The Archeological Survey of India (ASI), Goa, is currently carrying out conservation work at the ancient temple site at Cotta, Chandor. They have built short walls of laterite – at the site of the excavation.
Speaking to GT, Superintending Archeologist, Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Goa Circle, Hemasagar Naik, said that the ASI wanted to open the temple site to the public and make them aware of the existence of the ancient temple. “We are not building another temple, or structure. Our aim is to conserve whatever is already there; therefore, we have built a 60 cm wall which will indicate the existence of the ‘garbhagriha’ etc.”
The earlier excavations highlighted the existence of the ‘garbhagriha’, ‘pradakhinapath’, ‘mukhamandapa’. Naik further said that the wall will give an idea of the ancient times. “We have used laterite bricks after studying the previous brick material, and have also have used lime mortar.”
The raised structure showcases the ‘garbhagriha’, ‘mandapa’ and the platform, ‘nandimandapa’. Naik also said that this is part of the conservation of 1999- 2021.
This site was earlier excavated in the 1930s by Rev Fr Heras, and in 1974 by the Archeological Survey of India. The excavation that was carried out brought to light a brick temple consisting of a ‘garbhagriha’, surrounded by ‘pradakhinapath’, a large ‘sabhamandapa’, and a medium sized ‘mukhamandapa’ or porch. The temple was constructed and altered in two major phases.
Chandor, or Chandrapur is the ancient capital and its history dates back to the Bhojas (4th century AD) and continued upto the Kadamba period (11th century AD).
The recent excavation conducted at the site in 2000-‘03 unearthed five phases of structural activities in the temple site with an enclosure wall. In the season 2003-’04, trial pits were dug at different parts of the mound and revealed habitation remains from the times of Silaharas to Pre-Portuguese.
