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Baroli Temples, Chittorgarh
Shiva (Ghateshwar) · Chittorgarh, Rajasthan
॥ ॐ नमः शिवाय ॥
The Baroli Temples near Rawatbhata in Chittorgarh district are among the oldest temple groups of Rajasthan, a cluster of 9th–10th century shrines built in the Pratihara age in the Chambal valley. The chief among them, the Ghateshwar Mahadev temple of Shiva, is admired for sculpture of exceptional grace, and the group remains a quiet treasure of early Nagara art.
A Pratihara temple group
Built under the Gurjara-Pratihara rulers in the 9th and 10th centuries, the eight or so temples of Baroli (Badoli) are among the earliest surviving stone temples of Rajasthan. Set in the Chambal country near Rawatbhata, the group is dedicated mostly to Shiva, with shrines also to other deities, in the early Nagara manner of carved tower and pillared porch.
The Ghateshwar Mahadev
The finest of the group is the Ghateshwar Mahadev temple, its walls carved with figures of gods, dancers and celestial beings of great delicacy, and a graceful pillared mandapa before the Shiva sanctum. The sculpture of Baroli — a dancing Shiva, river-goddesses and amorous couples — ranks among the loveliest of early medieval Rajasthan.
In the Chambal valley
The temples stand in the wooded ravine country near the Chambal, a setting of quiet beauty far from the great forts of Mewar. Long neglected and once robbed of some of its sculpture, the group is now protected as a monument of national importance, visited by those who seek out the early art of Rajasthan, with worship continuing at the Shiva shrine.
How to reach the temples
- By road: Baroli is near Rawatbhata, about 50 km from Kota and 60 km from Chittorgarh.
- By train: Kota and Chittorgarh are the nearer railheads.
- By air: Udaipur and Jaipur are the nearest airports.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Baroli Temples?
They are a group of 9th–10th-century Pratihara-era temples near Rawatbhata in Chittorgarh district, among the oldest temple groups of Rajasthan, dedicated mostly to Shiva.
Which is the main temple?
The Ghateshwar Mahadev temple of Shiva is the finest, admired for sculpture of exceptional grace and a pillared mandapa before the sanctum.
How old are the temples?
They date to the 9th and 10th centuries, built under the Gurjara-Pratihara rulers in the early Nagara style.
Where are the Baroli Temples?
They are near Rawatbhata in the Chambal valley, about 50 km from Kota and 60 km from Chittorgarh in Rajasthan.
Is the temple still worshipped?
Yes — worship continues at the Shiva shrine, while the group is protected as a monument of national importance.
How do I reach Baroli?
It is near Rawatbhata; Kota and Chittorgarh are the nearer railheads, and Udaipur and Jaipur the nearest airports.
॥ हर हर महादेव ॥ • Bhaktiras.net Temple Guide
| Deity | Shiva (Ghateshwar Mahadev), with others |
| Significance | Among the oldest temple groups of Rajasthan |
| Period | 9th–10th c, Gurjara-Pratihara |
| Style | Early Nagara, fine sculpture |
| River | Chambal |
| Nearby | Rawatbhata, Kota |