Matrani Temple

The site is located 15 km north-east of main town Khoi Ratta and approached by Katera road. The temple built on a raised platform is located on the north-east of main town on the top of hills facing towards the east. It has a square plan with shikara in Nagara style. Exterior sides are simple, and cornice has been provided at the junction between the shikara and main sanctum. Each interior side has been provided with niches, one on either western or southern while three on the northern interior wall. The northern wall has two of the niches opened towards outside. The temple is built of limestone with lime pilaster interior and exterior of the walls. The standardized dressed stone in ashlar type masonry have been used. There is preserved lime plaster inside the temple vulnerable to further fall. The entrance is provided with semi-circular opening with inscription in probably Sanskrit, which suggest of its construction when Sanskrit language was still in use. Though it is very difficult to place this temple in an exact time frame, but this could be during the Kushan Period. The site is in very bad state of preservation and it needs an immediate conservation and protection. It measures 5 x 5 m with a height of 8.5 m. The monument belongs to the Dogra Raj.