Menal Shiva Temple Chittorgarh with Amazing Sculptures
A small detour from Chittorgarh to Bundi highway takes you to Menal Shiva Temple also known by its old name Mahanaleshvara Temple. It is popularly known as the mini-Khajuraho temple. Menal Temple is a 11th century wonder definitely worth a visit. The tour of the complex can a little more than half an hour, so definitely doable.
Entrance to Menal Shiva Temple
Menal Temple History
This temple was built by the king then, Someshvar Chhahamana and his queen Suhavadevi of the Sakhambari dynasty during the 11th century A.D. The huge Shiva temple of stone is built in the ancient Hindu style with a carved pagoda and pillars. The pillars at the entrance of the temple have amazing sculptures.
In front of the main temple of Mahanala is Nandi, the bull. The enclosure built isn’t sufficient to protect it and the statue is partially damaged. The place was favorite mountain retreat of King Prithviraj Chauhan, during the scorching Rajasthan summers.
Nandi Menal Temple
Nandi partially damaged yet revered
Beehive shaped tower of Menal Shiva Temple
The temples of North India are so different from the ones in South in their architectural styles. The Nagara style of North Indian temples is characterized by a beehive shaped tower called a shikhara made up of layer upon layer of architectural elements. The South Indian temples have a pyramid shaped tower, you can see one here.
Sculpted images on facade
The main temple is preserved well, though the smaller ones around the main temple are crumbling down slowly. This one is credited to the King, while the one across the river is credited to the queen. The carved deities on the walls, images of Shiva and Parvati and other angelic forms have been repaired. Yet it seemed like they were fighting out the wear and tear of time’s deteriorating grip.
Location of Menal Temple Rajasthan
It was purely by chance that we visited the temple. We were on our road trip of Rajasthan in the month of September 2008; the Lonely Planet guide of Rajasthan had a mention of this Menal Temple. We were lucky to find the temple open, but there were hardly any tourists around. Menal Temple is at a distance of 90kms from Chittorgarh and 40kms from Bhilwara.
Best Time to Visit Menal Shiva Temple Chittorgarh
Best time to visit Menal Temple would be during Shivaratri festival when the place becomes very lively. It is in the month of February.
The temple is open from 7AM to 6PM everyday. however if you are visiting on festival and public holidays please do check the timings of the temple.
Hotels to Stay in Chittorgarh
Looking for best hotels in Chittorgarh near Menal Shiva Temple? Many options are available to book hotels near Menal Shiva Temple. Some famous hotels are Lake Nahargarh Palace, Fort Begu, Castle Bijaipur, CK Hotels and many more are available near Menal Shiva Temple.
All mentioned hotels are available on leading online travel website of Goibibo, Makemytrip, Tripadvisor, Expedia, Hotelsdotcom and many more. You can get the coupon code at CouponzGuru to avail the extra discount using coupon.
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(This post was first published on 16 March 2009.)
What a beautiful search made by me 🙂 . I was searching places to visit in and around Bundi as I am going t visit this February and I found your post Indrani ji . Thank you for sharing , it become very beneficial fr me .
Nice info and photos; another interesting place to visit, it seems 🙂
Very informative and beautiful photos..
Great photos as well as the history behind the place. Wonderful post!
Beautiful pictures. Chittorgarh is amazing. Totally love it for its history.
Beautiful architecture! 🙂 I feel a strong urge to visit here!
Nice pictures.Thanks for sharing.
Interesting temple. Great captures 🙂
Thanks for such a nice Post Indrani with beautiful Photographs of the Temple.. The Architecture is truly amazing!
Such beauty so much to be explored ..thanks for showing us these jewels
I see the country through your eyes! 😀
Great pix with the history!
Thanks for sharing the history… and the pictures are great as always… 🙂
wonderful post Indrani.. (Y)
Nice clicks… the temple looks like a good place to visit.
Superb captures Indu 🙂 🙂
Never heard about the temple , beautiful pics
This all is very interesting, because Your world is so different. Thank You comparing it with us.
love these temples..they have a charm around them
With all the temples you visit, we watch in ecstasy, with folded hands.
this is for Swarna – Please see this blog of Indrani (and the picture of the board declaring protected monument)
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZqcEFT6y2-o/SFtSxdEtlrI/AAAAAAAABgk/kpVEVjMDBK8/s1600-h/IMG_3003.JPG
:)))
What a beautiful area full of history!!
I just sit here and shake my head in wonder and amazement when I see pictures like this! Just stunning carving!
Very cool…I would love to come to India someday….it is one of the places I would love to visit…
Nice shots 🙂
Wonderful sculptures, for what i love temples. The 2nd pic was fantastic!
Lovely photos of this temple…beautiful window on the world…
You have the most fascinating blog posts. As always, your photos are amazing!
so enjoy your posts and learning more about india through them. always something interesting.
have a wonderful week.
erin
Wonderful images! Thanks for sharing….
The carvings on these have always amazed me. You could stare at them for hours — and that’s just in photographs! I can’t imagine how grand they must be to see in real life.
Excellent work!
I can’t quite fathom that history. It is beyond me.
(I am Erin. thanks for asking.)
Another wonderful post. I just love your pictures and the history and explanation you give. Thanks!
The architecture is so different to the one in my world! Yours feels so different and exotic. Thank you for sharing and visiting me!
Great pics, especially loved the regal serenity of the third photo.
Imagine if a gazelle would be walking behind those buildings, wouldn’t that just be toooo cool??
Love your pictures as always Indrani,
Esther
exquisite photos…
Wow, those pictures are beautiful and show a fascinating side to a wonderful culture.
CJ xx
As beautiful as ever.
Hello,
Great photos.. wonderful..
Have a nice week..
=)
wonderful ost.. thank you for the lovely tour of menal!
I loved the close ups of the reliefs. I can’t believe this is a mini temple! Also hope that it will be preserved, it would be a shame to loose something so beautiful and interesting.
One look at them, and it’s so refreshing…. Wonderful structures.
Lovely temple and I love the bull.
Is there a ‘Protected Monument’ placard at the temple? During our recent travels, we had noticed that not all ancient monuments carry this notice…
What a neat place, i showed hubby these and he was very impressed, we love old architect
those are wonderful pics…it seems you traveled the whole of Rajasthan!
Very rich history of the temple. The designs and statues show great workmanship. My post has some same designs as yours. 🙂 Happy Tuesday.
Incredible. They put modern structures to shame.
So amazing! This was built so long ago, it’s hard to even imagine. I like these smaller, more obscure places because they have an aura about them. Thanks for taking us along.
Absolutley beautiful as always.You never disappoint!
This is another fascinating post from you and your photographs captured the temple so well.
I have never seen such beauty 🙂
I’m speechless !!
I would like to look around as a tourists 😉
I am a bit jealous of you…
You always have such amazing sights to show us, thanks for sharing.
Where do you find all those wonderful and splendid buildings. They are all in such good repair.Great post as usual, Indira.
Ah.. I see now.. about a thousand years. Incredible! And beautiful.
They are amazingly well preseved, they must be old, I wonder how old.
What a wonderful visit to Your World! Marvelous photos and great information! The buildings are gorgeous! Thanks, as always for a delightful visit!
Those are fantastic photos, thanks for sharing.
Have a great week!
Guy
Regina In Pictures
Wow, wow, wow. I am trying to imagine a king and queen building together something of this magnitude. Around here husbands and wives have a hard time picking shades of white!
The architecture in India always amazes me! So much attention is given to minute details.
Your pictures are gorgeous! Thank you so much for sharing them with us 🙂
What Jedediah said!
Oh my keep on posting.