Chausath Yogini Temple, Jabalpur - Timings, History, Best Time to Visit

At a distance of 21 km from Jabalpur, Chausath Yogini Temple is a Hindu temple situated at Bhedagaht near Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh. Situated near Dhuandhar Falls, it is one of the oldest heritage sites in India, and among the must-visit places as part of Jabalpur packages.

Mainly dedicated to Goddess Durga, the Chausath Yogini Temple was built in the 10th century by the Kalachuris kings and it still stands tall atop a hill, enticing tourists and devotees from different parts of India. As the name ('Chausath' meaning sixty-four) suggests, the temple has 64 shrines built along the walls of its circular premises, each containing a carved figure of a Yogini, and a central shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati.

The Kalachuri-built structure had only the Yoginis while the central shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva and his consort Goddess Parvati was built around two years later. According to the inscriptions, Queen Alhanadevi, the widowed wife of Kalachuri King Gayakarna built the Gauri-Shankara temple in 1155 CE during the rule of her son Narasimhadeva. However, in the later centuries, with the advent of Islamic rulers, like many other Hindu temples of India, the Chausath Yogini Temple also went through partial destruction and disfiguration of idols. However, the central shrine remains unblemished.

The architecture of the temple is simple and bears a similar style of the Khajuraho temples. Made coarse granite, this is one of the four Chausath Yogini Temple in India dedicated to Maa Durga. Although the design of the temple has been kept simple, the idols of yoginis are exquisitely carved, each one depicting a unique posture. The hilltop location of the temple offers breathtaking views of the natural beauty that surrounds this site. One needs to climb 150 steps to reach the main temple from the base of the hill.

Timings: 7 AM - 8.30 PM

Entry: Free