Meruvardhanaswami temple at Pandrethan near Srinagar Mid 10-th Century Shiva Temple Dwarak Photograph of the Meruvardhanaswami temple at Pandrethan near Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir, in Badami Bagh Cantonment. This small stone Shiva temple in the picture dates Pandrethan, now mostly in ruins, is one of Kashmir's from the mid-10th century, was built by a minister historic capitals, as recorded by Kalhana in his named Meru. It was set in a spring-fed tank and its Rajatarangini, to have been founded by king plinth is now submerged. Its interior has one of the Pravarsena in the 6th century CE. Its name is derived finest surviving temple ceilings in Kashmir, from Puranadishthana or ‘old town’. consisting of three intersecting squares formed by diagonally placed lintels, the soffit decorated with a lotus. The stone ceiling is elaborately carved in bas- relief figures, and it is one of the most perfect pieces of ancient carving that exists in Kashmir. The pyramidal roof as evident in the image is divided into two portions by an ornamental band. A TO Z INDIA ● JANUARY 2022 ● PAGE 19