Interesting Bhojpur Temple Facts – Guide to Bhojeshwar Temple

If you travel about 28 kilometers from the city of Bhopal, the capital of the central state of India, Madhya Pradesh, you reach the sleepy village of Bhojpur. Towering over the village, built on an elevated mound, stands a massive 11th-century temple, the Bhojeshwar temple or Bhojpur Temple. The temple is also referred to as the Bhojpur Shiva temple.

The temple is a Shiva temple, and though lesser-known, the temple is no less important as the Shiva temple in Somnath or the one in Gokarna. It has been declared a protected monument by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), and the Shiva Linga of the temple is said to be one of the largest Shiva Lingas in India. The temple fascinates not only with its massive proportions and architecture, but the Bhojpur temple facts and myths are really captivating. Read on to know more about the Bhojpur Temple, its history and architecture, and of course the fascinating Bhojpur temple facts.

Bhojpur Temple Facts – Guide to Bhojeshwar Temple, Bhojpur

There are some amazing Bhojpur temple facts that make the Bhojeshwar Shiva temple a very important and must-visit monument in Madhya Pradesh, India.

Interesting Bhojpur Temple Facts

The Bhojeshwara temple is an important Shiva temple and its enigma can be understood by these Bhojpur Temple Facts listed below:

• The Bhojeshwara Temple has a rectilinear roof and there is no Shikhara
• It is believed that the temple could have been a funerary monument to Raja Bhoja’s father or uncle
• It is believed that at some stage during construction the roof had collapsed and the Bhojpur Shivling damaged
• The Bhojpur Shiva temple is an incomplete temple, construction was never completed owing to unknown reasons
• The Shiv Ling in the temple was damaged during construction but in spite of that the worship of the deity continues
• The Bhojeshwar temple is an important Shiva temple having one of the largest Shiv Lings in India
• Architectural drawings and plans can be found engraved in rocks near the temple
• A large sloping ramp measuring 300 feet in length and sloping upwards to a height of about 40 feet led up to the temple from the nearby quarries and this was used to carry the stone slabs, remains of this ramp can be seen by the side of the southern wall of the temple
• The signs of over 1300 masons or workers in the form of script and symbols like conch, trident, wheel etc., are found engraved on the temple and in the vicinity, these were identification marks to determine the work done by each individual, these signs still exist as the temple was never finished
• A 12-tonne pillar of matching stone was added in the temple to strengthen the structure in 2006-07 by the ASI team led by Padmashri K.K.Muhammed
• In a remarkable demonstration of ingenuity, the ceiling which saw the percolation of rainwater was sealed with a fibreglass architectural component that blended harmoniously with the original work
• It is interesting to note that the Bhojeshwar temple construction took place around the same time when the famous Thanjavur temple of Brihadishwara was constructed
• Had the temple been completed as envisaged by Raja Bhoj in the 11th century, it would have been one of the biggest Shiva temple complexes in India
• As per Agama Shastras the incomplete temple with a damaged deity should not have been used for worship, however, owing to its massive dimensions worship and cultural programmes take place at the temple
• Maha Shivratri at Bhojeshwar Temple is celebrated on a grand scale with the Bhojpur Utsav, a cultural festival being organized by the Government of Madhya Pradesh that has seen performances by the likes of Kailash Kher and Sonu Nigam in the past

We are sure that these Bhojpur Temple Facts have piqued your interest. Read on to know about our visit to this ancient temple, its history, architecture, and of course practical information that would serve as a guide to Bhojeshwar temple.

Visiting The Bhojeshwar Temple

It was another stroke of serendipity, that saw us making our way up a steeply inclined road that lead towards the Bhojpur Shiva Temple. Shops selling things from trinkets to tea lined the side of the road. A colourful melange of flowers, fruits, and other divine offerings being sold by vendors grabbed our attention as we neared an iron gate that provided entry into the Bhojpur temple.

From a distance, the temple has the appearance of a massive rectangular block of stone and does give a feeling of incompleteness. This fact is borne out when you learn that the Bhojeshwar Shiva Temple is an Unfinished masterpiece.

“The temple was constructed by Raja Bhoj in the year 1010, and at that same time temple construction activity was going on at Brihadishwara Temple in Tanjore”, explained the celebrated archaeologist Padmashri K.K.Muhammad. He was accompanying us on our exploration of the heritage of Madhya Pradesh under the aegis of the Times Passion Trails. We were fortunate to be visiting the famous Shiva temple with the man who led the team that restored the very temple in 2006-07.

The temple was apparently an ambitious project ahead of its time that was conceived by Raja Bhoj. Padmashri K.K.Muhammed explained that probably some error of calculation led to one of the last stones being laid on the ceiling falling on the Shiv Ling and damaging it. But owing to the massive size of the temple, ritual worship went on in the temple.

The temple itself stands on a huge platform reached by climbing a steep flight of steps. You feel dwarfed as you stand in front of the huge temple.

