Kalabhairava Temples in India: A State-Wise Guide with Official Links

Quick answer: The best-known Kalabhairava temples are the Shri Kaal Bhairav temple in Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh), honoured as the Kotwal of Kashi, and the Kal Bhairava temple in Ujjain (Madhya Pradesh). Notable shrines in the South include the Sri Kalabhairava kshetrapala temple at Sringeri and the Bhairava temple at Adichunchanagiri in Karnataka, the Arulmigu Kala Bairavar temple at Adhiyamankottai near Dharmapuri in Tamil Nadu, and the Sree Kalabhairava Swamy temple at Isannapally in Kamareddy district, Telangana. This guide lists only temples that a government or official temple source confirms, with that source's link. For timings and festival programmes, check the temple's official site.

Kalabhairav Jayanti falls on Tuesday 1 December 2026 in India. It is the main festival day at most of these temples. Read the Kalabhairav Jayanti 2026 guide for the date and the vrat katha for the story behind it.

At a glance

Uttar Pradesh

Shri Kaal Bhairav Temple, Varanasi

The Kaal Bhairav temple stands in the old city of Varanasi. The Kashi Official Web Portal describes Kaal Bhairav as the Kotwal (guardian) of Kashi, believed to protect the city. It says the temple is mentioned in ancient scriptures such as the Skanda Purana, and that the deity is worshipped as a silver-faced image. Devotees tie the Bhairav Raksha Sutra, a protective thread, and Tuesdays and Sundays are considered especially auspicious.

The temple's place in the city comes from the story in the Kashi Khanda of the Skanda Purana. Brahma's skull fell from Bhairava's hand in Kashi, at Kapalamochana, and Shiva made Bhairava the city's guardian. Many pilgrims visit Kaal Bhairav along with Kashi Vishwanath. For the legend and the temple's traditions in depth, read the Kalabhairava temple, guardian of Kashi.

Official link: kashi.gov.in, Shri Kaal Bhairav Temple. Check the portal for darshan timings before you go.

Madhya Pradesh

Kal Bhairava Temple, Ujjain

Ujjain district's official page says the Kal Bhairava temple is believed to have been built by King Bhadrasen on the banks of the Shipra. It notes a mention of a Kal Bhairava temple in the Avanti Khanda of the Skanda Purana. Kal Bhairava is described as the chief of the eight Bhairavas. The page links his worship to the Kapalika and Aghora traditions, which were once prominent in Ujjain, and records that liquor is still offered as part of the ritual. Traces of Malwa-style paintings that once covered the walls can still be seen.

Ujjain is also home to the Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga, and many pilgrims visit both.

Official link: ujjain.nic.in, Kal Bhairava. Check the temple's official site for timings.

Karnataka

Sri Kalabhairava Temple, Sringeri

The Sringeri Sharada Peetham describes its Kalabhairava temple as the shrine of the kshetrapala, the guardian deity, to the east of Sringeri, consecrated by Sri Shankara. The small idol has a prabhavali (arch) and holds a sword, damaru (drum), trident and a head in his four hands, with his dog behind him. The present shrine, with a gopuram, was built in recent times. The Peetham's page says that on Kalabhairavashtami, the Margashirsha Krishna Ashtami, a special abhisheka and puja is performed in the morning and a Deepotsava (festival of lamps) is held in the evening.

Official link: sringeri.net, Sri Kalabhairava. Check the Peetham's site for this year's programme and sevas.

Bhairava temple, Adichunchanagiri, Mandya district

Mandya district's tourism page describes Adichunchanagiri as a pilgrim centre about 20 km north of Nagamangala. It is the seat of the Mahasamsthana Matha, one of the two Gurupeethas of the Vokkaliga community. The Matha has a Siddha seat and ancient temples of Chandramouleshwara, Annapurneshwari and Bhairava. Inscriptions name the place Chunchanakote (1205 CE) and Chunchanahalli (1484 CE), and the hill is also a peacock sanctuary.

Official link: mandya.nic.in, district tourism places. For darshan timings and festivals, check with the Matha.

Tamil Nadu

Arulmigu Kala Bairavar Temple, Adhiyamankottai, Dharmapuri district

In Tamil Nadu, Bhairava is usually called Bairavar or Vairavar. Many Shiva temples there have a Bairavar shrine. The state's Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) department lists the Arulmigu Kala Bairavar Temple at Adhiyamankottai, Dharmapuri district, on its official temple portal. Dharmapuri district's official page lists the Kala Bairavar temple among its holy places and gives its distance as 7 km from Dharmapuri bus stand.

HR&CE also lists other Bairavar temples. Two examples are the Arulmigu Kalabairavar Temple at Pudhumandapam in Madurai and the Arulmigu Chorna Kalabairavar Temple at Vairavapuram in Tiruvannamalai district.

