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The Markanda Mahadev Temple Complex is situated at the banks of the Wainganga River near Chamorshi town in the Gadchiroli District of Maharashtra. This 8th Century Temple Complex is called Mini Khajuraho.
The largest and primary temple in the complex is the Markanda Mahadev temple - dedicated to Shiva. The spire over the sanctum of this temple has collapsed, leaving a partial structure which comprises of the garbhagriha, an antarala, a sabha mandapam, and a mukha mandapam. There are three entrances to the temple, one each on the south and north, in addition to the main entrance on the east. The entrances are very small - about the size of doors in a normal residential structure - and open into a modest sized sabha mandapam. There is an elevated platform with pillars in the sabha mandapam, much as is seen in Kakatiya temples. The spire over the sabha mandapam is a simple slab which is raised above the ceiling, providing for a ventilation gap in between. A an empty chamber is seen on the northern side of the sabha mandapam, which might have once housed another deity - probably the Mother Goddess.
The door jamb and lintel are richly decorated.
The temple has evidently undergone signficant damage and reconstruction over time. While much of the inner walls are bare, there are a few scluptures adorning the inner walls, too. A yakshini element has been placed at the bottom of one of the pillars in the sabha mandapam, while such an element is more commonly found at the top of the pillar.
A small carving on the southern side of the inner wallof the sabha mandapam narrates the story of the young sage Markandeya threating to sever his own head, forcing Lord Shiva to appear and grant him long life.
Other carvings inside the temple tell the story of Rama killing Vali in the battle of Vali and Sugreeva, and the tale of the triumphant Luv-Kusha twins leading the horse after the Ashvamegha yagya. There are panels which show a sequence of elephants and a series of equestrian figures at the bottom of the platform which stands in the middle of the sabha mandapam.
The outer walls are much better preserved - leading to the possibility that they are a later-day addition or restoration. The outer walls feature deities (Shiva-Parvati, Brahma-Saraswati, Ganesha); women in shringara poses such as suckling a baby, applying kohl to their eyes, or lipstick; and couples, occasionally in amorous poses. All of these are interspered with yali figures.
This temple complex features several more temples, many of which are in a dilapidated condition. Some of the surviving spires (Umashankar temple) indicate bhumija style architecture. Other temples in the complex include the Mrityunjay Maharaj temple, and the Adishakti Mahishasur Mardini temple, The remaining temples in the complex have largely plain walls, with a few geometrical patterns.