Chausath Yogini Temple at Mitaoli: a complete guide

The Chausath Yogini Temple Mitaoli is a circular, open-courtyard hilltop shrine in Mitaoli village (also spelt Mitawali), in Morena district, Madhya Pradesh. Also called the Ekattarso Mahadeva Temple, it rings a central Shiva shrine with 64 yogini cells and is protected by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). This guide covers the design, its dating, the popular Parliament-inspiration story, and how to plan a visit from Gwalior.

The Chausath Yogini Temple at Mitaoli is an early-11th-century circular temple on a low hill in Morena district, Madhya Pradesh. Its outer ring holds 64 small shrines around a central Shiva sanctum in an open-air courtyard. It is an ASI-protected monument, best visited between October and March, and reached by road from Gwalior.

About the Chausath Yogini Temple at Mitaoli

The Chausath Yogini Temple is a circular hilltop shrine in Mitaoli village, Morena district, Madhya Pradesh, built around a central Shiva sanctum and an outer ring of 64 yogini cells. “Chausath” is Hindi for 64, and a yogini is a female attendant-deity of the goddess in the tantric tradition. The monument is also known as the Ekattarso Mahadeva Temple, a name drawn from the many shivalingas (the aniconic symbol of Shiva) found in its cells.

Mitaoli lies in the ravine country north of Gwalior, in the belt of Kachchhapaghata-era temples that also includes Padavli and Bateshwar. The village name is spelt variously as Mitaoli, Mitawali, Mitauli or Mitavali across sources; this guide uses Mitaoli for the temple and notes Mitawali as the common alternative. The site is quiet and far less visited than Gwalior Fort, despite being only a short drive away.

Below is a quick-reference table before the detail that follows. Volatile figures are dated and attributed; always reconfirm before you travel.

The circular design and the 64 yoginis

The temple is a ring of 64 small shrines enclosing an open central courtyard, with a sanctum to Shiva at its heart. According to Wikipedia, citing ASI material, the circular layout has a radius of about 170 feet (52 m) and the enclosing wall carries 65 chambers in all, apparently 64 for the yoginis and one for the goddess Devi. The courtyard is open to the sky, entered through an open porch, which places the temple in the hypaethral (roofless-courtyard) class of yogini shrines.

Yogini temples are rare. Most surviving examples in India are circular and open-air, built for the worship of groups of 64 yoginis in the early medieval period, and Mitaoli is among the best preserved. Each cell once held an image; the chambers now contain Shiva lingas rather than the original yogini figures, which is why the monument also carries the Shaiva name Ekattarso Mahadeva.

The engineering is worth a look. The Morena district site notes a covered arrangement that channels rainwater from the roofed cells into underground storage, and points out that the temple sits in Seismic Zone III and has withstood earthquakes without damage to its circular structure. That durability later featured in Indian parliamentary discussion about the safety of a round legislature building.

Dating, the inscription and the Kachchhapaghata era

The temple is dated to the 11th century and linked to the Kachchhapaghata dynasty, a regional power that ruled the Gwalior region as feudatories of the Chandelas and Pratiharas. According to Wikipedia and the Morena district administration, an inscription at the site dated 1323 CE (Vikram Samvat 1383) credits its construction to the Kachchhapaghata king Devapala, who reigned about 1055–1075.

There is a wrinkle, and sources flag it honestly. The inscription’s date of 1323 CE falls roughly 250 years after Devapala’s reign, so the engraving is much later than the king it names, as Wikipedia notes. For that reason different sources describe the temple as 10th- or 11th-century work, and the exact construction year is not settled. Where this guide gives a date, treat it as the scholarly consensus of an early-11th-century origin rather than a fixed figure.

Some writers suggest an earlier yogini temple here was later recast as a Shaiva shrine, with a Shiva linga placed in each cell. Vidya Dehejia’s standard study, Yogini Cult and Temples (1986), is among the scholarly sources cited for the site. Treat the conversion theory as informed interpretation, not documented fact; as one account notes, there are no records that prove it.

Did it inspire the Parliament building?

The claim that the Chausath Yogini Temple inspired the Indian Parliament building is popular belief, not documented fact. The resemblance is real in one respect, the circular plan, and the story is widely repeated in travel writing and exam-prep notes. But no primary record from the architects ties the two together, and reports on the subject note there is no definitive historical evidence for the connection.

The facts on the Parliament side are well established. New Delhi’s circular Parliament House (Sansad Bhavan) was designed by the British architects Sir Edwin Lutyens and Sir Herbert Baker and built in the 1920s, opening in 1927. Their design drew on a range of classical and Indian sources; the specific debt to a little-known temple in Morena is an attractive theory that circulates online rather than an attribution the record supports.

What is documented is narrower and more interesting. The temple’s survival in an earthquake-prone zone was cited in Indian parliamentary discussion about the structural safety of a round building, according to Wikipedia. So the temple did enter the Parliament conversation, but as evidence that a circular stone structure can endure, not as a proven blueprint. Enjoy the resemblance; label the inspiration story as popular belief when you repeat it.

