Chaturbhuj Temple

Getting there

• By air

  Gwalior airport is the nearest airport, about 142 km from Orchha.

• By train

  Orchha railway station is a convenient arrival point, about 6 km from Ram Raja Temple. Jhansi Junction, about 17 km away, is the nearest major railway hub for broader connections.

• By road

  The nearest bus stand is at Jhansi, with regular bus and taxi services to Orchha.

Why devotees come here

Chaturbhuj Temple stands in Orchha, Niwari district, Madhya Pradesh. It is dedicated to Vishnu, the four-armed preserver, and its tower rises about 344 feet.

Devotees come to the temple through the year, particularly during major festivals such as Janmashtami, which celebrates Krishna's birthday, and Vaikuntha Chaturdashi, which is dedicated to Vishnu. The cooler months from October to March make sightseeing around the complex more pleasant.

Legend says the temple was first envisioned as a dwelling for Rama. It became a sacred abode for Vishnu instead. The first stone was laid in 1558 under King Madhukar Shah, and construction went on for several decades before it was completed under his son, Vir Singh Deo.

The temple stands on a platform about 4.5 metres high, in the Nagara style of North Indian temples, with towering shikharas. Its tower rises about 344 feet, one of the tallest vimanas among Hindu temples. Inside, a four-armed statue of Vishnu, called Chaturbhuj, stands in the temple. Orchha is in Niwari district, Madhya Pradesh. The Rama Raja Temple and the Laxmi Narayan Temple stand nearby.

Tips for your visit

• The temple is reached by a climb of 67 steep, narrow steps.
• The Rama Raja Temple and the Laxmi Narayan Temple stand nearby, in the same town as this temple.

Questions people ask