Teli Ka Mandir of Gwalior

Gwalior, an ancient city with a lot of history, is one of the popular tourist spots of Central India. Among the most popular venues of the city, the impregnable Gwalior fort attracts the attention of most tourists. The ancient fort, built on a hilltop, was considered as one of the most beautiful palaces of India. Within the fort complex, visitors can find beautiful Jain temples, Man Mandir Palace, Gujari Mahal, and Teli Ka Mandir of Gwalior.

This write-up focuses on exploring the beautiful Teli Ka Mandir, Gwalior – a beautiful temple believed to be built by an oil merchant (teli) instead of a royalty or a person from the higher classes of the society.

Keynotes on Teli Ka Mandir, Gwalior

Address: Fort Campus, Near Post Office, Madhya Pradesh 474001

Type of monument: Temple

Prime deity: Believed to be Shiva

Architectural style: Mixture of Nagara and Dravidian style of architecture

Opening time: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm

Entry Fee: 250 INR (Ticket includes entry to Man Singh Palace and Sasbahu Temples.)

Visit Duration: 1 hour

Best time to visit: October to March is suitable for the trip

How to Reach: Taxi or buses are available.

An Overview of the Temple

One of the most interesting monuments in the Gwalior Fort, the temple is believed to be built in the 9th century. The architecture of the monument has the elements of both the North Indian Shikhara style as well as Dravidian architectural style.
Although a grand structure, during the several invasion and annexation attempts, the temple suffered great damages. In the later part of the history, the attempts were made to restore the temple to its original glory. Art historians have been able to uncover different designs and motifs present in the temple premise, which reveals the time frame of the restoration work.

The Teli Ka Mandir, Gwalior had several inscriptions and icons belonging to Vaishnavism, Shaivism, and Shaktism – the three major sects in Hinduism. One can distinctly identify the Garuda relief work, showcasing the mythical half-human half-eagle demigod and the vehicle of Vishnu.

During the reign of the British Raj, the temple was used as a coffee shop and drinks factory. However, by the end of the 19th century, the temple was abandoned.

The Architecture of the Teli Ka Mandir, Gwalior

One of the oldest standing structures in the Gwalior Fort compound, the Teli Ka Mandir is founded on an elevated platform. The rectangular sanctum has a large portico facing towards east. As one enters the temple, the inner sanctum would remind the visitors of the gopuram prevalent in the Dravidian style of architecture. Temple walls were once decorated statues and intricate designs. However, subsequent attacks on the temple have destroyed these decorative motifs.

The huge doorway of the temple is adorned with reliefs of mythical creatures, gods, and several inscriptions. Inside the temple houses a Shiva Lingam and a customary Nandi Bull inside the temple. This monument does not have a mandapa relief in its architecture but includes the mandatory circumambulation path in its design. Similar to several temples in the Gwalior fort complex, the circumambulation path has four entrances, possibly for the convenience of the devotees.

The Teli Ka Mandir, Gwalior has to be approached by a flight of stairs that leads to a banded doorway. This front entrance contains carved sculptures of river goddesses and demigods, images of lovers engaged in different stages of love, and several other images.

Overall the temple is a work of art and represents the beauty of the Indian architectural styles.

What next?

After an interesting tour to the Teli Ka Mandir in Gwalior, visitors can head towards the following complexes inside the Gwalior fort premise

1. Man Singh Palace

One of the most stunning palaces in the Gwalior fort complex, this place is believed to have been built by Maharaja Man Singh Tomar of the Tomar dynasty. Built with sandstone, and decorated with beautiful hand-painted tiles, the palace is simply a work of art.

2. Sasbahu Temples

Another popular fixture of the fort complex is the set of temples fondly referred to as Sasbahu Temples. Dedicated to Vishnu and Shiva respectively, the temples were extremely beautiful. Unfortunately, only the outer structure of the temple remains.