English: From the source, Photograph of the side view of the Lakshmana Temple, Sirpur, Raipur District taken by Joseph David Beglar in 1873 or 1874. At Sirpur there are a number of temples and monasteries which date to the sixth and seventh centuries. The site became the Somavamshi capital at this point and was important to Buddhists and Hindus. The Lakshmana Temple is widely regarded as the finest early Hindu brick temple in central India and dates to the 7th century. The square sanctuary is covered by a curved tower which has preserved its brick mouldings, the corner amalakas and the arched motifs in the central projections. The sanctuary walls have blind doorways on three sides which are raised on moulded basement. A worn statue of Vishnu can be found above the doorway.