Chausath Yogini Temple

Chausath Yogini Temple is a 10th-century circular temple located on a hilltop at Bhedaghat near Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, overlooking the Narmada River. Dedicated to the 64 Yoginis, it is one of the oldest Yogini temples in India built during the Kalchuri dynasty. The temple is notable for its circular open courtyard plan, intricately carved stone idols of Yoginis, and central shrine with Shiva and Parvati on Nandi.

Visitors can expect a hilltop temple reached by climbing approximately 150 stone steps, offering panoramic views of the Narmada River and surrounding landscape. The temple has a circular open-air courtyard with 64 small shrine cells housing carved stone images of Yoginis, and a central shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. The setting is quiet and historic with stone architecture, river views, and proximity to Marble Rocks and Dhuandhar Falls.

Built in the 10th century CE during the reign of the Kalchuri dynasty, the temple is one of the earliest Yogini temples in India. It follows the distinctive circular hypaethral plan associated with Yogini cult architecture. The temple originally housed 64 Yogini images and reflects early medieval temple art and Tantric traditions of central India.

The temple is an important centre of Shakti worship dedicated to the 64 Yoginis, attendants of Goddess Durga, and represents the Yogini tradition within Hinduism. It holds religious significance for devotees of Shiva and Shakti and is valued as a heritage and archaeological site illustrating medieval religious practices.