Madhya Pradesh, often described by Madhya Pradesh Tourism as the “Heart of India,” has a remarkable collection of Hindu temples, pilgrimage towns and sacred landscapes. The state is home to the two Jyotirlingas of Mahakaleshwar in Ujjain and Omkareshwar, along with the temples of Khajuraho, Orchha, Chitrakoot, Maihar, Amarkantak, Maheshwar, Bhojpur and Mandsaur.
This Hindu Temple Yatra guide brings together important Hindu temples and pilgrimage destinations across Madhya Pradesh.
Famous Temples in Madhya Pradesh
1. Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga – Ujjain
Deity: Lord Shiva
Location: Ujjain
Mahakaleshwar is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva and is the principal pilgrimage attraction of Ujjain. The temple is also known for the traditional Bhasma Aarti.
2. Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga – Khandwa
Deity: Lord Shiva
Location: Omkareshwar
Omkareshwar is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas and is situated on the sacred Narmada River. The island on which the temple is located is traditionally associated with the shape of Om.
3. Ram Raja Temple – Orchha
Deity: Lord Rama
Location: Orchha, Niwari
Ram Raja Temple is particularly distinctive because Lord Rama is worshipped here as a king. The temple occupies what was originally a palace.
4. Kandariya Mahadev Temple – Khajuraho
Deity: Lord Shiva
Location: Khajuraho, Chhatarpur
Kandariya Mahadev is one of the best-known temples within the Khajuraho Group of Monuments and is renowned for its elaborate stone sculpture and Nagara-style architecture.
5. Maa Sharda Devi Temple – Maihar
Deity: Goddess Sharda
Location: Maihar, Satna
The temple stands on a hill and is reached by a long flight of steps as well as modern access facilities. Madhya Pradesh Tourism identifies Maihar as an important pilgrimage destination.
6. Pitambara Peeth – Datia
Deity: Maa Baglamukhi
Location: Datia
Pitambara Peeth is a prominent spiritual destination in Datia and includes several temples, including shrines associated with Baglamukhi and Dhumavati.
7. Bhojeshwar Temple – Bhojpur
Deity: Lord Shiva
Location: Bhojpur, Raisen
Bhojeshwar Temple is a historic Shiva temple famous for its massive Shiva lingam and unfinished monumental architecture.
8. Pashupatinath Temple – Mandsaur
Deity: Lord Shiva
Location: Mandsaur
The temple is famous for its distinctive eight-faced Shiva lingam and is situated on the banks of the Shivna River.
9. Chintaman Ganesh Temple – Ujjain
Deity: Lord Ganesha
Location: Ujjain
Chintaman Ganesh is one of the prominent Ganesha temples of Ujjain and forms part of the city's extensive pilgrimage circuit.
10. Harsiddhi Temple – Ujjain
Deity: Goddess Harsiddhi
Location: Ujjain
Harsiddhi Temple is an important Devi shrine located close to Mahakaleshwar Temple.
Major Shiva Temples in Madhya Pradesh
- Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga – Ujjain
- Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga – Omkareshwar
- Mamleshwar / Amareshwar Temple – Omkareshwar
- Bhojeshwar Temple – Bhojpur
- Pashupatinath Temple – Mandsaur
- Kedareshwar Temple – Maheshwar
- Kaleshwar Temple – Maheshwar
- Bateshwar Temple Group – Morena
- Kakanmath Temple – Sihoniya
- Padavali Shiva Temple – Morena region
- Matangeshwar Temple – Khajuraho
- Vishwanath Temple – Khajuraho
- Vankhandeshwar Temple – Datia
- Mangalnath Temple – Ujjain
- Kal Bhairav Temple – Ujjain
Madhya Pradesh Tourism specifically highlights Mahakaleshwar, Omkareshwar, Pashupatinath and Bhojeshwar among important Shiva destinations.
Devi & Shakti Temples in Madhya Pradesh
- Maa Sharda Devi Temple – Maihar
- Pitambara Peeth – Datia
- Salkanpur Bijasan Devi Temple – Sehore
- Maa Tulja Bhavani Temple – Dewas
- Chamunda Mata Temple – Dewas
- Harsiddhi Temple – Ujjain
- Harsiddhi Mata Temple – Ujjain
- Kaliadeh-area Devi shrines – Ujjain
- Shondesh Narmada Shakti Peeth – Amarkantak
- Chandi Devi Temple – regional pilgrimage centre
- Dhumavati Temple – Datia
- Baglamukhi Temple – Datia
- Vindhyavasini/Bijasan Devi Temple – Salkanpur
Madhya Pradesh Tourism highlights Maihar, Datia, Salkanpur and Dewas among important Devi pilgrimage destinations.
