Vakatak
Mansar (Marathi: मानसर) is a census town in Ramtek tehsil of Nagpur district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. This town is located 5 km west of Ramtek and 45 km northeast of Nagpur city.In 1972, an image of a deity, later identified as Shiva Vamana was found from a hillock in Mansar, locally known as Hidimba Tekri. Important excavations were carried out at the ancient sites of Mansar since 1997-98, under the aegis of the Bodhisatva Nagarjun Smarak Samstha Va Anusandhan Kendra, Nagpur. So far 5 sites have been excavated in Mansar, which are designated as MNS 1, MNS 2, MNS 3, MNS 4 and MNS 5.
These excavations have resulted in the discovery of various shrines (MNS 3, 4, 5) and a palace complex (MNS 2), identified as Pravarapura, the capital of the Vakataka king Pravarasena II (1st half of 5th century). Adjacent to this palace, on Hidimba Tekri (MNS 3), an extensive temple complex has been unearthed, identified as Pravareśvara.A 3 m tall lime model of a male human figure in crouching position was found underneath one of the terraces of MNS 3. Significant 5th-century sculptures of Hindu deities, artifacts and some coins have been discovered in the excavations.
The water reservoir around the site and findings of ancient tools and other objects point to the fact that a large population inhabited the area 1600 years ago. The discovery has made Mansar one of the prime archaeological sites in the country .
Archaeological excavations near the village of Mansar (Maharashtra), 47km north of Nagpur and 5km west of the Ramagiri (Ramtek), have brought to light an astonishing temple (Pravaresvara) and residential complex (Pravarapura) along with a collection of superb sculptures and other artifacts, which date to the first half of the 5th century CE when the Vakataka monarchs, Prabhavati Gupta and Pravarasena ruled the area. Altogether 5 sites have been excavated.