Now known as Awantipora, this town is located on the Srinagar-Anantnag road, a few kilometres away from the Kashmiri capital.
copyright: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Awantipora
The first ruins to be found are those of the Shiva temple built by Avantivarman in the 9th century. It is known as the Avantikeshvara Swami Temple. Being of a modest size, it is in a badly ruined state now. Though the panels are bare, the few sculptures that are to be found there are exquisite.
The guard (who also served as a guide) told us an earthquake destroyed the place, just as it did this statue:
slashed by an earthquake?
Modern constructions have surrounded this place, and have somewhat encroached upon its charm.
And what better use could we have for the place, other than turning it into a cricket stadium?
The second, much bigger temple, built by the same king for Vishnu, is known as the Avantiswami temple. Sculptured reliefs are numerous, and so are the carved columns.
The reclining Vishnu is gorgeous…
and so are the sculptures of the rivers Ganga and Yamuna and those of the couples reminiscent of the ones found in the Konark temple.
And the king (?), his family along with bodyguards, exquisite too…
The shrines dedicated to Bhudevi and Sridevi are empty today…
…so is the main one once dedicated to Vishnu
The grass that grows here attracts the locals who find food for their livestock.
The Avantiswami temple now 
pathikaa 