Within the fort of Rotasgarh were the remains of a Mughal palace, mosques, and Hindu temples. Archer op. cit.
Archer quotes a description by Thomas Daniell : "This building, composed of grey granite, is of singular construction, and has the appearance of great antiquity. The Hindoos, who formerly preferred elevated places for their temples, could not, it would seem, resist the temptation of building in this place, the situation being delightful, and water and wood, with every other convenience, abundant"
In 1800, Thomas Daniell based a monument to Warren Hastings at Melchet Park in Hampshire on the porch of this little temple. Archer op. cit. Warren Hastings (1732-1818) was governor-general of India and also the sponsor of William Hodges, an artist who travelled to India before the Daniells. Prints from Hodges' series Select views in India are in the collection