
Madhya Pradesh temples are many in number, and pilgrims flock in great numbers to visit these temples. The temple art in
Madhya Pradesh highlights the intricate craftsmanship of the skilled artisans. Of the various temples present in the state, the
Khajuraho temples are world famous. It has even got international repute for its beautiful architecture. Other than the Khajuraho temples, there are many other beautiful temples situated in the state.
The temples of Gwalior are quite well known. Within the
Gwalior fort is a group of temples which forms a separate series by themselves from the standpoint of architectural style and chronology. Of the eleven religious structures within its walls, five are temples belonging to the eleventh century. The
Teli-ka-Mandir or the oilman`s temple is probably the earliest of the Temples in the Gwalior fort.
There are two other temples of importance, both designated
Sas-bahu mandir or the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law. The larger of these appears to have been completed in 1093 A.D. and has an appearance of imposing solidity. The only thing that survives now is the three-storey high cruciform porch. A unique architectural feature of this temple is that the building has been raised several storeys high solely with the help of beams and pillars, and no arches have been used for the purpose. The smaller Sas-bahu temple, though more elegant in appearance than the bigger Sas-bahu temple, is stylistically only a reduced and simplified copy of the latter.
On the road to the Fort lies a small temple dedicated to Chaturbhuj, the four-armed, a name given to
Lord Vishnu. It was built in 875 A.D. and is believed to be the oldest temple in Gwalior. It has a small dome over its pyramidal roof which resembles that of the Teli-ka-Mandir in many respects.
The temple of Udayeswara at Udayapur, now a small village in the
Vidisha district of Madhya Pradesh, is yet another ancient and remarkable site. The famous temple built by the Paramara King, Udayaditya, in 1080 A.D. is a remarkable example of
architecture in post-Gupta era, of style in its richest mood. It has a covered porch, a pyramidal roof and a tower ornamented by four flat bands of elegant design and great beauty, the whole surmounted by an amalasila or a vase. The temple is profusely carved and is regarded as a remarkable example of the Indo-Aryan style of architecture. In massive grandeur the temple compares well with the Chandelia group at Khajuraho, but its spire is unsurpassed for its richness and delicacy in the whole range of mediaeval Indian temples.
At Eran in the Sagar district of Madhya Pradesh is found a group of buildings extending from the 5th to the 11th centuries which admirably exemplifies the post-Gupta development. Among this are shrines dedicated to Varaha, Narasimha and Vishnu. The ruins (now known as Ath Khambha and Char Khambha) at Gyraspur are the remains of the pillared halls of temples belonging to the 10th and 11th centuries. The temple of Mala De dates from the 10th century.
Other temples of importance located in the state of Madhya Pradesh are
Omkareshwar temple situated at Omkareshwar, Orcha temple at Orchha,
Sanchi stupa in Sanchi, Deogarh Temple in Gwalior, Bhrijeshwar temple in
Bhopal,
Chintaman Ganesh temple at
Ujjain, etc.
(Last Updated on : 15/09/2010)