Set on a hill in Mitaoli village, Morena, Madhya Pradesh, the Chausath Yogini Temple is a sacred place for sixty-four Yoginis, female spiritual practitioners and deities tied to Goddess Durga. Constructed around 1055 to 1075 AD, by King Devapala of the Kachchhapaghata line, this temple unique from normal temple structures with its round shape and fine stone cuts.
Notable Fact: The temple’s round form, with sixty-four rooms, is said to look like India’s Parliament House, but no clear proof backs this up.
Overview of Chausath Yogini Temple
The Chausath Yogini Temple, sometimes called Ekattarso Mahadeva Temple, sits in Mitaoli, Morena, about 40 kilometers from Gwalior. Its name means “sixty-four” in Hindi, for the sixty-four Yoginis, mystic figures once kept in its rooms. The temple is formed by a circular wall with 65 chambers, apparently for 64 yoginis and the goddess Devi, and an open mandapa in the center of a circular courtyard, sacred to Shiva. The temple’s round wall, open to the sky, makes it odd among Hindu shrines. Built on a hill 100 feet high, it shows wide green fields below. Old stories say it was a spot for star-watching and number-counting, following the sun’s path. The Archaeological Survey of India keeps it as a special place, strong and plain.
History of Chausath Yogini Temple
A stone mark from 1323 AD says King Devapala, a Kachchhapaghata ruler, built this temple. His time was full of art and learning, and this shrine shows his folk’s skill. It was a place for tantric prayers, honoring Yoginis, spirits of earth and power. Some tales say it was a school for stars and sums, its round shape helping sky-watching. It stood steady through quakes, its build holding’ firm in shaky lands. In the 1800s, British travelers saw it grand, though its Yogini statues were gone. After 1947, the state took it, kept it safe, kept it plain. Fixes by the Archaeological Survey kept them old stones true.
Architecture of Chausath Yogini Temple
The temple’s up a hill, climbed by 100 stone steps. Its round wall, 170 feet across, has sixty-five small rooms—sixty-four for Yoginis, one for Goddess Devi. Each room’s got a little porch with pillars, facing a round yard. In the middle, a Shiva shrine stands, open to the sky. The rooms now hold Shiva lingas, ‘cause the Yogini statues vanished long ago. The flat roofs once had small tops, like them at Khajuraho’s Yogini temple, but they’re gone now. The Shiva shrine’s roof has holes for rain to run to a tank below, showing old craft. The outer wall’s got fine stone cuts, with gods and spirits. Unlike most Hindu temples, its open, round shape was for Yoginis, said to dance under stars. The yard feels holy, real holy, with quiet air guiding’ them who walk there. It is said that the roofs over the 64 chambers and the central shrine had towers or shikharas, as those at the Chausath Yogini Temple, Khajuraho still do, but that these were removed during later modifications.
Sculptures of Chausath Yogini Temple
The temple’s rooms once held sixty-four Yogini statues, women figures tied to Durga’s might. Their bodies are described as beautiful, but their heads are often those of animals. Most statues are lost, maybe taken or broke over time. Now, each room’s got a Shiva linga residing. The outer walls have carvings of gods, spirits, patterns, cut deep and fine. The porch stones got small, neat marks, real fine work. The round shape means life’s endless turn. Near the hill, old Kushan statues with heavy gems were found, now in Gwalior’s museum. The carvings speak of tantric ways, pulling’ the heart to wonder.
Rituals and Prayers
Long back, tantric chants likely rang in its rooms, with gifts to Yoginis for strength and knowing’. The middle Shiva shrine was for open rites, maybe dances under stars. Now, the temple’s quiet, with no priests or daily prayers.
Information for Travelers
Hours and Entry: Open daily, 6:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Entry is free for all, a fair deal. No photos are stopped, but respect the holy place.
Clothing: Wear clothes covering shoulders and knees, proper and plain. For prayers, women wear sarees or suits, men wear kurtas, plain kurtas.
How to Get There:
Air: Gwalior Airport, 40 km off, is nearest. Taxis take 45 minutes, cost ₹800–1200, a quick trip.
Train: Morena Station, 35 km away, joins Delhi, 5 hours long. Autos cost ₹200–400, a small fare.
Road: Buses from Gwalior, 1 hour off, reach Morena. Taxis cost ₹1000–2000, steady roads, calm roads.
Places to Stay:
Morena’s got simple guesthouses, ₹500–1000, plain rooms. Gwalior, 40 km away, has hotels like Hotel Shelter, ₹2000–4000, fine and clean.
Best Time to Visit:
October to March, cool air, 15–25°C. Weekdays are quiet, real quiet. Skip summer’s heat, April to June, too hot.
Nearby Attractions:
Bateshwar Temples, 5 km off, a bunch of Shiva shrines, old stones.
Padawali Temple, 4 km away, a Vishnu shrine, fine cuts.
Gwalior Fort, 40 km off, a big hill fort, strong walls.
Jai Vilas Palace, 42 km away, a king’s home, rich and grand.
Tomb of Tansen, 40 km off, a music saint’s rest, calm spot.
Final Thoughts
Chausath Yogini Temple in Morena, Madhya Pradesh, is a sacred gem in India’s heart. The Yoginis’ strange power touches them who come, making it a place you must see among India’s holy spots. Its round shape, old stones, and quiet air draw the soul, bring calm, bring wonder.
