An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c9.s19.t3.11

v1.c9.s19.t3.11

The Somavaṁśīs were overthrown by the Gaṅgas at the beginning of the 12th century, which ushered in a brilliant epoch in Orissa. Epigraphic records of the family reveal the transfer of the capital to Barabati fort in modern Cuttack and within the capital was built a temple of Puruṣottama in 1230. It is also known that the Gaṅga kings made liberal grants for the construction and maintenance of the Śaiva temples at Bhubaneswar and elsewhere. The Gaṅgas seem to have had a predilection for a grandiose architecture of soaring height and elaborate plan with an emphasis on the exuberance of plastic embellishments. The Jagannātha temple of Puri and the Sun temple at Konark are the outstanding contributions of the Gaṅgas. The glitter of the Gaṅgas faded away during the rule of the Sūryavaṁśī Gajapatis who supplanted the Gaṅgas in the 15th century. The period represents a decadent phase in the sphere of art and architecture in Orissa.