# Deopahar
> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Deopahar
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Deopahar.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deopahar
> Source revision: 1357095244
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
{{Short description|Ancient archaeological site, Assam, India}}
{{refimprove|date=September 2025}}
{{Infobox historic site
| name = Deopahar
| native_name =
| part_of = [Assam](/source/Assam)
| location = Near [Numaligarh](/source/Numaligarh), [Golaghat district](/source/Golaghat_district), [Assam](/source/Assam), [India](/source/India)
| image = Faces1.jpg
| caption = Deopahar ruins
| map_type =
| map_caption =
| pushpin_map =
| pushpin_relief =
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption =
| coordinates = {{coord|26|36|08|N|93|43|52|E|type:landmark_region:IN|display=inline,title}}
| mapframe = yes
| mapframe-zoom = 10
| mapframe-marker = monument
| code =
| built = 10thβ11th century
| builder = Unknown
| material = [Granite](/source/Granite) and [Lime mortar](/source/Lime_mortar)
| height =
| used =
| demolished =
| condition = [Ruins](/source/Ruins)
| open_to_public =
| ownership =
| management = [Government of Assam](/source/Government_of_Assam)
| garrison =
| current_commander =
| commanders =
| occupants =
| battles =
| events =
}}
thumb|Deopahar Numaligarh Assam sculpture'''Deopahar''' is an archaeological site located in [Numaligarh](/source/Numaligarh), [Assam](/source/Assam), [India](/source/India). It is one of the most noteworthy ancient heritages of [Golaghat district](/source/Golaghat_district) in Assam. Numaligarh is prominently known as one of the archaeologically rich places of the state because of the historical remains of the ancient temple and sculptures that were excavated from the top of the Deopahar.[{{Cite journal|last=Sarmah|first=Dr. Bijoy|date=September 1, 2020|title=A Historical Study of the Archaeological Remains of Deopahar, Numaligarh|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/353481710|journal=Sampriti|volume=VI|issue=II|pages=667β679|via=researchgate.net}}] The ancient stone temple and sculptures uncovered at this site are fine specimens of ancient art that represent the interconnection between Aryan ([Brahmanical](/source/Brahmanical)) art and local art, thus, providing enough data for the historians to determine the period of time it was created.[{{Cite web|url=https://archaeology.assam.gov.in/|title=Home | Directorate of Archaeology | Government Of Assam, India|website=archaeology.assam.gov.in}}] The construction of the stone temple appears to be incomplete or damaged possibly during the [Assam earthquake of 1897](/source/Assam_earthquake_of_1897).
==Etymology==
Deopahar is derived from two words ''Deo'' means "Gods", ''Pahar'' means "Hills" translating to "''The Hills of the Gods''".
==Location==
The Deopahar archaeological site is a tourist destination in Assam.[{{Cite web|title=Historical Monuments | Assam Tourism Development Corporation Ltd | Government Of Assam, India|url=https://tourismcorporation.assam.gov.in/portlet-sub-innerpage/historical-monuments-0|website=tourismcorporation.assam.gov.in}}] Deopahar, also called Deoparvat, is situated by the side of the [Asean Highway 1](/source/Asean_Highway_1)(NH -129) in Numaligarh, Golaghat district, Assam, India. Deopahar is a part of the Deopani Reserve Forest. The Deopani Reserve Forest covers a total area of 133.45 hectares and is very rich in flora and fauna. The Deopani Reserve Forest area is an Elephant corridor, and is also famous for the False Hemp Tree (Assamese : Bheleu) (''[Tetrameles nudiflora](/source/Tetrameles_nudiflora)''), which has been accorded a Heritage tree status. Every year, around the months of October to January, migratory wild giant bees follow migratory routes from the foothills of the Himalayas to come to this particular tree in this forest to build very big beehives. The distance of the Deopahar archaeological site is about 5 km from the [Numaligarh Refinery](/source/Numaligarh_Refinery), 61.8 km from [Kaziranga National Park](/source/Kaziranga_National_Park), 255 km from [Guwahati](/source/Guwahati) and approximately 5 km (aerial distance) from the [Brahmaputra River](/source/Brahmaputra_River).
==History==
The name Deopahar has many prevailing legends about the origin of the name. The [Karbi](/source/Karbi_people) people who lived by the hill called it Deoparbat or Deopahar. According to ancient scriptures, the hill homed many gods and goddesses and was well known as 'Haithali parbat'.[http://ignca.gov.in/asi_reports/ASSGHT_003.pdf Dated between 10th-11th century.] The Deopahar temple may have been a temple for [Lord Shiva](/source/Lord_Shiva). The [Shiva Linga](/source/Lingam) from the Temple was shifted, and the Baba Than, Numaligarh temple, adjacent to Deopahar, was established in the 19th century.[{{Cite web|url=http://www.bokakhat.gov.in/hist_monu.htm|title=Welcome to Bokakhat Sub_division|website=www.bokakhat.gov.in}}] As per the ''Satsari [Buranji](/source/Buranji)'', there was a burial site ([Maidam](/source/Maidam)) of a [Sutiya](/source/Sutiya_kingdom) king (''Khunta raja'') adjacent to Deopahar.["The founder Sutiya Raja was known as Khunta Raja"{{harvcol|Bhuyan|1962|pp=201β202}}]["There is a Maidam (burial mound or tumulus) of Khunta Raja adjacent to Deopahar."{{harvcol|Bhuyan|1960|p=18}}]
==Architecture==
An English tea planter named Thomas Guardthei was the first to highlight the significance and complexity of the unique sculpture and architecture of the broken Shiva temple at Deopahar. The stone temple was erected on a monolithic floor. The temple has a big ceiling slab engraved with a large lotus bearing a relief of [Vidyadhara](/source/Vidyadhara) holding a scarf and a necklace by both hands. The vast range of sculptured stone blocks were carved out of [Precambrian](/source/Precambrian) rocks. The stone blocks at the base of the temple were stabilized together with iron hinges which can be clearly seen.[{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/north-east/temple-ruins-on-dhansiri-bank/cid/1529496|title=Temple ruins on Dhansiri bank|website=www.telegraphindia.com}}]
The overall creative style and design of the building blocks strongly reflect influences of the later [Gupta era](/source/Gupta_era). There are huge door jambs with foliage of drooping petals, encircling creepers with animal and sculptural representations of female door-keepers with coronets and huge perforated Patrakundalas. Other sculptural representation found are of [Kirtimukha](/source/Kirtimukha), Kalamakaras, Fangananm Shiva, Sridhar Rudra, Lakshmi-Narayana, Hara-Gauri Rashlila, Sarpadevata, Pranayam dhyan, Padma Sakra, [Ram](/source/Rama) and [Ravana](/source/Ravana), [Sugriva](/source/Sugriva) etc. and panels with carvings of figures depicting episodes from the [Ramayana](/source/Ramayana), the [Mahabharata](/source/Mahabharata) and the [Bhagavata Purana](/source/Bhagavata_Purana).
The sculptures at Deopahar depict flying [Apsara](/source/Apsara), fascinating poses of [Vishnu](/source/Vishnu), different gestures of [Dwarpal Shiva](/source/Shiva), [Ganesha](/source/Ganesha), [Yama](/source/Yama), Surya, image of Sani, dancing images of gods and goddesses on elephants, and male and female dancers.