Eran is an ancient town and archaeological site in Madhya Pradesh, located at the junction of the Bina and Reuta Rivers.
Various ancient ruins here date back over three thousand years, from the Chalcolithic period (1800-700 BCE) until the 18th century. It peaked around the 6th century, during the reign of the Gupta Empire.
Today, there are only remnants of the lower courses of masonry, four standing columns with their architrave, and some beams and parts of doorways. Several excavations have uncovered relics similar to those found at Maheshwar and Tripuri, indicating that Eran marked the northernmost limit of the Chalcolithic civilisation in Madhya Pradesh.
Of particular note is the colossal statue of a Varaha, an avatar of the Hindu deity Vishnu in the form of a wild boar. The larger-than-life figure stands about 11 feet high in Eran and is carved from a single block of red sandstone. In mythology, the Varaha appeared to save the earth from drowning.
An inscription in 8 lines of Sanskrit in the Brahmi script is written behind the boar's neck. The account involves King Toramana of the Alchon Huns ruling over Malwa ("governing the earth") and a Dhanyavishnu constructing a stone temple dedicated to Narayana (Vishu). T.S. Burt, a British army captain, is reported to have discovered the inscription in 1838 and brought it to the attention of James Prinsep, an English scholar, orientalist, and antiquary. Prinsep afterwards published a translation.
The town has an archaeological museum with a collection of antiquities which is worth a visit. Several inscriptions from the Gupta Empire have been discovered at an archaeological site near Eran. A complex of old Hindu temples originating from the Gupta period can be seen to the west of Eran town. The temples are arranged in a row and feature a rectangle or square plan.
There was a time when Eran was known as India's "mint town" as it minted many coins, including punch-marked and cast coins. Several thousand coins have been discovered from 300 BCE to 100 CE with motifs of goddesses, the dharma chakra, the tri-ratna, and others. One of the coins with the Mauryan King's name Dharmapala written in Brahmi script, is considered among India's first inscribed coins.
While you are here, also check out the Udayagiri Caves, located about two to three hours away in Vidisha. They are a collection of 20 Gupta-era temples and monasteries cut out of a hill. Among these, Cave 5, popularly known as the Varaha Cave, depicts Vishnu as Varaha (boar) incarnation and rescuing goddess Earth (Bhudevi, Prithivi) from the depths of the cosmic ocean in a gigantic carving. Varaha, as depicted in Hindu scripture, represents right vs wrong and good versus
Eran can be reached through various modes of transportation. Bhopal Airport is the nearest airport, while Bina Junction is the closest railway station. Road connectivity is also available, and local transportation options like taxis or buses can be used to reach the site from these points.