Unseen Gwalior | Hidden Gems of Gwalior & Popular Tourist Places | Part 1

Gwalior is a city steeped in history and grandeur, famous for its magnificent fort and palaces. While the Gwalior Fort and Jai Vilas Palace are must-see attractions, the city and its surrounding areas also hold a number of lesser-known treasures that offer a unique and authentic glimpse into the region's rich heritage.

Here are some of the hidden gems of Gwalior:


1. The Chausath Yogini temple is in Mitaoli village (also spelled Mitawali or Mitavali), near Padaoli in Morena district 40 kilometres (25 mi) from Gwalior.According to an inscription dated to 1323 CE (Vikram Samvat 1383), the temple was built by the Kachchhapaghata king Devapala (r. c. 1055 – 1075). It is said that the temple was the venue of providing education in astrology and mathematics based on the transit of the Sun. The Chausath Yogini Temple, Morena, also known as Ekattarso Mahadeva Temple, Standing atop an isolated hill of about hundred feet high, this circular temple commands a splendid view of the cultivated fields below. This temple is so named because of the presence of multitude of shivalingas inside its cells. This circular temple is one among the very few such temples in India. This is a yogini temple dedicated to sixty-four yoginis.

It is externally circular in shape with a radius of 170 feet and within its interior part it has 64 small chambers.Within the main central shrine there are slab coverings which have perforations in them to drain rainwater to a large underground storage. The pipe lines from the roof lead the rain water to the storage are also visible.
The design of the temple has withstood earthquake shocks, without any damage to its circular structural features, in the past several centuries. The temple is in the Seismic Zone III.
Many of these curious visitors have compared this temple with the Indian parliament building (Sansad Bhawan) as both are circular in style. Many have drawn conclusions that this temple was the inspiration behind the Sansad Bhawan.

2. Bateshwar Temples: Located near Gwalior in Morena, the Bateshwar Temples are an archaeological wonder. This complex consists of about 200 sandstone temples dedicated to Hindu gods like Shiva and Vishnu, dating back to the 8th to 10th centuries. The site, which was once in a state of disrepair, has been restored by the Archaeological Survey of India, and its intricate carvings and historical significance are a treat for history buffs.

5. Mitawali Temple: A short drive from Gwalior, the Mitawali Temple, also known as Ekattarso Mahadeva, is a fascinating and peculiar site. The temple's circular architecture is said to have inspired the design of the Indian Parliament House. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the temple sits atop a hill and offers a spectacular panoramic view of the surrounding countryside.