Temples' Potential

Photograph courtesy Sourav De

Only 72 of the original 108 terra-cotta temples remain intact in the 18th-century village of Maluti, India. The temples were built during the Pala dynasty by devotees of the Hindu goddess Mowlakshi. Other temples at the site were dedicated to Shiva, Durga, Kali, and Vishnu.
Today, neglect, poor drainage, and overgrown vegetation are taking a toll on the complex. But "with proper restoration and maintenance, the temples have the potential to be a major source of economy in the small town of Maluti," the Global Heritage Fund says in its report.
"With no such plan in place, the temples are fast deteriorating beyond repair."
(See pictures of the new seven wonders of the world, as chosen in 2007.)