Best time to visit the Chausath Yogini Temple Mitaoli

The best time to visit the Chausath Yogini Temple at Mitaoli is October to March, when the Gwalior-Morena region is cool and dry and the climb and open courtyard are comfortable. The site is exposed, with little shade on the hilltop, so the summer months of April to June are hot and best avoided in the middle of the day. For authoritative long-term climate averages, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) is the reference.

The monsoon (roughly July to September) greens the ravines but can make the stone steps slippery and the approach roads patchy. If you visit then, go after rain has eased and watch your footing. Mornings are the best time of day year-round, for soft light on the circular colonnade and fewer people.

How to reach Mitaoli

Mitaoli is reached by road, most easily as a day trip from Gwalior. By air, the nearest airport is Gwalior (about 30 km from the site, per the Morena district administration), which has limited scheduled flights; the larger hub is Delhi, roughly 320 km north by road or rail, from where you can continue to Gwalior. Check current flight schedules before relying on Gwalior’s airport.

By rail, Gwalior is the convenient major junction on the Delhi-Chennai (Mumbai) trunk route with frequent trains. The Morena district site notes that the small Gohad Road station is about 18 km from the temple, but services there are limited; most visitors use Gwalior or Morena stations and continue by road. Verify train names and numbers on the Indian Railways NTES or IRCTC portals before booking.

By road, the temple is about 40 km from Gwalior; the Morena district administration’s own figures give roughly 25 km from Morena town and about 55 km by road from Gwalior, and sources differ by a few kilometres depending on the route. The practical plan is to hire a car or taxi in Gwalior and club Mitaoli with the nearby Padavli and Bateshwar temples in one loop.

What to see at the site

The main sight is the circular temple itself: climb the roughly 100 steps up the hill, enter through the open porch, and walk the full ring of 64 cells around the courtyard. Each cell is a small shrine, and the central structure holds the Shiva sanctum. Allow about 45 minutes to an hour to walk the ring, read the cells, and take in the view over the fields from the hilltop edge.

A few things reward attention while you are there:

• The colonnade and cells: the uniform ring of pillared cells is the architectural point; notice the shivalingas now set in chambers that once held yogini images.
• The central shrine: the flat-roofed sanctum to Shiva at the courtyard’s centre, the focus of the Ekattarso Mahadeva name.
• The rainwater system: the covered drainage the Morena district site describes, feeding underground storage, an unusually practical feature.
• The setting: the open, elevated platform gives long views over the Morena countryside, best in the morning light.

There is no museum or interpretation centre on site, so a little background before you go, like this guide, makes the visit richer. Photography of the structure is generally fine; see the rules section below.

Suggested itinerary

A half-day covers Mitaoli comfortably from Gwalior, and a full day lets you add the neighbouring temples. Here are two simple plans using Gwalior as your base.

• Half day (temple focus): Leave Gwalior after breakfast, drive out to Mitaoli (about an hour and a half to two hours), climb to the Chausath Yogini Temple, walk the ring, and return to the city by early afternoon.
• Full day (temple circuit): Start early; take in Mitaoli first, then drive about 3 km to the Padavli temple and the adjacent Bateshwar group of restored shrines. If time allows, add the tall Kakanmath temple near Sihoniya. Return to Gwalior by evening for the fort’s sound-and-light show.

Mitaoli also slots neatly into a wider state trip. For planning across Madhya Pradesh, see our Madhya Pradesh travel guide, and pair this visit with the city’s great hill fortress using our Gwalior Fort guide.

Where to stay

There is no tourist accommodation at Mitaoli itself, so base yourself in Gwalior, which has the full range of options about 40 km away. Morena town has basic lodging if you need to stay closer, but Gwalior is more comfortable and better connected. Book ahead over winter weekends, the peak season.

• Budget (₹800–₹1,800 a night, indicative): simple hotels and guesthouses in Gwalior near the station and Lashkar area.
• Mid-range (₹2,500–₹5,000 a night, indicative): business and heritage-style hotels with air-conditioning and in-house dining.
• Luxury (₹7,000 and up, indicative): heritage and premium hotels in Gwalior, including palace-style properties.

These bands are planning estimates as of October 2026 and vary with season and demand; reconfirm rates and availability directly with the property. Madhya Pradesh Tourism also runs hotels in Gwalior that are worth checking for a reliable mid-range stay.

Budget breakdown

A visit to the Chausath Yogini Temple is inexpensive on the ground, with the main cost being the car or taxi from Gwalior. The table below is a per-person planning estimate for a day trip from Gwalior, assuming a shared taxi and economy choices, and excluding your long-distance travel to Gwalior.

Assumptions: a day trip from a Gwalior base, shared transport, off-peak rates. A private taxi for the Mitaoli-Padavli-Bateshwar loop costs more; agree the fare before you set off.

