Liquor bottles, trash at Polo Forest’s ancient temples speak of neglect, apathy

A monsoon getaway for Gujaratis, the lush green Polo Forest in Sabarkantha is crying for attention. It has come to light that historic temples like Antarsumba Panchdev Mandir and Sadevant Savlinga Jain temple in Polo Forest have become a den of antisocial elements and liquor parties.

The temple premises is littered with liquor bottles, piles of used snack wrappers, and filth to such an extent that any researcher or tourist visiting the place is greeted with broken glass and crumbling remains, now in a more pitiful state than ever before.

There are five clusters of ancient temples within the Polo Forest, believed to be over 600 years old. All of them under the State Archaeology Department. Two clusters are near Antarsuba village, two near Abhapur, and one inside the Polo Forest. Among these, the temples near Antarsuba are in particularly alarming condition due to filth and neglect.

A liquor party was reportedly underway inside one of the temples dedicated to the legendary local deities this Sunday. Outside the ancient temple, countless liquor bottles and shards of broken glass made it nearly impossible for tourists to enter safely.

Locals have stated that for a long time, there has been no regular cleaning of these temple sites. When they come to visit, they often see groups of anti-social elements drinking and partying inside. Although the government has spent crores to develop the site, including infrastructure, there is currently no proper maintenance at the local level.

With heaps of garbage and filth scattered all around, visitors who try to enter the temples fear snakes and scorpions. Near the sanctum sanctorum itself, groups gather and drink, leaving behind numerous bottles right at the heart of these sacred places.

Notably, Polo’s temples are recognised as one of Gujarat’s premier heritage tourism sites. A few years ago, the Archaeology Department carried out restoration work here to further develop the area. However, the condition of the two clusters near Antarsuba Bridge is now deplorable.

One visitor remarked, “If such architecture existed in a European country, its maintenance and significance would be of the highest order. Unfortunately, we do not value our incredible heritage.”