English: The Bhansara group of Hindu temples are 6th to 7th century temples in coastal Balej village, Porbandar district of south Gujarat. They are notable Maitraka dynasty-era temples and a historic treasure because they illustrate the pre-Nagara to Nagara architecture transition in ancient India, as well some of the earliest pseudo-Dravidic and neo-Dravidic architecture that influenced south Indian temple architecture.

The group consists of six temples, with each featuring design and concept innovations in early Hindu temple built from stone. These are small unicellular temples reflecting their pioneering age and early exploration of innovations.

The group includes:

• early amalaka (Temple 3, inspired by Gujarati gooseberry fruit)
• placement of Shiva linga near the wall, rather than the center of sanctum (Temple 2)
• lotus carving and dentil courses (Temple 2, oldest of the group)
• pseudo-Dravidic forms, Vimanakara-type (Temple 2 and in particular Temple 5)
• neo-Dravidic forms, Suddha-type (Temple 3)
• a method exploring the phamsana – pyramidal shikhara (Temple 1)
• the use of Karnakutas (Temple 6)
• a proto-Nagara, Sikharanvita-type (Temple 1)
• a landmark tiered shikhara (Temple 4) that is the oldest known transition of pre-Nagara style to Nagara – an invention that rapidly evolved all over west, north, central and eastern India.

These ideas were further explored, developed and refined in seven historic temple architecture studies centers in other parts of India.

For further information, please see scholarly sources such as Nanavati and Dhaky, The Maitraka and the Saindhava Temples of Gujarat, Artibus Asiae, Volume 26