Modhera
{{Short description|Village in Gujarat, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2018}}{{Use Indian English|date=October 2018}}
Modhera is a village in Becharaji Taluka in Mehsana district, Gujarat, India. The town is well known for the Sun Temple of Chaulukya era. The town is located on the bank of Pushpavati river.
History
The town was known as Dharmaranya during Puranic age. It is believed that Rama had performed yagna here to cleanse the sin of killing Brahmin Ravana. He had built Modherak which was later known as Modhera.{{cite book|author=Subodh Kapoor|title=The Indian Encyclopaedia: Meya-National Congress|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ncL8Ve9FqNwC&pg=PA4871|year=2002|publisher=Cosmo Publications|isbn=978-81-7755-273-7|pages=4871–4872}}
The Sun Temple was built during the reign of Bhima I of Chaulukya dynasty in 1026-1027 (Vikram Samvat 1083).{{cite book|author=Hasmukh Dhirajlal Sankalia|title=The Archaeology of Gujarat: Including Kathiawar|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fvAdAAAAMAA|year=1941|publisher=Natwarlal & Company|pages=84–91}} [http://www.dli.ernet.in/handle/2015/51876 Alt URL]{{cite web|title=Sun-Temple at Modhera (Gujarat)|url=http://ignca.nic.in/nl002206.htm|access-date=9 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160429110946/http://ignca.nic.in/nl002206.htm|archive-date=29 April 2016|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}} Modheshwari Temple is located in the village. Gyaneshwari/Dharmeshwari stepwell belongs to 16th-17th century. It has a shrine at the first pavilion of the stepwell instead of usual at the end.{{cite book |author=Jutta Jain-Neubauer |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=61fSwBF4bbYC |title=The Stepwells of Gujarat: In Art-historical Perspective |date=1 January 1981 |publisher=Abhinav Publications |isbn=978-0-391-02284-3 |page=57}} The stepwell of Modhera probably belongs to 11th century with the mandapa belonging to 10th century. Hawa Mahal is a building located on a elevated location. It is a sandstone pavilion with six pilasters and 12 pillars supporting a flat roof. Some pillars have kichaka brackets on their top. There is a jali window on its rear side and an ornamental geometric patterns on the edge of its plinth. It seems that it has been erected from the ruined parts of the earlier structure from the Chaulukya era.{{Cite web |title=હવા મહેલ બન્યો અસામાજિકતત્વોનો અડ્ડો, સ્થાપત્યોનું જતન કેમ નથી કરતું તંત્ર? |url=https://zeenews.india.com/gujarati/gujarat/hawa-mahal-has-become-a-haven-for-anti-social-elements-why-doesnt-the-administration-preserve-the-architecture-387804 |access-date=2025-03-22 |website=Zee News Gujarati|language=gu}}
File:Sun Temple, Modhera - Sabha Mandap 01.jpg|Sun Temple, Modhera
File:Modheshwari Temple, Modhera (63415).jpg| Modheshwari Temple
File:Modheshwari Temple, Modhera (36336).jpg|Modheshwari temple from inside
File:Dharmeshwari Vav, stepwell in Modheshwari Mata temple, Modhera (92891).jpg|Dharmeshwari Vav
File:Modhera Vav (36116).jpg|Modhera Vav
File:Hawa Mahal, Modhera (31675).jpg|Hawa Mahal
Economy
=Electricity=
Modhera became the first "solar village" of India. The village meets its complete electricity requirements by a 6 MW solar plant with a 15 MWh battery energy storage system on {{convert|12|ha|sqkm}} land located {{convert|3|km|mile}} from the village. A total of 1300 out of the 1600 houses in the village installed rooftop solar systems. The project cost {{INRconvert|65|c|year=2021}} with half financed by the Government of Gujarat and the other half by the Government of India.{{Cite web|last=Gupta|first=Uma|date=2021-08-26|title=Gujarat's Modhera will be India's first solar village|url=https://www.pv-magazine-india.com/2021/08/26/gujarats-modhera-will-be-indias-first-solar-village/|access-date=2021-10-17|website=PV Magazine India}}{{Cite web|date=2021-06-02|title=Sun Temple, Modhera village to get 24X7 solar power|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/ahmedabad/sun-temple-modhera-village-to-get-24x7-solar-power-7341532/|access-date=2021-10-17|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}{{Cite web|last=Prasad|first=Nithin Thomas|date=2020-03-31|title=Modhera Sun Temple Gets ₹650 Million Grant for 6 MW Solar, 15 MWh Battery Energy Storage System|url=https://mercomindia.com/modhera-sun-temple-grant-solar-battery-energy-storage/|access-date=2021-10-17|website=Mercom India|language=en-US}} {{Cite web |last=Livemint |date=2022-10-09 |title=PM Modi declares Gujarat's Modhera as India's first 24x7 solar-powered village |url=https://www.livemint.com/news/india/pm-modi-declares-gujarat-s-modhera-as-india-s-first-24x7-solar-powered-village-11665323102394.html |access-date=2022-10-13 |website=mint |language=en}}
See also
References
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