The city of wealth, Sirpur also locally known as Shirpur is a small town in Chhattisgarh. This town is known for its old temples and ruins and is visited by several people in the year. There are a lot of tourist places to visit in Sirpur that are famous for its cultural heritage and tradition. Situated on the banks of Mahanadi River, this place is a treat to anyone who is visiting and is interested in old architecture and history. There are numerous structures in the place that make it so famous, most of which are temples that were created in the 4th and 5th century. Below are a list of places you can visit to enhance your trip.

One of the very first places you must go to is the Lakshman Mandir in Sirpur. This is the most iconic structure in this ancient town and has a lot of historic significance. Made out of red brick stone, this structure is absolutely spectacular to witness. Built by Vasata in 7th Century AD, this temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The entire mandir stands on another surface that you can climb via a flight of steps. Inside the temple you will see a lot of ruins but the main shrine is still intact. This is one of the most visited places in Sirpur.

Sirpur is home to some of the most ancient and beautiful temples in this region and are both Hindu and Buddhist. Crossing the border into the adjacent state of Madhya Pradesh, you can find similar structures as the region used to be part of the same state back in the day. The Teevardev Complex is an absolute magical experience to have; when you get inside the complex you are able to see temples with some of the most unique styles and intricately embellished walls. This complex is a marvel by itself and is definitely worth a visit.

Built in Panchayatana style of architecture is a beautiful temple from the old era, the Baleshwar Mahadev Temple Complex. The complex comprises of small gardens on all sides of the area with two temples dedicated to Ambikadevi and Ambadevi and then there is another small quarters for the priest. The entire temple was dedicated to Lord Shiva and you can see several Shiva Lings in the vicinity of the temple. You can also find the famous Rock Painting of Ongna in this area which a lot of people visit to see.

Another popular and religiously famous temple in Sirpur is Surang Tila which was built in the 7th century. This temple is 8 m high and to go to the upper part of the temple. You must climb about 30 steps; these steps are a little distorted due to an earthquake that had happened a long time ago, changing the way the temple looks. The Surang Tila is different from the temples in the region and looks like more of a temple from the Mayan Architecture. Right in front of Surang Tila is the Mhanadi River which gives beautiful views when you visit the temple.

It is believed that the ruins of Sirpur date back to a very long time and some of the temples were made on ruins that were even more ancient; Gandeshwar Temple in Sirpur is one of them. This is one of the most revered temples in the region and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. This temple is also located in front of the Mahanadi River and you can even go take a dip in the water as part of the holy act. What makes this temple so unique is that it is already ancient and it was even made with the ruins of other temples and viharas in the region.

The Swastik Vihar in Sirpur is a famous spot where a long time ago Buddhists would sit and meditate. The structure in this place is a Hindu temple that has a lot of historic significance and is now taken care of by the Archeological Survey of India. The Swastik Vihara comes under ‘World Heritage Sites’ and hence visited by many people every day. This place is particularly of interest to people who want to know more about Buddhism and Gautam Buddha as well. You can even go Swastik Vihara to meditate and spend a day in peace and quiet.

The Buddh Vihar in Sirpur was reconstructed from its dilapidated state in 2003 and is believed to be built back during the Somanvansi era. One of the most attractive things in this temple is its entrance; it is carved with several figurines, most likely the people from the ancient era. Once you enter the vihar, you can see sculptures of Lord Buddha and several other stone carvings that show the life of Buddha from the time he was born, until he attained Moksha. Looking at all of these structures, you can tell how influenced this place was by Buddhism.

Ram Mandir in Sirpur is located right next to the Lakshman Temple and is also reconstructed from other remains recently. It is a wonder that this temple has been reconstructed and now it is an absolute beauty. The top of the temple is kind of conical in shape along with pillars around. There is also a huge bell in front of the temple which is part of the temple and can be rung when you enter the place. A lot of devotees of Lord Ram come here to worship the shrine of Lord Ram and Sita. There are several other stories related to this temple as well that you can find out from the locals coming to pray there.

Surrounded by forests on all sides, Thakur Kshatriya Samaj Temple is a quaint temple in Sirpur area of Chhattisgarh. Thakur Kshatriya Samaj Temple complex has a few temples inside of it with one being particularly the one of interest to people; the main temple has a shrine of Lord Parshuram, which is still intact. Built by the Kshatriya caste of people and now managed by the Archeological Survey of India, this temple is visited by many. This temple is also located close to Mahanadi and is a great temple to visit.

Sheetla Devi is highly respected in our mythology and is another form of Maa Durga. Maa Sheetala Mandir in Amsena, Chhattisgarh is visited by many and has a special charm during festivals. Thr srine in this temple is that of Sheetla Mata who looks a little different from Durga Maa and is situated inside the temple. During festivals like Diwali and especially Navratri, the temple sees a lot of crowd but at the same time the best time to visit this temple is during these festivals. The shrine as well as the temple premises is decorated with lights and flowers.