Mansar Talav and Shrines, Ahmedabad Mansar Talav and Shrines, situated around 60 km from Ahmedabad at Viramgam town, is a significant historic ensemble with striking aesthetic features from the Solanki period. Traditionally believed to resemble a conch shell (shankha), the lake is enclosed by ghats with steps leading to the water. Attributed to Minal Devi, mother of mighty King Jayasimha Siddharaja, it dates back to early 12th century CE and was originally called Mansarovar (corrupted form of Mansar). One of the most remarkable features of the Mansar Talav is the dense congregation of small shrines built on the platform above the ghats. There were about 520 shrines, of which only 357 remain due to subsidence of the soil. These shrines reflect a rich interplay of Vaishnava and Shaiva traditions and their exterior walls are adorned with several beautiful sculptures, such as of Mahakal, Bhairava, and Natesa. At the south-eastern corner stand two large Solanki era temples in dwi-kuta Maru-Murjara style, distinguished by a shared mandapa supported on twelve pillars. The walls of these temples also display figures of Bhairava, Mahakal, Natesa and Ganesha. The site also features a sophisticated water system flowing from a small basin into an octagonal kunda and then into the main lake. Above this underground channel stands a large pavilion with a pyramidal roof, repaired during the Maratha period. Behind it are five shrines dedicated to Bahucharaji, known locally as Mansar Mata. Source: Archaeological Survey of India