Conspicuously there is no Mandapa connecting to the Garba Griha or Sanctum Sanctorum. One enters directly into the Garba Griha from a flight of steps. The rays of the setting sun strike the massive Shivling inside the sanctum which is in semi-darkness and it is a sight to behold with its massive flanks.

History of Bhojeshwar Temple / Shiv Mandir Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh

The Bhojeshwar temple dedicated to Shiva or Bhojeśvara was built by Raja Bhoj of the Paramara dynasty that ruled the region of Malwa during that period during the 11th century. Raja Bhoj is believed to have been a great patron of art and architecture and the temple that he had commissioned had been envisaged as a massive temple complex, but sadly the temple was never completed.

“The temple was constructed by Raja Bhoj in the year 1010, and at that same time temple construction activity was going on at Brihadishwara Temple in Tanjore”, explained the celebrated archaeologist Padmashri K.K.Muhammad. He was accompanying us on our exploration of the heritage of Madhya Pradesh under the aegis of the Times Passion Trails. We were fortunate to be visiting the famous Shiva temple with the man who led the team that restored the very temple in 2006-07.

The temple was apparently an ambitious project ahead of its time that was conceived by Raja Bhoj. Padmashri K.K.Muhammed explained that probably some error of calculation led to one of the last stones being laid on the ceiling falling on the Shiv Ling and damaging it.

Raja Bhoja established the city of Bhojpur and is believed to have constructed hundreds of temples, accounts say that he built 104 temples in his capital city Dhar itself. The building spree of Raja Bhoja reminds one of Jayavarman VII who is known for building many of the famous temples of Siem Reap in Cambodia.

But sadly, it is only the Bhojpur Shiva temple that stands today and can be attributed to him. However Raja Bhoja did not build temples alone, he is credited with public works including water reservoirs. Also, Raja Bhoja was not just a mere patron who encouraged art and architecture, he himself was well versed in these disciplines and is credited with the writing of a treatise of architecture and sculpture titled Samaranganasutradhara.

He (Raja Bhoja) treated the earth (Jagat) as a platform (Jagati) for erecting shrines and covered it with temples of Kedareswara, Ramesvara, Somanatha, Kala, Rudra, and other Gods, and thus Bhoja made the world worthy of its name.

Reference to Raja Bhoja in the Udaipur Prasasti

Raja Bhoj in a masterstroke of engineering had a huge reservoir extending over an area of 18.5 by 7.5 miles constructed. In an ingenious method, the surrounding hills were used as natural walls and a series of dams were built forging man-made lakes.

The Bhojpur Shiva temple stood on the banks of a man-made lake. This was so for about 400 years, when Sultan Hoshang Shah, breached the walls of two dams and had the waters of the lake emptied. The remains of a dam can still be seen towards the north of the Shiva temple. The dam over the Betwa river which was made of earth and covered with stone slabs was 98 feet in height and had a thickness of about 300 feet at the base which tapered to 164 feet towards the top.

It is believed by historians that given the colossal scale of construction of the Shiva temple, the dams, and the architectural homogeneity, these works could have been undertaken by a king who ruled over a considerable period over the region. Similiar characteristics of architecture and masonry marks are found in the Bhojpur Jain temple also and in fact, an inscription at the Bhojpur Jain temple mentions Raja Bhoja. All these facts together point towards Raja Bhoja establishing Bhojpur and carrying on his construction activity with zeal in the region.

Bhojpur Temple Facts – Architecture

The architectural elegance of Bhojpur Shiva temple comes across in spite of the fact that it is left unfinished and with bare external walls. One can only imagine how the temple would have looked, had the ambitious plans of Raja Bhoja seen the light of day.

The architectural design of the Bhojpur Shiva temple has been a conundrum compounded by the fact of it being incomplete. It is a west facing temple built on a huge platform or Jagati with dimensions of 115 feet length, 82 feet width, and a height of 13 feet. The temple is placed towards the rear of the platform leaving a large space in front. The temple is devoid of porches or Mandapas and consists of only the Sanctum which is about 65 feet square. A huge doorway with a height of 33 feet leads directly into the sanctum. Though the sanctum itself is large, the huge Shivling makes the place look congested.

The door frame has carved figures of Apsaras and river Goddesses, but the otherwise bare frames bear witness to the fact that probably carved panels were waiting to be fitted which could not be done as construction stopped.

Inside the sanctum, the Shivling dominates the space. at over 26 feet height it is one of the largest Shivlings in the country. There are four gigantic pillars inside the sanctum. A pillar that was missing was added by the ASI team lead by Padmashri K.K.Muhammed in 2006-07 as part of the restoration of the temple. It is interesting to note that that the pillar was carved from a single stone and every care was taken that it was close to the original. The 12-tonne pillar took about 6 months to install. One can only wonder how the other pillars that are estimated to weigh over 33 tonnes were erected during the 11th century!

The ceiling of the sanctum is ornamented while the three walls are bare.

The only ornamentation is in the form of false balconies supported by brackets on the northern, eastern, and southern walls.

The absence of a Shikhara and the flat roof has led to the belief that that temple was a funerary temple. Even though the temple is incomplete, the rectilinear top indicates that the exterior of the roof would have been a low, pyramidical structure.

