{{For|the other village named Sirpur in Mahasamund district|Sirpur, Saraipali}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2018}} {{Use Indian English|date=September 2018}} {{Infobox settlement | name = Sirpur | native_name = Sripura, Shripura | settlement_type = village | image_skyline = 7th - 9th century Surang tila mandapa before shrines, Sirpur monuments Chhattisgarh.jpg | image_alt = | image_caption = Mandapa of Surang Tila in front of shrine | pushpin_map = India Chhattisgarh#India | pushpin_label_position = right | pushpin_map_alt = | pushpin_map_caption = Location in Chhattisgarh, India | coordinates = {{coord|21.345225|N|82.184814|E|display=inline,title}} | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = {{flag|India}} | subdivision_type1 = [[States and territories of India|State]] | subdivision_name1 = [[Chhattisgarh]] | subdivision_type2 = [[List of districts of Chhattisgarh|District]] | subdivision_name2 = [[Mahasamund district|Mahasamund]] | subdivision_type3 = [[Tehsil]] | subdivision_name3 = [[Mahasamund]] | established_title = <!-- Established --> | established_date = | founder = | named_for = | government_type = | governing_body = Village panchayat | unit_pref = Metric | area_footnotes = | area_rank = | area_total_km2 = | elevation_footnotes = | elevation_m = | population_total = 1467<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/pca/SearchDetails.aspx?Id=469554 |title=Census of India: Search Details |access-date=7 August 2014 |archive-date=24 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924121003/http://www.censusindia.gov.in/pca/SearchDetails.aspx?Id=469554 |url-status=dead }}</ref> | population_as_of = 2011 | population_rank = | population_density_km2 = auto | population_demonym = | population_footnotes = | demographics_type1 = Languages | demographics1_title1 = Official | demographics1_info1 = [[Hindi language|Hindi]], [[Chhattisgarhi language|Chhattisgarhi]] | timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]] | utc_offset1 = +5:30 | postal_code_type = Postal code<!-- [[Postal Index Number|PIN]] --> | postal_code = 493445 | registration_plate = CG 06 | website = | footnotes = }}
'''Sirpur''' is a village in [[Mahasamund district]] in the state of Chhattisgarh 35 km from [[Mahasamund]] city and 78 km away from [[Raipur]]<ref name="raipurgov1">[http://raipur.gov.in/tourism.htm#Bk3 Sirpur] raipur.gov.in</ref> on the banks of the river [[Mahanadi River|Mahanadi]].<ref name="prasarbharti">[http://www.newsonair.nic.in/SIRPUR-%20A%20Goldmine%20of%20History.asp SIRPUR : A Goldmine of History ] Prasar Bharti</ref>
Sirpur was capital of Panduvanshi dynasty in ancient times. The village hosts the [[Sirpur Group of Monuments]] consisting of Buddhist, Hindu and Jain temples and monasteries. These are dated from the 5th to 12th century.
==History== {{see also|Sirpur Group of Monuments}} [[File:8th - 9th century Dvarapala, Hindu temple ruins Sirpur Chhattisgarh 2.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.6|An 8th to 9th century artwork from a Hindu temple in Sirpur.]] [[File:River Mahanadi view from 8th century temple, Sirpur monuments Chhattisgarh.jpg|thumb|right|A view of river Mahanadi from a Shiva temple in Sirpur.]]
Sirpur, also referred to as Shripur, Sripura or Sripur (literally, "city of auspiciousness, abundance, Lakshmi") in ancient Indian texts and inscriptions, is a major archaeological site along the [[Mahanadi River]].<ref name=pradhan854/> Sirpur was capital of Panduvanshi dynasty in ancient times.
The site has been significant for its temple ruins of Rama and Lakshmana of the Ramayana fame, as well as those related to Shaivism, Shaktism, Buddhism and Jainism. The site excavations after 1950, particularly after 2003, have yielded 22 Shiva temples, 5 Vishnu temples, 10 Buddha Viharas, 3 Jain Viharas, a 6th/7th century market and snana-kund (bath house). The site shows extensive syncretism, where Buddhist and Jain statues or motifs intermingle with Shiva, Vishnu and Devi temples.<ref name=pradhan854>Atula Kumar Pradhan and Shambhoonath Yadav (2013), [https://www.jstor.org/stable/44158887 Sirpur - A unique township of early medieval India], Proceedings of the Indian History Congress, Vol. 74 (2013), pp. 854-864</ref>
The location is mentioned in the memoirs of the Chinese traveler [[Xuanzang]] as a location of monasteries and temples. It was visited in 1872 by Alexander Cunningham, a colonial British India official. His report on a Laxman (Lakshmana) temple at Sirpur brought it to international attention.
==Culture== Sirpur is a pilgrimage site for the followers of [[Jainism]], [[Buddhism]] and [[Hinduism]]. It hosts a major fair (mela) during the Mahashiv Ratri.The fair is a prominent example of the region's spiritual and cultural traditions.
==Transport== Sirpur is accessible from Raipur by a four-lane [[National Highway 53 (India)|National Highway 53]]. Regular bus services connect Raipur and Sirpur.
The nearest railway station is Mahasamund railway station (35 km).
The nearest airport is the Swami Vivekananda airport at [[Raipur]] (IATA: RPR), with daily flights to major cities in India.
==Places of interest== *[[Sirpur Group of Monuments]] *Barnawapara, a nearby [[Wildlife sanctuaries of India|wildlife sanctuary]] set midst a hilly terrain and dense forests. The Indian bison [[gaur]], [[Chital|cheetal]], [[Sambar deer|sambhar]], [[Nilgai|neelgai]] and [[wild boar]] are found in this sanctuary.<ref name="cgtourism.choice.gov.in">{{cite web |url=http://cgtourism.choice.gov.in/sites/default/files/temp/31%20Sirpur%20Leaflet.pdf |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2014-08-06 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140801134451/http://cgtourism.choice.gov.in/sites/default/files/temp/31%20Sirpur%20Leaflet.pdf |archivedate=2014-08-01 }}</ref>
==See also== *[[Sirpur Group of Monuments]]
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81sV01vPles Sirpur Archaeological Survey (Hindi)]
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[[Category:Villages in Mahasamund district]] [[Category:7th-century Hindu temples]]