Bhojeshwar Temple

Getting there

• By air

  Raja Bhoj Airport (BHO) in Bhopal is the nearest airport.

• By train

  Bhopal Junction (BPL) is the nearest railway station.

Why devotees come here

Bhojeshwar Temple stands in Bhojpur village, about 28 km from Bhopal. It is dedicated to Shiva and has a 7.5-foot lingam in its sanctum. The temple is a Monument of National Importance, with an incomplete dome.

Bhojeshwar Temple is dedicated to Shiva, and its 7.5-foot lingam sits in the sanctum. Legend says Raja Bhoj wanted to build the temple in a single day. The Archaeological Survey of India has designated it a Monument of National Importance, and it is on the tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Construction is believed to have begun in the 11th century, under the Paramara king Bhoja. The site was handed to the Archaeological Survey of India for conservation in 1951. Four octagonal pillars, each 39.96 feet tall, support the incomplete but richly carved dome.

The temple has no traditional mandapa, the entrance hall that many temples have, and its roof is rectilinear rather than a curved shikhara spire. The lingam is built from three stacked limestone blocks.

Festivals

• On Maha ShivaratriMaha Shivaratri

  Thousands of devotees visit the temple on the day.

• Around Maha ShivaratriBhojpur Utsav

  A cultural event held at the site every year, organised by the Government of Madhya Pradesh.

Tips for your visit

• A small museum about the temple stands nearly 200 meters from the main temple.
• The museum has no entry fee and is open 10 AM to 5 PM.
• Inside the sanctum, the lingam is made of three superimposed limestone blocks.

Questions people ask