ॐ
Maa Bambleshwari Temple, Dongargarh
Maa Bambleshwari (Durga) · Dongargarh, Chhattisgarh
॥ ॐ दुं दुर्गायै नमः ॥
The Maa Bambleshwari Temple at Dongargarh in Chhattisgarh crowns a hill rising sharply above the town, the most famous goddess shrine of the state. The Mother is worshipped here as Bambleshwari, a form of Durga, on a summit reached by a long stairway or a ropeway, with a second shrine — Chhoti Bambleshwari — at the foot of the hill.
The goddess on the high hill
Bambleshwari Devi sits at the top of a steep hill some five hundred feet above Dongargarh, her hilltop sanctum (Badi Bambleshwari) visible for miles across the plain. A second temple at the base, the Chhoti Bambleshwari, is the lower seat of the goddess, and pilgrims commonly worship at both.
A climb of a thousand steps
The summit shrine is reached by a stairway of more than a thousand steps winding up the rock, an ascent that is itself part of the pilgrimage; a ropeway now also carries visitors to the top. From the summit the whole of Dongargarh and the surrounding country spreads out below.
Navaratri at Dongargarh
Twice a year at Navaratri the hill becomes one of the great pilgrimage gatherings of central India, when lakhs of devotees climb to the goddess and a fair fills the town. The shrine is the pride of Dongargarh and the foremost Shakti centre of Chhattisgarh.
How to reach Dongargarh
- By road: Dongargarh is about 100 km from Raipur and 35 km from Rajnandgaon in Chhattisgarh.
- By train: Dongargarh is a station on the Mumbai–Howrah main line, well connected.
- By air: Raipur’s Swami Vivekananda Airport is the nearest, about 100 km away.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Maa Bambleshwari?
Maa Bambleshwari is the goddess Durga worshipped at Dongargarh, with a hilltop shrine (Badi Bambleshwari) some five hundred feet up and a lower shrine (Chhoti Bambleshwari) at the foot of the hill.
How do I reach the hilltop shrine?
The summit is reached by a stairway of more than a thousand steps, or by a ropeway that now carries pilgrims to the top.
What is the difference between Badi and Chhoti Bambleshwari?
Badi Bambleshwari is the main hilltop temple at the summit, while Chhoti Bambleshwari is the lower shrine at the base of the hill; pilgrims commonly worship at both.
When is the temple busiest?
Navaratri, observed twice a year, draws lakhs of pilgrims to the hill, making it one of the great pilgrimage gatherings of central India.
How do I reach Dongargarh?
Dongargarh is about 100 km from Raipur and 35 km from Rajnandgaon, and is a station on the Mumbai–Howrah main line. Raipur airport is about 100 km away.
Is there a ropeway at Dongargarh?
Yes — a ropeway carries pilgrims to the hilltop shrine, alongside the traditional stairway of over a thousand steps.
॥ जय माता दी ॥ • Bhaktiras.net Temple Guide
| Deity | Maa Bambleshwari (a form of Durga) |
| Setting | Hilltop ~500 ft above Dongargarh; Chhoti shrine at the base |
| Access | Over 1,000 steps or a ropeway |
| Significance | Foremost Shakti centre of Chhattisgarh |
| Railway | Dongargarh, on the Mumbai–Howrah line |
| Main Festival | Navaratri (twice yearly) |