Bhand Devra Temple, Ramgarh
Shiva temple · Ramgarh, Baran, Rajasthan, India
Bhand Devra (also written Bhand Deva or Bhand Devara) is a Shiva temple near Ramgarh village in Baran district, in south-eastern Rajasthan. It stands beside a lake inside the Ramgarh crater, a meteorite impact crater about 3.5 km across, according to the Government Museum, Baran.
The temple is often called 'Little Khajuraho' or 'Mini Khajuraho' because its style and sculpture recall the temples of Khajuraho. It appears in the list of state-protected monuments of Rajasthan as 'Shiv temple or Bhand Devara, Ramgarh' (S-RJ-33).
Faith & Tradition
Religious Significance of Bhand Devra Temple, Ramgarh
The temple is dedicated to Shiva. The Government Museum at Baran says it belongs to the tantric tradition of Shaiva worship and that many of the sculptures inside are of Bhairava, a fierce form of Shiva. Wikipedia also describes the main temple as Shaiva and tantric in character.
The setting is unusual. Outlook Traveller notes that the Ramgarh crater is one of only three confirmed impact craters in India, alongside Lonar in Maharashtra and Dhala in Madhya Pradesh, and calls it India's first notified geo-heritage site. The museum describes the crater as of world importance.
Higher up Ramgarh hill are two cave shrines of the goddesses Kisnai and Annapurna, reached by a flight of stairs. Wikipedia records that a fair is held at Kartik Purnima to worship the two goddesses.
Heritage
History of Bhand Devra Temple, Ramgarh
The museum dates the temple to the tenth century. Wikipedia quotes an inscription on a plaque at the site which says the main Shiva temple was built in the 10th century by Raja Malaya Verma of the Naga dynasty of Malwa, as a memorial to his victory over his enemies and a tribute to Shiva. According to the same plaque, Raja Trisna Verma of the Meda dynasty renovated the temple in 1162 CE.
Wikipedia also states that the stairway to the hilltop cave shrines is said to have been built by Jhala Zalim Singh, regent of Jhalawar State in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Some sculptures from the temple are now displayed at the Government Museum in Baran, which is run by the Rajasthan Department of Archaeology and Museums.
Today the site is protected by the Government of Rajasthan. Wikipedia lists it among monuments protected by the state archaeology department, and the state-protected list, which is based on the Archaeological Survey of India's state-wise listing, gives it the number S-RJ-33.
Architecture and sacred features
Wikipedia describes the main temple as an example of the Nagara style, made up of a base, an assembly hall (mandapa), a vestibule and a spire. The hall rests on eight large pillars carved with yakshas, kinnaras, gods and goddesses, apsaras and amorous couples, the carvings that led to the comparison with Khajuraho. Outlook Traveller likewise describes Nagara-style architecture resembling Khajuraho.
Plan Your Visit
Darshan and Visitor Information
Bhand Devra is a protected monument in a rural setting, so do not climb on the structure, touch or remove carvings, or leave litter around the crater lake. Outlook Traveller suggests October to March as the best time to visit. Confirm current access, opening hours and any fair-day arrangements with the Rajasthan Department of Archaeology and Museums or the Baran district administration before travelling.
Timings and arrangements change with seasons and festivals. Confirm current details with Protected by the Government of Rajasthan (state archaeology department) before travelling. Last reviewed 1 November 2026.
Sacred Calendar
Festivals at Bhand Devra Temple, Ramgarh
Kartik Purnima fair
A fair held on the full-moon day of Kartika at which devotees worship the goddesses Kisnai and Annapurna in the cave shrines above the temple, according to Wikipedia.
Location
How to Reach Bhand Devra Temple, Ramgarh
The temple is about 40 km from Baran city, according to Wikipedia and the Government Museum, Baran; Outlook Traveller places the crater about 44 km from Baran and says it is reached by road. Outlook Traveller also reports that the state government has approved a development project for the crater, including access roads, trails, an information centre and a ropeway to the temple, so access arrangements may change.
Location: Ramgarh, Baran, Rajasthan, India
More in Hindu temples in Rajasthan · Shiva temples
Questions
Bhand Devra Temple, Ramgarh: Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Bhand Devra called 'Little Khajuraho'?
Its Nagara-style architecture and carved pillars, with apsaras, deities and amorous couples, resemble the sculpture of the Khajuraho temples.
Is Bhand Devra really inside a meteorite crater?
Yes. The temple stands beside a lake inside the Ramgarh crater, a meteorite impact crater about 3.5 km across, according to the Government Museum, Baran.
Who built the Bhand Devra Temple?
A plaque at the site, quoted by Wikipedia, says it was built in the 10th century by Raja Malaya Verma of the Naga dynasty and renovated in 1162 CE by Raja Trisna Verma of the Meda dynasty.
Which deity is worshipped at Bhand Devra?
The main temple is dedicated to Shiva in a tantric Shaiva tradition; many of its sculptures show Bhairava. Two cave shrines on the hill above are dedicated to the goddesses Kisnai and Annapurna.
Is Bhand Devra a protected monument?
Yes. It is protected by the Government of Rajasthan and appears in the state-protected monuments list as 'Shiv temple or Bhand Devara, Ramgarh' (S-RJ-33).
How far is Bhand Devra from Baran?
About 40 km, according to Wikipedia and the Government Museum, Baran; Outlook Traveller gives about 44 km to the crater.
Sources and attribution
- Government Museum, Baran (Rajasthan Department of Archaeology and Museums), via Museums of India — Government Museum Baran
- Wikipedia (from the ASI state-wise list of state-protected monuments) — List of State Protected Monuments in Rajasthan (S-RJ-33)
- Outlook Traveller — Ramgarh Crater In Rajasthan: All About The Rare Cosmic And Cultural Gem
- Wikipedia — Bhand Deva Temple
Further reading: Bhand Devra Temple, Ramgarh on Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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