Tripuri
Tripuri-Tewar · Tewar Mound · Tripuri Haihaya Capital · Karna's Tripuri
Chalcolithic → NBPW 600 BCE → Gupta 350–550 CE → Kalachuri 850–1300 CE·Kalachuri-Chedi·🇮🇳 Madhya Pradesh, Jabalpur District, Tewar village on Narmada, 12 km west of Jabalpur, India
About
About Tripuri
Multi-period capital on the Narmada — Tripuri at Tewar (Haihayas, Kalachuri-Chedi capital 9th–13th c CE) with 16 m Chalcolithic-to-Medieval stratigraphy. Excavations by M.G. Dikshit, K.D. Bajpai, Shantarakshit? reveal: Period I Chalcolithic (Malwa-related), Period II NBPW-Mauryan (600 BCE), III Sunga–Satavahana with punch-marked coins and NBPW, IV Gupta (Gupta coins of Samudragupta–Kumaragupta), V Kalachuri (inscribed 1042 Lakshmikarna temple, 354+ images). Kalachuri brick temples (Chausath Yogini, Vishnu) and huge 2.1 m four-headed Shiva. Tripuri coins (Kartikeya tribal) certify NBPW→Gupta→Kalachuri coinage sequence. MP Directorate and Dhar? holdings.
Why it mattersOnly Narmada site with continuous Chalcolithic→Gupta→Kalachuri coin–ceramic sequence proving Kalachuri-Chedi imperial city stratigraphy.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Chalcolithic–NBPW hiatus — real break or flood erosion?
- 02Kalachuri four-headed Shiva — import or local atelier?
Theories
- 01Tripuri as Kalachuri response to Tripuri–Maheshwar Narmada-axis urban competition
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.1600 BCE Chalcolithic base; capital c.6th c BCE NBPW town
- Period
- Chalcolithic → NBPW 600 BCE → Gupta 350–550 CE → Kalachuri 850–1300 CE
- Culture
- Kalachuri-Chedi
- Builders
- Haihaya–Kalachuri kings (Lakshmikarna, Karna-deva)
- Purpose
- Narmada crossing capital and Kalachuri Chedi imperial seat controlling Vindhya–Satpura route
- Abandoned
- c.1300 CE after Gond–Delhi Sultanate incursions
- Rediscovered
- 1939–41 M.G. Dikshit excavation; K.D. Bajpai 1950s coin sequence
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c.1600–1200 BCE
Malwa-Chalcolithic base — buff ware, copper on Narmada levee
c.6th c BCE–500 CE
NBPW–Gupta city — punch-marked, Samudragupta coins, Gupta brick temples
850–1210 CE
Kalachuri-Chedi capital — 1042 CE Lakshmikarna inscription, Chausath Yogini, Shiva temples
1939–41
Dikshit excavates Tripuri mound — 16 m stratigraphy and Kalachuri coinage
On the ground
Structures & features
23.1610° N · 79.9100° E · 400 m · 2 mapped features
Tripuri Kalachuri Temple Plinth Cluster
temple1042 CE Lakshmikarna Vishnu/Shiva temple plinths (24×18 m) with Chausath Yogini sculptures on upper mound
23.1613° N · 79.9103° ETripuri Chalcolithic–NBPW Basal Mound
moundChalcolithic buff ware and NBPW black-polished horizon at basal 6 m (north mound foot near Narmada)
23.1607° N · 79.9097° E