Teli Ka Mandir

Teli Ka Mandir is a 9th-century Hindu temple located inside Gwalior Fort in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh. Standing about 30 metres tall, it is the tallest structure within the fort complex. Built during the Gurjara-Pratihara period, it is notable for its unusual blend of South Indian Dravidian vimana-style shikhara with North Indian Nagara decoration and intricate sculptures. Dedicated to Vishnu and later associated with Shiva, it is an important example of early medieval temple architecture.

Visitors can expect a towering stone temple inside the Gwalior Fort complex set on elevated rocky terrain. The temple features a distinctive Dravidian-style barrel-vaulted shikhara, ornate exterior carvings of deities, river goddesses, and geometric motifs, and a sanctum with a doorway richly decorated with sculptures. The surroundings include fort walls, open courtyards, and views over Gwalior city. Visitors can explore the exterior, photograph the architecture, and view sculptural details up close.

Teli Ka Mandir was built in the 8th-9th century during the reign of the Gurjara-Pratihara dynasty, attributed to Emperor Mihira Bhoja. It is one of the oldest temples in the Gwalior Fort complex and represents an early experiment combining South Indian Dravidian and North Indian Nagara architectural styles. The temple survived multiple periods of fort occupation and restoration and is protected as a monument of national importance by the Archaeological Survey of India.

The temple is a significant example of early medieval Hindu temple architecture, originally dedicated to Vishnu and later associated with Shiva, with iconography including Garuda and river goddesses. Its name is traditionally linked to oil merchants (Teli) who funded its construction or maintenance. It reflects the religious and artistic traditions of central India and remains an important cultural landmark within Gwalior Fort.