Chaubis Khamba Temple

Overview

An ancient gateway shrine in Ujjain named after its twenty-four carved stone pillars, guarded by the twin goddesses Mahamaya and Mahalaya.

History

Chaubis Khamba, literally "twenty-four pillars", is one of Ujjain's oldest surviving structures. Tradition holds that it was once the grand entrance to Mahakal Van, the sacred forest around the Mahakaleshwar temple. The shrine dates to roughly the 9th–10th century and is linked in local lore with the age of King Vikramaditya. The guardian goddesses Mahamaya and Mahalaya, also called Badi Mata and Chhoti Mata, are carved at the doorway and worshipped by devotees as protectors of the city. Navratri, and especially the Ashtami of Shukla Paksha, draws large crowds to the shrine.

Timings

Opens

5:30 AM

Closes

7:00 PM

Location

Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh