Bhubaneswar: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI has declared Swapneshwar Mahadev Temple in Odisha as a protected monument.
The temple is located at Punjiama village under Niladriprasad panchayat in Banapur block of Khurda district. It was built during 6th-7th century under the the reign of Shailodbhava dynasty of the Kalinga kingdom.
Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan has expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, and Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan for this significant contribution in preserving Odisha’s heritage.
In a post on X, he mentioned that efforts to preserve the temple was initiated in 1977-78 by the then Culture Minister Bishwabhushan Harichandan, who entrusted the responsibility to the State Archaeology Department. “However, the temple later fell into neglect. After Prime Minister Narendra Modi assumed leadership, recognizing its importance, the ASI was tasked with its preservation. Following the formation of a double-engine government in Odisha in 2024, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s efforts accelerated the process. As a result, the ASI recently declared this heritage site a protected monument,” he wrote.
“ଦୀର୍ଘଦିନ ଅପେକ୍ଷାରେ ପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣଛେଦ ପଡ଼ିଲା।”
ମୋ ନିର୍ବାଚନ ମଣ୍ଡଳୀ ଅନ୍ତର୍ଗତ ଆମ ବୀର ଐତିହାସିକ ବାଣପୁର ମାଟିର ଗାରିମା କୀର୍ତ୍ତିରାଜି ଆଜିକାଲିର ନୁହେଁ, ଏହାର ଇତିହାସ କିମ୍ୱଦନ୍ତୀ ସର୍ବ ପୁରାତନ। ଏହାର ଅନେକ ଉଦାହରଣ ରହିଛି ଆମ ଇତିହାସରେ। ଇତିମଧ୍ୟରୁ ଖ୍ରୀଷ୍ଟାବ୍ଦ ୬ଷ୍ଟ ଏବଂ ୮ମ ଶତାବ୍ଦୀ ସମୟର ଶୈଳୋଦ୍ଭବ ରାଜବଂଶର ରାଜଧାନୀ… pic.twitter.com/7fysLsOeNW— Prithiviraj Harichandan (@PrithivirajBJP) July 5, 2025
Harichandan added that this ASI declaration, ensuring the protection of this iconic monument symbolising Odia identity, is a matter of pride for the entire state.
Besides adding Swapneshwar Mahadev temple (Odisha) Rock Shelter (Hazaribagh, Jharkhand) Moidams (Sivasagar, Assam) to the protected list, the ASI has also delisted another 17 “national monuments”.
