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Mansar: Unearthing the Lost Capital of Vidarbha’s Vakataka Dynasty

Mansar: Unearthing the Lost Capital of Vidarbha’s Vakataka Dynasty
Mansar: Unearthing the Lost Capital of Vidarbha’s Vakataka Dynasty

Tucked into the rugged outskirts of Nagpur’s Ramtek tehsil, Mansar looks no different from any other rural settlement in eastern Maharashtra.


Yet beneath its modest surface lies a site that has reshaped the historical understanding of Vidarbha and the larger Deccan region.


Once the capital of a powerful dynasty, Mansar's excavated ruins now stand as evidence of a complex political and religious centre that thrived over 1,500 years ago.



The Ground Beneath Mansar

The Ground Beneath Mansar
The Ground Beneath Mansar

Mansar is located around 45 kilometres northeast of Nagpur, nestled in a plateau zone surrounded by the Satpura hill ranges.


Spread across a mix of fertile black soils and undulating hills, the town today sits by the side of a small lake and is part of the broader Ramtek pilgrimage circuit.


At first glance, the town offers no immediate clue of its historical importance. It was not until the 1970s that any serious indication of its archaeological potential emerged.



That changed when a striking stone sculpture of Shiva in his Vamana form was recovered from a nearby hillock known locally as Hidimba Tekdi.

The sculpture was traced back to the Vākāṭaka dynasty, a powerful ruling family that held sway in central India during the 3rd to 6th centuries CE.


Systematic excavations began in the 1990s under the supervision of the Archaeological Survey of India. Over time, they revealed something far more significant than an isolated temple or monument.


The site was identified as Pravarapura, the capital city built by King Pravarasena II of the Vākāṭaka dynasty.

This king was the younger son of Rudrasena II and Prabhavatigupta, the latter being a daughter of the Gupta emperor Chandragupta II. The city is believed to have flourished during the early to mid-5th century CE, when Pravarasena II shifted the political centre from nearby Nandivardhana to Mansar.


The capital was not merely an administrative base. It was a religious hub with state-sponsored temple complexes.


Excavations led to the identification of five key sectors labelled MNS 1 through MNS 5, each revealing a different dimension of the ancient city’s life and purpose. Among the findings were Buddhist relics, palace platforms, temple structures, sculptures, coins, and residential layouts, all preserved beneath layers of soil and vegetation for over a millennium.


One of the most striking discoveries is the tiered brick palace identified in sector MNS II. This three-level structure stretches over a large footprint and includes what appears to be a court hall, residential quarters, fortifications, and ritual areas. The architectural detailing, such as plaster mouldings and pilasters, indicates an advanced design sensibility. Even today, remnants of the coloured lime plaster used in the construction are faintly visible on some walls.


Another hillock nearby, designated MNS III, revealed the ruins of a Shiva temple, likely the Pravaresvara Devakulasthana, a major state temple sponsored by the king himself.

Excavators found a sanctum made of brick with a centrally placed Shiva linga, surrounded by multiple smaller shrines on terraced platforms. A notable find here was a human-shaped terracotta figurine buried as a ritual object, suggesting the performance of elaborate ceremonies including symbolic sacrifices.


The surrounding sectors revealed additional structures, including a stellate or star-shaped Shiva temple with a unique five-point plan, and ancillary buildings likely meant for residents or temple staff.


Together, these ruins reflect the religious, political, and architectural sophistication of a thriving 5th-century capital in Vidarbha.



Spiritual Topography and Local Memory

Shiva temple, Mansar archaeological site
Shiva temple, Mansar archaeological site

The religious dimension of Mansar was deeply rooted in its landscape. The very naming of Hidimba Tekdi, long before formal excavation, reflects the site’s continued reverence among locals.


The Vākāṭaka king Pravarasena II bore the title Paramamaheshvara, signifying deep devotion to Shiva. The architectural evidence and recovered sculptures confirm this allegiance.


Today, even without fully reconstructed temples or interpretive signage, Mansar continues to draw spiritual visitors.


Offerings can be seen at ruined shrines and linga sites. The presence of Mansar Lake and scattered modern temples contributes to the sacred feel of the place. The cultural memory of a sanctified site has clearly survived, even in the absence of formal recognition.


Mansar forms part of a wider network of sacred and historical sites in Vidarbha, including Ramtek’s hill temple and Nagardhan’s fortress. In this landscape, it stands not in isolation but as part of a broader religious geography that has shaped local belief systems for centuries.


Mansar and the Vidarbha Historical Record


Mansar has contributed significantly to the understanding of Vidarbha’s role in the history of early India. The site provides direct archaeological evidence that the region was not merely a peripheral zone but a core area of political power and cultural development. This counters earlier assumptions that positioned Vidarbha as marginal to the Deccan or northern heartlands.


Artefacts from Mansar reveal interactions with Satavāhana, Gupta, and even early Buddhist traditions. The architectural styles show affinities with Ajanta and other Vākāṭaka sites. Coins and sculptures affirm trade links and ideological connections with larger imperial networks.

In today’s academic circles, Mansar is considered a critical site for studying early medieval urbanism in central India. Its architectural features, spatial layout, and mix of religious artefacts continue to offer new insights with every round of research.

Despite its importance, tourism infrastructure remains minimal.



Visitors often come as day trippers from Nagpur or in combination with visits to Ramtek. The site lacks an on-site museum, and most artefacts are housed in distant institutions. Still, the presence of local guides and occasional state interest suggests a slow but growing awareness of the site's potential.


Mansar is not a ruin that has faded into obscurity. Instead, it is a rediscovered capital that has brought Vidarbha’s ancient history into sharper focus.


Mansar has revealed the footprint of an empire that once governed with both sword and scripture. What has emerged from the ground is not only relevant to historians but also to anyone seeking to understand how central India once shaped its own destiny.


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