Maa Sharda Devi Temple

Getting there

• By air

  Satna Airport is the nearest airport, and bus service is available in the city.

• By train

  Maihar railway station (code MYR) serves the town. It is on the Howrah, Allahabad and Mumbai line.

• By road

  Maihar is connected to National Highway 7.

Why devotees come here

Maa Sharda Devi Temple stands on Trikuta hill above Maihar in Madhya Pradesh. It is dedicated to Devi Sharda, believed to be an incarnation of Saraswati. The hill has 1,064 steps and a ropeway.

Devotees believe Devi Sharda is an incarnation of Saraswati. The temple is counted among the Shakti Peethas of the Shakta tradition. Legend says the warriors Alha and Udal were the first to visit her in a remote forest, and it is believed that they discovered the temple. Devotees believe Alha still visits the temple every day during Brahma Muhurta, the early hours before dawn, and worships the deity. It is also believed that Sati's necklace fell at Maihar.

Maihar is one of the holiest pilgrim spots in Madhya Pradesh. The idol of Devi Sharda is enshrined on Trikuta hill above the town. The temple is dated to around 502 CE, and the climb has 1,064 steps. A ropeway also goes up. Many pilgrims attend the Nav Ratra festivals in Maihar. Pilgrims who climb the hill reach the temple on Trikuta hill, which sits above the town.

Festivals

• Nav RatraNav Ratra festivals

  Many pilgrims attend the festivals in Maihar.

Tips for your visit

• Maihar railway station (code MYR) is under the Jabalpur railway division of the West Central Railway zone.
• The sources we checked do not give the Nav Ratra dates, so check locally before you plan a festival visit.

Questions people ask