Khordha, July 7: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) officially declared the ancient Swapneswar Mahadev Temple in Punjiama village under Banapur block of Odisha’s Khordha district as a ‘protected monument’.
The announcement comes after the Government of India issued a gazette notification on July 3, which acknowledged the temple's deep historical and cultural importance.
According to sources from the ASI, the Swapneswar temple is a unique part of Odisha's ancient architecture and spiritual history, and it is believed to have been built during the Shailodbhava dynasty in the 6th century.
Located in the Niladri Prasad Panchayat area, the temple has been admired by both historians and locals for its strong connection to Odisha’s classical history.
The ASI’s announcement is the result of years of effort to give the site national-level protection and recognition.
Odisha Law, Works, and Excise Minister Prithviraj Harichandan praised the decision and thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, and Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan for their support in making the declaration possible.
Harichandan called it a "proud moment for Odia identity" and said that this recognition will help preserve the temple for future generations while also boosting Odisha’s position on the national heritage map.
The Swapneswar temple had previously caught the attention of senior BJP leader Biswabhusan Harichandan. In 1977–78, when he was the Culture Minister, he handed over the responsibility of preserving the temple to the state's archaeology department.
Despite this, the site was neglected over time, with no regular efforts to preserve or restore it.
It wasn’t until the last decade, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, that the temple's importance was recognized again. The ASI started the process of giving it national protection after conducting field evaluations and heritage assessments.
