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Gopeshvara, situated on a hill-plateau, 3 miles from the
town of Chamoli on the bank of the
Alakananda, a
tributory of the Ganga, is
known for the Gopeshvara Mahadeva temple. Its compound has a large iron
trident, bearing two inscriptions, an earlier one of the seventh century
mentioning Naga-ending names of four kings and referring to the erection
of the trident in a temple of rudra. a later one of 12th century mentions
the re-erection of a Vijaya-Stambha (victory pillar) by king Asokachalla.
The existing Shiva temple has a sanctum of design and dimensions
analogous to the lakhamandal temple, preceded by a kapili with a prominent
sukanasa and a modern rubble-built mandapa. The five-storeyed
heavy-shouldered sikhara of the temple, however, is lately restored.
The kapili wall has a plain niche capped by a phamsana model ornamented
with gavaksha arches bearing a vertical row of four heads. The kapili has
a semi-valabhi roof displaying udgamas on the lateral faces and a figure
of dancing siva in front crowned by a lion pouncing on elephant.
The doorway has three plain sakhas capped by five Latina Sikharikas. The
sanctum enshrines a sivalinga placed in a late pavilion borne on four
octagonal pillars.
The temple is stylistically assignable to A.D. 800-825.
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