Bhojpur Temple Video

How To Reach Bhojpur Madhya Pradesh

• Bhojpur is located near the capital of the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, Bhopal
• Bhopal to Bhojpur distance by road is about 28 kilometres
• Bhopal is served by the Raja Bhoj Airport which is about 38 kilometres from the Bhojeshwar temple
• Bhopal is well connected by rail, road, and air to other parts of the country

Bhopal to Bhojpur Route Map

Are you thinking of visiting the Bhojpur after reading about the intriguing Bhojpur temple facts? you can book your flight to Bhopal right here through TripAdvisor or Agoda or CheapAir or Cleartrip or Makemytrip or Priceline. If you are planning to travel by road to Bhopal, some of the options to reach Bhopal are by self-drive car or cab or bus.

Bhojeshwar Temple timings

The Bhojeshwar temple can be visited on any day between 6.00 AM to 7.00 PM.

Bhojeshwar Temple Address & Map

Here is the address to Bhojpur Shiva Temple:

Bhojeshwar Temple
District – Raisen
Bhojpur.
Madhya Pradesh – 464551

Bhojpur Temple, Bhojpur Road, Bhojpur, Madhya Pradesh 464551

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

Where To Stay In Bhojpur

Bhojpur Temple distance from Bhopal is only about 28 kilometres. It is very convenient to stay in Bhopal and visit this famous MP Shiv Mandir from there. Bhopal offers a range of accommodation options from uber-luxury and palatial hotels like the Jehan Numa Palace, resorts like Jehan Numa retreat, as well as budget hotels.

If you are looking to book a hotel in Bhopal or anywhere in Madhya Pradesh or India or the world,  you can do that right here. You can book Bhopal 5 star hotels or Bhopal resorts or Bhopal budget hotels through TripAdvisor or Cleartrip or Agoda or Makemytrip or Priceline and save a lot by getting the best savings on booking your stay.

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Bhojpur Tourism – Places to Visit in Bhojpur

Apart from the Bhojeswar or Bhojasvamin temple, there are some other places to visit in Bhojpurthat are of great historical value. Here is a list of the places to visit in Bhojpur.

Bhojpur Jain Temple

Interestingly this is another unfinished temple that has a huge statue of Bhagwan Shantinath which has a height of 6 meters and is flanked by smaller statues of Bhagwan Parshvanath and Bhagwan Suparshvanatha on either side. There is an inscription near the idols that refers to Naravarman, the nephew of Raja Bhoja.

Parvati Cave

Parvati Cave Bhojpur is another interesting place to visit. It is a rock shelter that has remains of sculpture and other architectural relics that date back to the 11th century.

Ruins of Raja Bhoja’s Palace

The foundations of what must have been the royal palace of Raja Bhoja have survived. The site has unfinished blocks of carving and the rock floor has markings and engravings.

Nearby Quarries

The quarries near the temple are strewn with many architectural elements meant for the unfinished temple, as well as drawings inscribed on rocks. It is an interesting place to visit as it is a bridge to history, a peep into the 11th century.

Apart from Bhojpur, there are many attractions in and around Bhopal. In fact, Madhya Pradesh is a travellers delight with a plethora of natural and wildlife attractions like Pench, Pachmarhi, etc., many heritage sites like Sanchi, Khajuraho, Chanderi, etc.. If you are planning on what to do in Bhopal or places in Madhya Pradesh, you can book tours that cover attractions in Bhopal and MP.

Click here to know more and book Best Attractions in Bhopal & MP

Bhojeshwar Temple Madhya Pradesh / Bhojpur Temple Bhopal – FAQ

Is there a Bhopal to Bhojpur city bus?

One can use public transport to reach the incomplete Hindu temple in Bhojpur, but hiring a cab or driving in your own car is more convenient.

Why is Bhojpur Temple incomplete?

The Unfinished Temple Of Bhojeshwar In Madhya Pradesh is an enduring enigma. There are many hypotheses regarding why the temple was not completed including natural causes. It is also believed that the collapse of a section of the roof and the damage of the Shivling could have halted the construction of the temple. However, the exact cause remains in the realms of the unknown.

How to reach Bhojpur Temple from Bhopal?

Bhojpur temple can be reached from Bhopal by car or hired cab or public transport.

Is the Shivling in the Bhojeshwar temple a Dhyanalinga?

Mentioning about the Bhojeshwar temple Sadhguru has said “One more Dhyanalinga in Bhojpur, near Bhopal, almost reached the phase of completion. However, it cracked during consecration due to a delay in the locking of energies.”

The sun was going down in a blaze of orange as we made our way out of the Bhojpur temple precincts, the only witness to the saga of the incomplete temple. A temple that seems to have taken an eternal pause and yet fascinates visitors with its scale and intriguing aura.

Did you like the Bhojpur Temple images?  We hope you liked our Bhojpur temple blog and this travel guide to Bhojpur Temple will help you plan your trip to Bhojpur. Do let us know if you need any more information. We appreciate and look forward to your comments.

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