Official links: HR&CE temple page and dharmapuri.nic.in, holy places. Check the HR&CE page for timings and sevas.

Telangana

Sree Kalabhairava Swamy Temple, Isannapally, Kamareddy district

Kamareddy district's official page lists the Sree Kalabhairava Swamy temple in Isannapally village, Ramareddy mandal. It says the Kalabhairava Swamy Jayanti is celebrated there on Karthika Bahula Ashtami, the Telugu (amanta) name for Kalabhairav Jayanti, and that devotees come from all over Telangana for it. The temple is about 750 metres from the Ramareddy bus stand, and Kamareddy is the nearest city, with road and rail links.

Official link: kamareddy.telangana.gov.in, Sree Kalabhairava Swamy Temple. Check that page and the temple office for current darshan and seva details.

Many Shiva temples in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh also have a Bhairava shrine of their own, and devotees often stop there before leaving the temple.

Andhra Pradesh

Bhairavakona, Nallamala hills

Bhairavakona is not a Kalabhairava temple in the usual sense. The official district page describes it as a holy place in the heart of the Nallamala hills, with an ancient Shiva temple, eight temples carved into the hill and a waterfall about 200 metres high. It explains the name: the place has the temple of Sri Trimukha Durgamba with the Sri Barguleshwari Swamy temple, and Bala Bhairava Swamy guards the location. It also notes that moonlight falls on the idol of Goddess Parvati there on Kartika Purnima. The site is about 15 km from Seetharamapuram, which buses from Udayagiri serve.

Official link: markapuram.ap.gov.in, Adventures. Check locally before you travel, as the site is remote.

Maharashtra

Kalbhairav Temple, Harihareshwar, Raigad district

In Maharashtra, Bhairava is loved as Bhairoba or Bhairavnath, a guardian of many villages. Raigad district's official page lists the Kalbhairav temple among the temples near the Harihareshwar temple at Shrivardhan. Harihareshwar was the family deity of the Peshwas, and the page says they renovated the temple complex in 1723 CE.

Official link: raigad.gov.in, religious places in Raigad. Check with the temple for timings.

Visiting on Kalabhairav Jayanti

• Expect the largest crowds of the year on the Jayanti and on Sundays and Tuesdays at the major temples. Plan for queues and keep water with you.
• Offerings differ between temples. Some accept liquor as a traditional offering (Ujjain's official page notes this), and many do not. Follow the temple's own rules.
• Bring sesame or mustard oil for a lamp only where the temple allows lamps. Many temples have a set place for them.
• Don't rely on old timings from blogs. Check the temple's official site or call the temple office through the number on its official page.
• If you cannot travel, the vrat at home is complete in itself. See how to pray to Lord Kalabhairava and the Kalabhairava Ashtakam with meaning.

Frequently asked questions

Which is the most famous Kalabhairava temple in India?

The Shri Kaal Bhairav temple in Varanasi, where Bhairava is honoured as the Kotwal (guardian) of Kashi, is the best known. The Kal Bhairava temple in Ujjain is the other major centre.

Is there a Kalabhairava temple in Telangana?

Yes. The Sree Kalabhairava Swamy temple at Isannapally, Ramareddy mandal, Kamareddy district, is listed by the district administration. It celebrates the Jayanti on Karthika Bahula Ashtami.

Which Kalabhairava temples are in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu?

In Karnataka, the Sri Kalabhairava (kshetrapala) temple at Sringeri and the Bhairava temple at Adichunchanagiri in Mandya district. In Tamil Nadu, the Arulmigu Kala Bairavar temple at Adhiyamankottai, Dharmapuri district, administered by the HR&CE department.

What are the temple timings on Kalabhairav Jayanti?

Timings change on festival days, so we do not print them. Check each temple's official site, linked above, close to the day.

Why does almost every Shiva temple have a Bhairava shrine?

Bhairava is the kshetrapala, the guardian of the sacred place. Many temples, especially in the South, keep his shrine near the exit, and devotees pray there before leaving.

Sources

Sources: Kashi Official Web Portal (kashi.gov.in); District Ujjain, Government of Madhya Pradesh (ujjain.nic.in); Sringeri Sharada Peetham (sringeri.net); District Mandya, Government of Karnataka (mandya.nic.in); Tamil Nadu HR&CE (hrce.tn.gov.in); District Dharmapuri, Government of Tamil Nadu (dharmapuri.nic.in); District Kamareddy, Government of Telangana (kamareddy.telangana.gov.in); District Markapuram, Government of Andhra Pradesh (markapuram.ap.gov.in); District Raigad, Government of Maharashtra (raigad.gov.in); Skanda Purana, Kashi Khanda, Purvardha, chapter 31, tr. G. V. Tagare (wisdomlib.org). The Jayanti date comes from Drik Panchang via our main guide.