About Vishnupad Temple
Vishnupad Temple is a prominent Hindu temple in Gaya, Bihar, dedicated to Lord Vishnu, located on the banks of the Phalgu River. It is renowned for enshrining a 40 cm long footprint believed to be of Lord Vishnu incised in basalt rock. Rebuilt in 1787 by Queen Ahilyabai Holkar, the temple features Nagara-style architecture with a 30-metre shikhara, octagonal shrine and stone pillars.
Visitors guide
Visitors can expect a large stone temple complex on the Phalgu River ghat with an octagonal central shrine housing the Vishnu footprint (Dharmashila) under a silver-plated basin. The complex includes a tall shikhara, pillared halls, carved stone columns, and views of the riverbed and ghats. Priests perform rituals and pind daan ceremonies, and visitors can explore the courtyard, small shrines, and market lanes with prasad and offering shops surrounding the temple.
Key highlights
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40 cm footprint of Lord Vishnu (Dharmashila) in basalt rock inside the sanctum
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30-metre high Nagara-style shikhara with octagonal shrine
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Located on the banks of the Phalgu River with ghat access
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Rebuilt in 1787 by Ahilyabai Holkar with carved stone pillars and flagstaff
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Major centre for pind daan rituals during Pitru Paksha Mela
History of Vishnupad Temple
The present temple was constructed in 1787 by Maratha Queen Ahilyabai Holkar of Indore on the site of an older shrine. Built of large grey granite blocks with iron clamps, it exemplifies 18th-century Nagara architecture. The temple is built around the sacred footprint stone associated with Lord Vishnu and has been a major pilgrimage centre for centuries.
Culture & Context
One of the most sacred Hindu pilgrimage sites for ancestor worship, where devotees perform pind daan and shraddha rituals for salvation of ancestors, especially during the annual Pitru Paksha Mela. The footprint (Vishnupad) is revered as the mark of Lord Vishnu subduing the demon Gayasur, making Gaya a key moksha pilgrimage alongside Varanasi and Prayagraj.
Route
| By air |
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