Vishnu & Rama Temples
Important temples
- Ram Raja Temple – Orchha
- Chaturbhuj Temple – Orchha
- Lakshmi Narayan Temple – Orchha
- Raghavji Temple / Kamtanath tradition – Chitrakoot
- Kamtanath Temple – Chitrakoot
- Gupt Godavari sacred site – Chitrakoot
- Bharat Milap Temple – Chitrakoot
- Gopal Mandir – Ujjain
- Lakshmi Narasimha Temple – regional temple sites
- Sas-Bahu Temple – Gwalior
- Chaturbhuj Temple – Khajuraho
- Varaha Temple – Khajuraho
Orchha is particularly important for Vaishnava pilgrimage, with Ram Raja, Chaturbhuj and Lakshmi Narayan forming an important temple group.
Ganesha & Other Important Temples
- Chintaman Ganesh Temple – Ujjain
- Bade Ganeshji Ka Mandir – Ujjain
- Dodha Ganesh Temple – regional Ujjain area
- Kshipra-area Ganesha shrines
- Ganesh temples of Khajuraho
- Hanuman Dhara Temple – Chitrakoot
- Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple – regional pilgrimage sites
- Hanuman Temple, Pitambara Peeth – Datia
Temples of Ujjain
Ujjain is one of the most important temple cities of Madhya Pradesh. Madhya Pradesh Tourism notes that the city has more than 100 temples and numerous pilgrimage sites.
Major Ujjain temples
- Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga
- Harsiddhi Temple
- Kal Bhairav Temple
- Mangalnath Temple
- Chintaman Ganesh Temple
- Gopal Mandir
- Bade Ganeshji Ka Mandir
- Gadkalika Temple
- Sandipani Ashram
- ISKCON Temple Ujjain
- Nagchandreshwar Temple
- Ram Janardhan Temple
- Navlakhi Eco? — omit unless independently verified
- Triveni area temples
Madhya Pradesh Tourism identifies Mahakaleshwar, Harsiddhi, Kal Bhairav, Mangalnath, Chintaman Ganesh and Gopal Mandir among Ujjain's major attractions.
Temples of Chitrakoot
Chitrakoot is an important pilgrimage destination associated with the traditional accounts of Lord Rama, Sita and Lakshmana's exile.
Major sacred places
- Kamtanath Temple
- Kamadgiri Parikrama
- Hanuman Dhara
- Ramghat
- Bharat Milap Temple
- Janaki Kund
- Sphatik Shila
- Gupt Godavari
- Ram Shaiya
- Sati Anasuya Temple
The Kamadgiri Parikrama is an important pilgrimage activity, with several temples and sacred locations along the route.
Temples of Orchha
- Ram Raja Temple
- Chaturbhuj Temple
- Lakshmi Narayan Temple
- Sunder Mahal
- Hanuman Temple
- Radhika Raman Temple
- Hardaul Baithak / shrine
The main Orchha temple complex includes Ram Raja, Chaturbhuj and Lakshmi Narayan temples.
Khajuraho Temple Group
Khajuraho is one of India's most important temple heritage destinations. The surviving monuments include Hindu and Jain temples, so your Hindu Temple Yatra page should clearly separate the two traditions.
Major Hindu Temples
- Kandariya Mahadev Temple
- Lakshmana Temple
- Matangeshwar Temple
- Vishwanath Temple
- Devi Jagdambi Temple
- Chitragupta Temple
- Varaha Temple
- Parvati Temple
- Nandi Temple
- Duladeo Temple
- Chaturbhuj Temple
- Javari Temple
- Vamana Temple
- Brahma Temple
Jain Temples – Separate Heritage Section
- Parsvanath Temple
- Adinath Temple
- Shantinath Temple
Madhya Pradesh Tourism identifies the Western Group as including Lakshmana, Matangeshwar, Varaha, Kandariya Mahadev, Chitragupta, Parvati, Vishwanatha and Nandi temples.
Temples of Maheshwar
Maheshwar is situated on the banks of the Narmada and has a large collection of historic temples.
