Martand Temple is located at about 5 miles from the town of
Anantnag,
Anantnag District. The temple is dedicated to
Surya, the Sun God. It dates back to the 7th - 8th century and was consecrated by King Laitaditya Muktapida. The majestic Martand temple is one of the important archeological sites of the country.
This medieval temple, the clear expression of Kashmir’s pristine glory, has a rectangular colonnaded courtyard and the shrine in its center. The temple complex has 84 columns and offers a commanding view of the valley of Kashmir. The temple has a height of about 40 ft. The central building is 63 ft in length by 36 in width. From the northern side of the temple, one can get the view of the beautiful mountains as the background.
A striking feature of the temple is the large-scale use of wood rather than stone in its architecture. The temple also has a rich collection of the Pahadi style of art in its walls.
By road, Martand Temple can be approached easily from Anantnag, Mattan and Achabal. The nearest airport is at Srinagar.
