Sugandhesa Temple, Jammu, Jammu & Kashmir India

This is one of the least re-constructed temples in the valley. During a visit in 2005 the site was covered in grass and had not been disturbed for many years. In 2010 much of the site was "cleared" by the Archaeological Survey of India, thereby destroying information on the time of collapse of stone blocks. Later that year the stratigraphy near and below a few blocks that had not been disturbed were carefully recorded and dated confirming construction circa 880AD, and damaged by earthquakes in 1123AD and 1885, and possibly by another in the past two centuries (Bilham and Bali, 2013). Note the lateral translation of blocks midway up columns in the edifice typical of earthquake jossling.

Sugandhesa Temple is one among the three ancient temples lying at Pattan in Baramulla District. The temple was constructed near Srinagar and was named after Sugandha, the wife of King Sankaravarman. This temple is similar in architecture to other Kashmirian temples. Spanning over an area 12' 7" square, the temple stands on a double base and has a portico in front. There are inscriptions and images depicted on the niches.

The entrance to the courtyard is on the eastern wall of the temple; on entering the courtyard, there are two chambers with a partition wall and a doorway in the middle. There are many architectural fragments on the site. The cornice of the base of the peristyle resembles that of the Avantiswamin Temple. Another temple called Sankaragaurishwara Temple is nearby.

The Sugandhesa temple was constructed near Srinagar and was named after Sugandha, the wife to King Sankaravarman. The Sugandhesa temple bears resemblance in architecture to other Kashmiri temples. Sweeping over an area of 12 feet 7 inches square, the temple stands on a double base and has a portico in front. There are inscriptions and images cepicted on the recesses.

The entrance to the courtyard in on the eastern wall of the temple; on entering the courtyard, there are two chambers with a partition wall and a doorway on the middle. Architectural fragments scattered in the temple site is visible. The valance of the base of the peristyle resembles the structural wonder of the Avantiswamin Temple (the 9th century Kashmiri styled temple in Avantipur). The Sugandhesa temple can be smoothly approached from Baramulla by road; the nearest airport is Srinagar.