Introduction
Yogini temples are spread over North India, Central India, Eastern India & North Eastern regions. It is a unique style of temple architecture which attracts many people to do research & study over it. They are the special temples and normally found with name of "Chousat Yogini" which simply means "Sixty-Four Yoginis". In simple words "Yoginis" means group of Female Yoga & Spiritual practioners. In Indian society, they had special place in society and thus special temples were dedicated to them called "Yogini Temples". For Indian society, Yogini temples are mysterous temples, often found away from crowded townships, in peaceful locations, mostly in hill-tops. Chousat Yogini templs of Jabalpur is also located in Bhedaghat village which turning into small township. Bhedaghat is just 25kms from Jabalpur city and very well connected by road. It is counted among popular tourist attractions of Bhedaghat.
Chousat Yogini Temple
This temple is located in hill-top, close to boating site of Bhedaghat. As we all know that Bhedaghat is popular for marble rocks, water fall & boat ride. Here mostly tourists comes to watch famous water-fall i.e. Dhuandhar fall and to enjoy boatride on holy Narmada river. Boatride offers them chance to see Narmada river passing through rocks of Marble which offers a picturesque scene for tourists. In between Dhuandhar fall and Panchvati ghat of Boating, we can find a small hilly temple called "Chousat Yogini temple". Due to its height and stairs, many old age people find it challenging to reach this temple still it is worth to visit this temple as it is in good condition and unique in compare to normal Hindu temples. Here in Bhedaghat, Chousat Yogini temple was of period 10th to 11th Century when this region was under Kalchuri rule. During that time, this temple was made. Here we can find a series of Yogini statues in different positions called "mudras", doing their spiritual practices. They are beautifully carved but vandalized & deliberately disfigured by Muslim invaders to this region. All these statues are arranged in circular way under plain roof. Although it name is "Chousat Yogini" means 64-Yogini but in actual, its count is around 90+ and each statue have its own name to uniquely identify them. All these statues are arranged in circular way with Lord Shiva & Parvati temple inside that ring. Here this temple is not exactly at the center but in some other Yogini temples, we can find central structure. In India, you can easly find temples of Lord Shiva but rarely find temple of Lord Shiva with Parvati. This makes this temple different from others. This temple is still active and we can offer our worship inside temple. Here dedicated priest is also available to share some information. Their are huge heavy bells of ancient period in which we can find some information is encarved. Try to read & understand this information. If you have an overview of Yogini temples, then you may notice that its design is very much similar to the design of India Parliament. May be its design inspired the designers of Indian Parliament.
Visitor Timing & Facilities
Chousat Yogini temple of Jabalpur is open for visitors from Sunrise to Sunset. As if now, their is no entrance fee for visiting this temple but if you will use camera for photography, then you may find care taker to ask you for payment of nominal fee. In order to protect it from outsiders and un-necessary touching or writing by visitors, now a days all the statues are guarded by iron-gril so it makes photography difficult still it is worth to visit this magnificent & unique temple. Here ropeway type of facility is not available till now thus we have to follow the path of stairs. On reaching the top, we will find the beches available to take rest and water cooler is also available for drinking water facility. As if now, here toilet facility is not available. This hill has many shady trees and hill-top offers good view of surrounding area. Here guide facility is not available and their is also no historic inscription to read but management team has provided a notice-board with provides some basic information for visitors so must read this information, before entering inside the complex.
How to reach
If you are first time visitor to Jabalpur city then you can reach Bhedaghat by different road-transport options like by city-bus (available from Railway Station), Tuk-tuk (auto-rickshaw), taxi-cab or by any two wheeler. Their are two possible routes to reach Bhedaghat village i.e. via Tewar or via Lamhetaghat village. City bus follows route of via-tewar and take around 45 minutes to reach. It is busy & crowdy route but if you are having your own vehicle then follow the route of via Lametaghat route as road condition is excellent, less traffic and offers some scenic views of villages, fields, ghat areas. If you are tourists and indend to visit more spiritual sites then also Lamhetaghat route is good as famous Iskcon temple, Paramhansa Ashram of Lamhetaghat & Radha Krishna temple of Lamhetaghat falls in same route.
