Kalika Mata Temple, Chittorgarh Fort
Kalika Mata (an aspect of Bhadrakali; also called Chittodeshwari) temple · Chittorgarh (inside Chittorgarh Fort), Chittorgarh, Rajasthan, India
The Kalika Mata Temple stands inside Chittorgarh Fort in Rajasthan, close to the tank known as Suraj Kund. It is dedicated to the goddess Kalika, whom Wikipedia describes as an aspect of Bhadrakali, known locally as Chittodeshwari and Suryabharnini.
Several sources agree that the shrine did not begin as a goddess temple. They describe it as an early temple to Surya, the Sun god, which was damaged during the sieges of Chittor and later rebuilt and dedicated to Kalika. It is a living temple, still in religious use according to the documentation sheet prepared for the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA).
Faith & Tradition
Religious Significance of Kalika Mata Temple, Chittorgarh Fort
A history of Chittorgarh's monuments by Dr A. L. Jain, published on Chittorgarh.com, calls this the oldest temple in the fort and says it is regarded as one of the principal Shakti shrines (shakti peeths) of the Mewar region. Wikipedia notes that thousands of people visit it every day.
Wikipedia records a tradition that Maharana Lakshman Singh lit a perpetual lamp, the Akhanda Jyoti, at the temple in the 14th century; the article does not give a source for this claim. The same article says that worship here has been overseen by saints of the Shri Niranjani Akhara, a role it says was given by the Maharana, and that the temple is now managed by the Rajasthan Devasthan Vibhag (Devasthan Department).
Heritage
History of Kalika Mata Temple, Chittorgarh Fort
Accounts of the temple's early history agree in outline but differ in detail. Wikipedia dates the shrine to the 8th century and says it was a Sun temple that was partly destroyed in a sack of Chittor and rebuilt in the time of Rana Kumbha. The C.P.R. Environmental Education Centre's eco-heritage survey of Chittorgarh describes it as a fine example of Pratihara-period architecture whose original glory was largely destroyed when Alauddin Khilji attacked Chittorgarh, and credits Rana Hammir Singh with rebuilding it as the Kalika Mata Temple in the 14th century.
Dr A. L. Jain's account attributes the original construction to a ruler of the Guhila line in the 7th or 8th century. He suggests that the Sun image was broken during a later invasion and that an image of Kalika Mata was installed in its place. Because these sources name different rulers and periods, the exact sequence of destruction and rebuilding is uncertain.
The IGNCA sheet dates the present structure to the 17th century AD, which fits Wikipedia's remark that the upper part of the temple is relatively recent. The temple's origin is therefore much older than much of what visitors see today.
Architecture and sacred features
The IGNCA documentation describes a single-storey stone temple in the Nagara style, facing east, built with a trabeate (post-and-lintel) system for the main shrine. The spire (shikhara) is crowned by an amalaka, and the hall (mandapa) carries double domes topped by an inverted-lotus finial, which the sheet says show the influence of the imperial Mughal style. The temple is reached by staircases leading to a gateway with a foliated arch.
Dr A. L. Jain notes that the temple stands on a high plinth. The eco-heritage survey adds that the complex also includes a Shiva shrine known as Jogeshwar Mahadev.
Plan Your Visit
Darshan and Visitor Information
The temple is an active place of worship within a historic fort, so dress and behave as you would at any Hindu shrine and follow instructions from priests and fort staff. Crowds can be heavy at religious festivals. Confirm current darshan timings and any fort entry arrangements locally, with the temple management or the Rajasthan Devasthan Department, before you visit.
Timings and arrangements change with seasons and festivals. Confirm current details with Devasthan Department, Rajasthan (per Wikipedia) before travelling. Last reviewed 1 November 2026.
Location
How to Reach Kalika Mata Temple, Chittorgarh Fort
The temple lies inside Chittorgarh Fort, near Suraj Kund. The IGNCA sheet gives it as about 7 km from the Chittorgarh bus stand and says the area is well served by regular bus services. Confirm local transport options and the fort's entry route before travelling.
Location: Chittorgarh (inside Chittorgarh Fort), Chittorgarh, Rajasthan, India
More in Hindu temples in Rajasthan · Kalika Mata (an aspect of Bhadrakali; also called Chittodeshwari) temples · Temples in Surajpol · Temples in Chittaurgarh Tehsil · Temples in Chittorgarh District
Questions
Kalika Mata Temple, Chittorgarh Fort: Frequently Asked Questions
Which goddess is worshipped at the Kalika Mata Temple in Chittorgarh?
The temple is dedicated to Kalika Mata, described by Wikipedia as an aspect of Bhadrakali. She is also known locally as Chittodeshwari and Suryabharnini.
Was the Kalika Mata Temple originally a Sun temple?
Yes, according to several sources. Wikipedia, the CPREEC eco-heritage survey and Dr A. L. Jain all describe it as an early Sun temple that was damaged during attacks on Chittor and later dedicated to Kalika.
How old is the Kalika Mata Temple?
Its origin is usually placed in the 7th or 8th century, which would make it the oldest temple in the fort, as Dr A. L. Jain describes it. The IGNCA documentation sheet dates the present structure to the 17th century.
Who rebuilt the Kalika Mata Temple?
Sources differ. Wikipedia says it was rebuilt in the time of Rana Kumbha, while the CPREEC eco-heritage survey credits Rana Hammir Singh with rebuilding it as a Kalika temple in the 14th century.
What style of architecture is the temple?
The IGNCA sheet describes an east-facing Nagara-style stone temple with an amalaka-crowned spire and double domes on the hall that show Mughal influence.
Who manages the Kalika Mata Temple?
According to Wikipedia, the temple is managed by the Rajasthan Devasthan Department, and worship has traditionally been overseen by saints of the Shri Niranjani Akhara.
Sources and attribution
- Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (Ministry of Culture) — Documentation format for Archaeological / Heritage Sites / Monuments: Shree Kalika Mata Mandir, Chittaurgarh (RJ/CRG-138)
- C.P.R. Environmental Education Centre (Eco Heritage) — Chittorgarh
- Chittorgarh.com (Dr A. L. Jain) — चित्तौड़गढ़ & जैन धर्म – 10. चित्तौड़गढ़ दुर्ग पर दर्शनीय स्थल
- Wikipedia — Kalika Mata Temple, Chittorgarh Fort
Further reading: Kalika Mata Temple, Chittorgarh Fort on Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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