The famous Avantipur Temple was founded by king Avantivarman who reigned from AD 855-883. Over the years, the temple has been reduced to ruins but it is still a popular site for the devout. A wall encloses the central shrine, 9th-century Avantiswami Temple, built in Greek architectural style and dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Temple is worth a visit and is built for the devotees of Lord Shiva. Though these are almost in ruins now, they command a visit for their incredible historic value.
Lying in ruins are a couple of temples — Avantishwar (dedicated to Shiva) and Avantiswami (Vishnu), built within a km of each other. Partially restored, these temples have lost a bit of their sheen, their erstwhile glory simply summarized on a simple board.
The Avantishwar Temple, the smaller of the two, was built by the king before he was crowned on the banks of river Jhelum or Vatista as it was known then. The Avantiswami Temple, a much bigger and magnificent monument was apparently built when he ascended the throne. It is believed that the deity here was Vaikunta Vishnu.
