5 ancient Shiva Temples to visit in Madhya Pradesh in the month of Shraavana

Madhya Pradesh is a state located in India that is known for its spiritual aura, history, and architectural marvels. Although it has a lot of religious sites, the ones that stand out are those temples that are dedicated to Lord Shiva—either for their religious significance or for their architectural design. Travellers can find a diverse range here, from Jyotirlingas to ancient stone marvels that echo tales of both kings and legends.

You can go on a spiritual journey too by following our list of 5 Shiva temples that are unique in their architecture, energy, and history:

This sacred shrine is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas and is considered the most revered shrine dedicated to Shiva. This is the only temple that is considered to be self-manifested in South India. This temple is located on the banks of the river Shipra and is a major pilgrimage destination. A ritual is conducted daily at 4 AM called the Bhasm Aarti, where ashes are spread all over the Shivling and then it is followed by bathing and decoration. This temple hosts a great number of people during Maha Shivaratri and Somvati Amavasya.

This is one of the twelve Jyotirlinga temples in India, and the most astonishing part is that this temple is located on an island in the Narmada River that resembles the sacred symbol of ‘Om’. Here, devotees often perform a parikrama around the island, which is about 7 km of walking in devotion for the deity Shiva. Many other rituals like Rudrabhishek, Maha Rudra, and the Bhasma Aarti are also performed here. This temple also offers a scenic view of the beautiful surroundings, and one can reach here by the bridge or boat.

This temple is a part of Khajuraho’s UNESCO-listed Western Group of Monuments and was built by Chandela king Vidyadhara. This temple is known worldwide for its intricate carvings and sculptures and depicts various aspects of life. One can also see spiritual teachings, royal processions, and even erotic art. This temple means ‘the great god of the cave’ and is considered the largest temple amongst all the medieval temples. It is also considered one of the best-preserved temples of the medieval period in India.

This is an unfinished temple of Lord Shiva, located in Bhopal, and was constructed a thousand years ago. This temple was abandoned due to unknown reasons by Raja Bhoj. When one visits the temple, they can see work drawings carved into surrounding rocks that depict the planned design and construction techniques of what the temple was supposed to be. This temple also houses India’s largest monolithic Shiva lingam and what is even more surprising is that this was crafted from a single rock.

This temple is located in Sihoniya and is known mainly for its towering structure, intricate carvings, and the most surprising part that this was built without mortar and finely balanced stone blocks. This temple was named after Queen Kakanvati, and some folklore suggests that this was built by ghosts overnight. Even though the main temple stands, the original temple complex is in ruins and some sculptures were moved to Gwalior as well. This temple has been built in Nagara style architecture, which is a common style in North India.