Bateshwar Temple, in Chambal is Madhya Pradesh, is the common name used to refer to a cluster of temples dedicated to Lord Shiva, Vishnu, Goddess Shakti and Ganesha.
Location of Bateshwar Temple Chambal
Temples are located 35 km north of Gwalior and 30 km east of Morena in Madhya Pradesh.
The entire temples complex is spread over 25 acres in the Chambal river valley.
- The oldest temple here is as old as 600 AD.
- Majority of the nearly 200 temples were built during the Gurjara-Pratihara dynasty.
- The temple was in ruins for a long period of time. It is believed that an earthquake during the 13th century destroyed the temples.
- Archaeological Survey of India took over the site in 1924 and restored a vast majority of the temples.
- In 2005, Bateshwar was reborn under the leadership of archaeologist K.K. Muhammad, the ASI Bhopal’s regional superintendent. By 2012, out of the 200 temples at Bateshwar, 80 have so far been restored.
- Bhuteshwar temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, is the biggest temple of the complex and the area takes its name from the temple.
- Most of the ancient Hindu sites were attacked and the murtis mutilated. At Bateshwar we can see well preserved murtis of Hindu gods and goddesses.
- The entire area was under the control of dacoits for several centuries and this is one reason why the complex did not come under the attacks of invaders.