500-year old Temple submerged in Mahanadi found

The Archaeological Survey team has recently claimed that a 500 year old temple that submerged in the waters of Mahanadi resurfaced.

Highlights

• The Mahanadi river that changed its course 150 years due to flooding had submerged the Padmabati village where the temple is located.
• There are more than 22 villages in the region that are submerged in the waters of Mahanadi. 
• However, Gopinath Deba Temple was visible as it is the tallest of all.
• The temple is called “Mastaka”.

Mastaka

• The Mastaka was visible 11 years back when the water levels were very low. 
• The Mastaka was found while the Archaeological team of Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) was documenting the monuments along the course of river Mahanadi.
• The Mastaka is the upper part of the temple. Only the Mastaka of the temple was visible.

Mahanadi river

• The river flows through the states of Odisha and Chhattisgarh. 
• The famous Hirakud dam is located across the river. 
• The Hirakud dam is the largest earthen dam in the world.