Ancient Archaeology and World Heritage

Po Nagar is a Cham temple complex , located in the modern-day coastal city of Nha Trang in Vietnam. The complex is dedicated to goddess Yan Po Nagar , the founder of the Cham people according to legend.

Mỹ Sơn is a group of ruined Hindu temples dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva . It is located in the Quảng Nam Province in Central Vietnam , about 69 km southwest of Da Nang. The temples were constructed between the 4 th and 14 th Century CE by the rulers of the Champa Kingdom (192 CE – 1832 CE). The rulers of Champa used Mỹ Sơn both as a site for religious ceremonies and as a burial place. Earlier structures in Mỹ Sơn are primarily attributed to King Bhadravarman I (reigned from 380 CE – 413 CE), King Sambhuvarman (reigned from 572 CE – 629 CE) and King Prakasadharma (653 CE – 687 CE). Later rulers continued the renovation of the old temples as well as continued the construction of new temples. Majority of the remaining structures were constructed by King Harivarman II (reigned from 989 CE – 997 CE) and King Harivarman IV (reigned from 1074 CE – 1080 CE).

The Elephanta Caves, also known as Gharapuri Caves, are a collection of cave temples primarily dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. These ancient rock-cut shrines, considered to have been constructed between the 5th and 7th centuries CE are Located on Elephanta Island in Mumbai Harbour, India. The main cave at the island (also called the Great Cave) consists of a square court surrounded by cells and several entrances. The main entrance faces north, while two side entrances face east and west. The temple is enclosed in the cave with only interior walls, without an exterior wall. The Linga shrine of the Great Cave temple is a free-standing square stone cella (the inner area of an ancient temple), with entrances on each of its sides. Each door is flanked by two Dvarapalas (gate guardians) , for a total of eight around the shrine.