<h1 class="ql-align-center">Martand Sun Temple</h1><h2> </h2><h2>Context:</h2> <ul><li>Recently the Union Minister of Commerce visited the&nbsp;Sun temple at Martand.&nbsp;</li></ul> <h2>About:</h2> <ul><li>The Martand Sun Temple is also known as Pandou Laidan.</li></ul> <ul><li>Martand&nbsp;is another Sanskrit synonym for Surya.</li></ul> <ul><li>It was built by the third ruler of the Karkota Dynasty, Lalitaditya Muktapida, in the 8th century CE.</li></ul> <ul><li>The temple is located five miles from Anantnag in the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir.</li></ul> <ul><li>According to historians, the&nbsp;temple was completely&nbsp;destroyed by Sikandar Butshikan&nbsp;in the early 15th century CE.</li></ul> <ul><li>The temple is one of the earliest known sun temples much older than Konark and Modhera.</li></ul> <ul><li>The Archaeological Survey of India has declared the Martand Sun Temple as a site of national importance in Jammu and Kashmir.</li></ul>