Suka Temple

Suka Temple is abandoned and not in use. The temple is devoted to saptaratha and the presence of female counterparts of the dikpalas in the upara jangha. This was built in the matured phase of temple building tradition of Orissa.LocationSuka temple is located in the Sankarananda Street, Uttaradaraja Badu Sahi, Old Town, Bhubaneswar. It is situated on the southern embankment of Bindusagar tank at a distance of 50.00 metres. The temple is facing towards west. The temple is not in use but sculptural embellishments on the exterior walls of the temple suggest that the temple was originally dedicated to Lord Siva. Though the temple is architecturally and sculpturally sound, it is abandoned and not in use. The temple is 1.80 metres below the present ground level.Age Precise date: 13th century A.D. Approximate date: Ganga ruleProperty Type Precinct/ Building/ Structure/Landscape/Site/Tank: Building Subtype: Temple Typology: Rekha deulSignificanceHistoric significance: Matured phase of temple building tradition of Orissa.Physical description Surrounding: The temple is surrounded by Bhabanisankara temple in east at a distance of 50 metres, Sankarananda Street in the right side of the compound wall, Sari deul in north and residential buildings in the south. Orientation: The temple is facing towards west. Architectural features (Plan & Elevation): On plan, the temple has a vimana and a renovated frontal porch. The vimana is saptaratha having a central raha which is flanked bypairs of anuraha, anuratha and kanika pagas on either sides. The vimana measures 5.80 square metres and the frontal porch measures 0.90 metres in length. The cella measures 2.40 square metres. On elevation, the vimana is in rekha order that measures 11 metres in height from bottom to the top. With fivefold divisions, the bada measures 3.50 metres. At the base the pabhaga, measuring 0.87 metres in height has five base mouldings of khura, kumbha, pata, kani and basanta. Tala jangha and upara jangha measure 0.72 metres each is being separated by three moulded bandhana measuring 0.32 metres. The baranda comprising ten mouldings measures 0.87 metres. The gandi and mastaka measures 5.00 metres and 2.50 meters respectively.