Shiva Parvati, Neelkanth Temple, Kalinjar Fort, Kalinjar, Madhya Pradesh, India.
Kalinjar is a hill and an ancient fort, at its end there is a grand entrance to the temple known as Neelkanth, from where the shelled sanctum sanctorum of this small cave temple can be accessed through stairs. For the elderly and the sick, it is painful to get down and climb back about 300-400 steps. In front of the sanctum sanctorum there is a ruin of mandapa based on stone pillars. Shiva-Parvati and river-goddess, Ganga-Yamuna are marked on the door pillar of the sanctum sanctorum. These sculptures and style are similar to the rockcut temple, which was built during the reign of Chandragupta in Uday Giri There is a very narrow circumambulation along with the sanctum sanctorum. Inside the sanctum sanctorum, there is a famous Ekamukhi Shivling named Neelkanth Mahadev. It has markings of sages and devotees on its inner wall. There are many inscriptions on the pillars and walls of this temple, in which the 12th century inscription of Chandela ruler Madan Varma is important. From the point of view of construction period, the sanctum sanctorum can be considered as Gupta period and its pavilion as Chandel period. Apart from this, on the left side of the mandap, there is a huge rock cut reservoir named Swargarohan. Kal Bhairav a tall colossal statue is particularly worth a visit. It has the statue of Ganesha, Hanuman, Eight Handed Mahishasur Mardini etc. It has many inscriptions at the entrance door as this structure is elegant. Whole temple is a major attraction among devotees, tourists, history and architecture lovers.
.