richly carved above, the doorway is plain below, throwing into sharp
relief the two exquisitely sculpted figures that stand on either side.
On the other three sides of the structure are balconies, each supported
by massive brackets and four intricately carved pillars.
The lake was destroyed by Hoshang Shah of
Malwa (1405- 34), who cut through the lesser dam, and thus either
intentionally or in a fit of destructive passion, added an enormous area
of the highest fertility to his possessions. According to a Gond legend,
it took an army of them three months to cut through the dam and the lake
took three years to
empty, while its bed was not habitable for thirty years afterwards. The
climate of Malwa is said to have been considerably altered by the
removal of this vast sheet of water.
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