Temples in Madhya Pradesh :

The state of Madhya Pradesh is located in central India. This ‘Central Province’ is the second-largest state in India by area (308,245 square kilometers) and the fifth-largest state in the country by population (over 75 million inhabitants). The geographical terrain of this state is characterized by a plateau streaked with the hill ranges of the Vindhyas and the Satpuras, rivers, lakes and dense forests. The natural beauty of Madhya Pradesh, along with world heritage sites, several cities, hill stations, national parks, etc draw tourists to this state. Temples of Madhya Pradesh are no exception in this regard. They also serve as spots that have the potential to catch the attention of tourists visiting this state.

Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga : Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga is located in the ancient city of Ujjain. This Hindu temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is one of the twelve Jyotirlingams (most sacred abodes of Lord Shiva) in India. Mahashivratri is an important festival celebrated in this temple.

Lakshmana Temple : Lakshmana Temple is located in the small village of Khajuraho in the district of Chattarpur. This Hindu temple is dedicated to a form of Vishnu called Vaikuntha Vishnu and houses a tri-headed four-armed sculpture of this deity. This temple is a fine representation of Hindu temple architecture. The temple complex stands on a high platform and has an ardh-mandapa (entrance porch), mandapa, maha-mandapa, antarala and garbhagriha.

Chaturbhuj Temple : Chaturbhuj Temple is located in the town of Orccha. Currently, an image of Radha Krishna is worshiped in this temple. This temple was built in the 16th century by the rulers of the Orccha state called Bundela Rajputs. The Ram Raja Trust is recognized as the managing body of this temple. The State Archaeology Department is responsible for the conservation of the temple structure.

Annapurna Temple : Annapurna Temple is situated in Indore and is one of its famous pilgrimage sites. This Hindu temple is dedicated to goddess Annapurna. Architecturally, this temple is similar to the famous Meenakshi Temple of Madurai. It has three shrines of Shiva, Hanuman and Kalabhairava and the famous Pravachan Hall.

Vamana Temple : Vamana Temple is situated in the eastern area of Khajuraho in the district of Chattarpur. This temple is dedicated to Vamana, an avatar of Vishnu. It is divided into a sanctum, vestibule, maha-mandapa and an entrance-porch. It is a part of the Khajuraho Group of Monuments, which is a world heritage site.

Khajuraho Temples : Khajuraho temples have their fames spread like the scented flowers that have bloomed in the garden over for their marvellous architectural style. Situated in Bundelkhand in the state of Madhya Pradesh, a total number of 85 temples had been originally constructed by the Rajputs of the Chandella dynasty between 950 and 1050 AD. Of these, only 20 now remain. These, however, are well preserved, considering that they have been neglected for nearly a thousand years. Unlike the temples in Orissa, these shrines are not the result of a slow, concerted development spread over several centuries, but rather a brilliant, although comparatively short phase in Hindu temple architecture when intense religious feeling and aesthetic talent combined to produce buildings of great beauty. Khajuraho, the ancient Kharjjura-vahaka are the representative pillars of the distinct prototype of art and temple structural design of its own reminding one of the well-heeled and creative epoch it witnessed during the Chandella tenet. 

Sas bahu Mandir : Sas bahu Mandir, Gwalior Fort appears to have been completed in 1093 AD and has an appearence of imposing solidity. But, today, only the cruciform porch, three stories high, survives. Another unusual architectural feature of the Sas bahu Mandir, Gwalior Fort is that the building has been raised several stories high solely with the help of beams and pillars; absolutely no arches have been used for this purpose. The smaller Sas-bahu temple, though much chic in style than the greater Sas-bahu piece, is only the stylistically reduced copy of the latter.

Gopachal Parvat : Situated on the mountainous terrain at the slopes of Gwalior Fort, Gopachal Parvat contains unique statues of Jain Tirthankaras.The idol of Lord Parshvanath seated on lotus (carved out of a single stone) is the largest in the world, towering at 47 feet in height and 30 feet in breadth.

Sun Temple, Morar : Located near the Residency at Morar, the newly constructed Sun Temple gathers its inspiration from the 'numero uno' Konark Sun Temple in Orissa. The temple is at a difference of approximately 5 km from railway station and bus stand.

Teli-ka-Mandir, Gwalior : It is a perfect amalgamation of northern and southern architectural styles. It was an ancient seat of Jain worship, also known as 'pearl in the necklace of the castles of Hind'. There are several theories as to how Teli-ka-Mandir got its curious name. A theory goes that Govinda III of the Rashtrakuta dynasty occupied the fort of Gwalior in 794 and appointed the Telang Brahmins to look after all religious ceremonies.

Harsiddhi Durga Temple, Ujjain : According to the legend from the Shiv Purana, an ancient Hindu text Hindu text in Sanskrit, Lord Shiva was greatly disturbed after the death of his consort, Sati (Parvati). Overwhelmed with grief, Shiva decided not to part with her body, carrying with him wherever he went. Greatly distressed by such uncalled action, the other divine members of heaven cut her body into pieces and threw the pieces onto 'Mrityulok', the land of mortals. Wherever the parts of her body fell, it became Shaktipeeth, a centre of the female manifest form of cosmic energy, thereby rendering the place sacred. It is believed that Goddess Parvati's elbow fell here in Ujjain temple site.