The Neelkanth Mahadev Temple has a semi-open mandapa (pillared hall). It has four pillars at its centre and dwarf walls all along its sides. Facing the garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum), there is a Nandi sculpture on a pedestal at the centre of the mandapa. The pillars and the interior walls of the mandapa are plain.
This is the biggest temple and one of the few living shrines of the Hanuman Garhi temple complex. Dedicated to Shiva, the temple consists of a garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum) and a semi-open mandapa (pillared hall) connected via an antarala (vestibule or antechamber). The shikharas (superstructure) of both the garbhagriha and the mandapa are shekhari (multi-spired) shikhara and samavarna (bell roof) shikhara, respectively. The temple has undergone restoration, especially its superstructure.
Formed on multiple miniatures of shikharas arranged in diminishing heights, the shikhara is of the shekhari (multi-spired) variety of the Latina (mono-spired) style of temple architecture. On the front side of the shikhara, there are niches containing deities. The shikhara has been partially rebuilt/renovated.
Seen here is the south-facing elevation of the main central shrine of the Kumbheshwar Mahadev Temple complex. According to its plan, the temple consists of a mukhamandapa (front porch), mandapa (pillared hall), antarala (vestibule and antechamber) and a garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum). The mukhamandapa facing east-west has not survived, barring its plinth. A row of kutas (aedicules) is visible above the main shrine which indicates that the temple must have been adorned with a shekahri shikhara (multi-spired superstructure). The bhadra (central projection) on the south elevation had a sculpture of Tripurantaka Shiva.
This is a gateway to the Hanuman Garhi temple complex. Behind this complex, the remains of an old fortification wall were found. This gateway is a semi-open space adorned with smaller niches on its exterior and interior walls. This gateway was probably a later addition to the temple complex, built entirely of stone.
The Shiva linga (aniconic representation of Shiva) is placed on the ruined plinth of a temple. Open to the sky, this makeshift shrine is highly revered in the Hanuman Garhi temple complex. People are especially seen here performing rituals on a day-to-day basis. The Shiva linga is large and has its own pedestal.
A closer view of the south elevation of the Kumbheshwar Mahadev Temple shows that it has profusely carved exterior walls. The basal mouldings, such as the kani, graaspatti (band of kirtimukhas or face of glory motif), kumbha (pot), and kalasha (a pitcher), are relatively plain. The kumbha moulding has a band of diamond designs. The kapili (cyma recta) portion of the wall that connects the exterior of the garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum) to the mandapa (pillared hall) has the same wall and plinth designs as the garbhagriha exterior walls.
The three sides of the main garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum) of this small shrine have five sculptures each. Seen here is the figural frieze on the back side wall of the temple. Here are dikpalas (deities for cardinal directions) on the corner of offsets, apsaras or surasundaris (celestial damsels) in the intermediary projections. The three principal projections on three sides contain images of Chamunda, Natesha or dancing Shiva and Lakulisha. The style of sculptures matches with other Paramara period icons. This pattern of carving dikpalas, apsaras and deities from the Shaiva pantheon is unique and found at several structures within Arthuna.
The interiors of the garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum) of the Chaunsath Yogini Temple are plain and minimally ornamented. It is square on plan with a trabeated ceiling. The temple is not actively used for worship now. But originally, it must have been dedicated to Goddess worship which can be speculated based on the pedestal which has the depiction of a goddess sculpture on its front side.
A closer view of the opening that leads into the garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum) of the Chaunsath Yogini Temple. This entrance is marked by a simple doorframe/architrave that does not have many vertical divisions. The lower portion of the architrave has dvarapalas (door attendants) on either side and river goddesses. The threshold has an ornate mandaraka. Likewise, the lintel of the doorframe has three divinities in framed niches. The empty space above the doorframe constitutes a part of the interiors of the shikhara (superstructure).