Bharat Mata Mandir

Bharat Mata Mandir in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, is a unique temple dedicated to Bharat Mata (Mother India) located within the Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith campus. Inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi in 1936 and built by freedom fighter Babu Shiv Prasad Gupta, it houses a large relief map of undivided India carved in marble by Durga Prasad Khatri. The temple symbolizes national unity and is notable for its secular, patriotic character rather than traditional deity worship.

Visitors can expect a simple hall-like temple structure within the Kashi Vidyapith campus housing a large marble relief map of India on the floor. The map depicts mountains, plains, rivers and oceans in raised marble with accurate scale and topography. The surroundings are quiet and academic, with a courtyard and campus setting. Visitors walk around the map to view it from above, observe details of the Indian subcontinent, and experience a calm, respectful atmosphere focused on geography and national heritage.

Constructed in 1936 by Babu Shiv Prasad Gupta, a freedom fighter and founder of Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith, and inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi. The marble relief map was crafted by Durga Prasad Khatri over several years based on surveys and maps. Built during the Indian independence movement, it served as a symbol of national identity and unity, depicting undivided India.

Dedicated to Bharat Mata, the personification of India as a mother figure, the temple represents patriotism and national unity. Unlike conventional temples, it has no traditional deity idol and is visited by people of all backgrounds. It reflects the cultural and nationalist spirit of the pre-independence era and remains a secular place of respect for the nation.