Important temples include:
- Ahilyeshwar Mahadev Temple
- Kashi Vishwanath Temple
- Rajrajeshwar Temple
- Baneshwar Mahadev Temple
- Kaleshwar Temple
- Vithaleshwar Temple
- Ekadash Rudra Temple
- Narmada temples and ghats
Madhya Pradesh Tourism describes Maheshwar as a major spiritual destination with a rich collection of temples along the Narmada.
Temples of Amarkantak
Amarkantak is an important Hindu pilgrimage centre and is traditionally known as Teerthraj. It is also closely associated with the origin of the Narmada River.
Major temples and sacred sites
- Narmada Udgam Temple
- Ancient Temples of Kalachuri Group
- Prachin Pataleshwar Temple
- Karna Temple
- Shri Yantra Temple
- Shondesh Shakti Peeth
- Narmada Kund
- Kapildhara sacred area
- Dugdh Dhara
- Jwaleshwar Mahadev Temple
Other Important Temples Across Madhya Pradesh
Bhopal & Raisen
- Bhojeshwar Temple – Bhojpur
- Salkanpur Bijasan Devi
- Gufa Mandir – Bhopal
- Birla Mandir – Bhopal
- Muktakeshwar Temple
- Mahamaya Temple
Dewas
- Maa Tulja Bhavani Temple
- Chamunda Mata Temple
- Dewas Tekri
Mandsaur
- Pashupatinath Temple
- Narsingh Temple
- Shiva temples along the Shivna
Morena
- Bateshwar Temple Group
- Kakanmath Temple
- Padavali Shiva Temple
- Mitawali Chausath Yogini Temple
Madhya Pradesh Tourism highlights the Morena-area heritage circuit of Mitawali, Padavali, Bateshwar and Kakanmath as an important temple and architectural route.
Gwalior
- Teli Ka Mandir
- Sas-Bahu Temple
- Chaturbhuj Temple
- Gopachal Parvat temples
- Sun Temple
Burhanpur
- Asirgarh-area temples
- Swami Narayan temple traditions
- Tapti riverbank shrines
Jabalpur
- Gwarighat temples
- Kachnar City Shiva Temple
- Pisanhari Ki Madiya — Jain, separate section
Important Temple Circuits in Madhya Pradesh
1. Jyotirlinga Yatra
Ujjain → Mahakaleshwar → Omkareshwar → Mamleshwar
Madhya Pradesh has two of India's 12 Jyotirlingas: Mahakaleshwar and Omkareshwar.
2. Ujjain Temple Yatra
Mahakaleshwar → Harsiddhi → Kal Bhairav → Mangalnath → Chintaman Ganesh → Gopal Mandir
3. Ramayana Pilgrimage Circuit
Chitrakoot → Kamtanath → Ramghat → Hanuman Dhara → Janaki Kund → Gupt Godavari
Chitrakoot's sacred landscape is strongly associated with the traditional Ramayana pilgrimage.
4. Orchha Temple Circuit
Ram Raja Temple → Chaturbhuj Temple → Lakshmi Narayan Temple → Sunder Mahal
5. Devi Yatra
Maihar → Datia → Salkanpur → Dewas → Ujjain
Important shrines include Sharda Devi, Pitambara Peeth, Bijasan Devi, Tulja Bhavani, Chamunda and Harsiddhi.
6. Narmada Spiritual Circuit
Amarkantak → Omkareshwar → Maheshwar → Maheshwar Ghats
7. Temple Heritage Circuit
Gwalior → Mitawali → Padavali → Bateshwar → Kakanmath → Orchha → Khajuraho
Madhya Pradesh Tourism itself highlights this type of fort-and-temple road journey.
Major Temple Festivals
Important religious festivals and celebrations include:
- Mahashivratri – Mahakaleshwar, Omkareshwar and other Shiva temples
- Simhastha Kumbh – Ujjain
- Navratri – Maihar, Datia, Salkanpur, Dewas and other Devi temples
- Ram Navami – Orchha Ram Raja Temple
- Janmashtami – Krishna temples
- Hanuman Jayanti – Hanuman temples
- Narmada Jayanti – Narmada pilgrimage centres
- Nag Panchami – Ujjain and other Shiva temples
- Kartik festivals – various temple towns
Ujjain's Simhastha is held every 12 years; Madhya Pradesh Tourism states that the next Simhastha is scheduled for 2028

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