Entry, permits and rules

No special travel permit is required to visit the Chausath Yogini Temple at Mitaoli; it is an open ASI-protected monument in the Indian interior, not a restricted border or reserve zone. An official entry fee and fixed timings could not be confirmed from a primary source this session, so treat the site as generally accessible during daylight hours and reconfirm any ticket or timing at the gate or with the ASI.

• It is a protected monument and a living Shiva shrine; dress and behave respectfully, and remove footwear if asked at the sanctum.
• Do not touch or climb on carvings, and carry out all litter; single-use plastic should be avoided, in line with the state’s eco rules.
• Still photography of the structure is generally allowed at ASI sites; tripods, professional shoots or drones may need prior ASI permission, so ask before flying anything.
• Follow any instruction from the site caretaker, and do not remove stones or fragments, which is an offence at a protected monument.

Because fees, timings and photography rules at ASI monuments do change, confirm the current position with the Archaeological Survey of India before you rely on it.

Practical tips

A few practical points make the trip smoother. The site is rural and exposed, so plan for self-sufficiency. Carry water, sun protection and cash, as there are few facilities on the hill and card or UPI acceptance cannot be assumed at a remote monument. Fuel up and use ATMs in Gwalior or Morena before you set out.

• Transport: hire a car in Gwalior for the day; public transport to Mitaoli is sparse and awkward for a short visit.
• Health and safety: the climb is about 100 steps and short but can be hot; pace yourself in summer. The nearest full hospitals are in Gwalior.
• Network and cash: mobile coverage can be patchy in the ravine country; download maps offline and carry small notes.
• Solo and women travellers: the site is quiet and can feel isolated; prefer daytime visits, ideally with a driver who knows the route, and tell someone your plan.
• Packing by season: sun hat and water in summer; a light layer for winter mornings; grippy footwear for the steps in the monsoon.

Nearby places

Mitaoli sits within a cluster of Kachchhapaghata-era monuments, which is why it is best visited as part of a short temple circuit rather than alone. The table below lists the main options with approximate distances; figures vary by route, so confirm on a live map.

With a full day and a car you can see Mitaoli, Padavli and Bateshwar in one loop and still return to the city for the evening. Our Gwalior Fort guide covers the region’s headline monument, and the wider Madhya Pradesh travel guide helps you string these stops into a longer trip.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the Chausath Yogini Temple at Mitaoli?

The Chausath Yogini Temple is at Mitaoli (also spelt Mitawali) village in Morena district, Madhya Pradesh, about 40 km from Gwalior. The Morena district administration gives roughly 25 km from Morena town and about 55 km by road from Gwalior. It stands on an isolated hill reached by around 100 steps, and is best reached by car from Gwalior.

Why is it called the Chausath Yogini or Ekattarso Mahadeva Temple?

“Chausath” means 64 in Hindi, for the 64 yogini cells that ring the temple’s open courtyard; a yogini is a female attendant-deity of the goddess. It is also called the Ekattarso Mahadeva Temple because its cells now hold many shivalingas, giving it a Shaiva identity centred on the Shiva shrine at the courtyard’s heart.

Did the Chausath Yogini Temple inspire the Indian Parliament building?

This is popular belief, not documented fact. The temple and New Delhi’s circular Parliament House (Sansad Bhavan) share a round plan, which fuels the story, but no primary record ties them together. The Parliament building was designed by Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker and built in the 1920s; reports note there is no definitive historical evidence for the link.

How old is the temple and who built it?

The temple is dated to the 11th century. An inscription dated 1323 CE (Vikram Samvat 1383) credits the Kachchhapaghata king Devapala, who reigned about 1055–1075, according to Wikipedia and the Morena district site. The inscription is roughly 250 years later than that reign, so the exact construction year is not settled, but an early-11th-century origin is the usual view.

Is there an entry fee and what are the timings?

An official entry fee and fixed timings for the Chausath Yogini Temple could not be confirmed from a primary source this session. It is an open ASI-protected monument, generally accessible during daylight hours. Reconfirm any ticket, timing and photography rules with the Archaeological Survey of India or at the gate before you travel, as these do change.

What is the best time to visit Mitaoli?

The best time to visit Mitaoli is October to March, when the Gwalior-Morena region is cool and dry and the exposed hilltop is comfortable. Summer (April–June) is hot with strong sun, and the monsoon (July–September) can make the steps slippery. Mornings give the best light on the circular colonnade and the fewest crowds year-round.

Last updated and sources

Mitaoli suits anyone drawn to temple architecture, quiet heritage sites and the Gwalior region’s medieval monuments; go between October and March and start early. Always reconfirm fees, timings and photography rules with the ASI, and check road status and train services close to your travel date.

Last updated: 14 October 2026. Fees, timings and permits change — reconfirm with official sources before you travel.

Sources: Morena district administration — Mitawali (Chausath Yogini Temple); Wikipedia — Chausath Yogini Temple, Mitaoli; Incredible India — Bateshwar, Morena; Outlook Traveller — Chausath Yogini; 30Stades — Chausath Yogini and the Parliament design claim; India Meteorological Department (climate reference). Accessed October 2026.