Mitawali, Padavali, and Bateshwar are the beautiful set of heritage structures dating back to the 8th-10th century, during the Gurjara-Pratihara dynasties. The marvels of Mitawali, Padavali, and Bateshwar temples are situated in the Morena district of Madhya Pradesh. Recently I visited Mitawali, Padavali, and Bateshwar from Gwalior city with my friends.
I got to know about these heritage places a few months ago through my trip to the Shani temple in Shanichara, Morena. From the Shanichara there is a short route to the Bateshwar temples, and just a few kilometers from Bateshwar there lies Padavali fort, and a few kilometers from Padavali there lies the heritage Chausath Yogini Temple of Mitawali.
It is said that Mitawali, Padavali, and Bateshwar made a golden triangle in which a university existed about 1000 years ago. The alleged teaching center was said to be a hub to provide education in Mathematics, Astrology, and Hinduism to the students with the help of sun rays.
History of Mitawali, Padavali, and Bateshwar
So on New Year’s Eve, I and my friends decided to visit the marvels of Mitawali, Padavali, and Bateshwar temples from the city of Gwalior. Mitawali, Padavali, and Bateshwar are some of the 40 best places to visit near Gwalior city. We went through the Gwalior to Shanichara route and the first destination we reached was Bateshwar’s group of temples.
Bateshwar
Bateshwar is not just about one temple, there is a group of about 200 Hindu temples made of sandstone. The temples were built by the Gurjara kings in the Morena district of Madhya Pradesh between the 8th to 10th centuries. All the temples are mostly small and are spread over 25 acres of land. Temples are dedicated to Shiva, Vishnu, and Shakti – representing the three major traditions within Hinduism.
Bateshwar temples were destroyed after the 13th century, but it is not clear if this was by an earthquake or Muslim forces. Some of them were reconstructed by the Archaeological Survey of India recently in their original form. The good thing is that the forest nearby is full of beautiful birds like peacocks, parakeets, and kingfishers. One can often spot the national bird perching and posing on the rooftops of the temples.
Garhi Padavali
After visiting and offering prayers in Bateshwar temples we went to the heritage fortress of Padavali situated just 2 km away from the Bateshwar group of temples. The Jat Ranas of Dhaulpur built the Padavali fort in the 18th century. The fort also has a temple that once served as a divine place to worship Lord Shiva.
Through inscription and detailing of the architecture of the Padavali Fort temple, it has something to convey about the ancient era. We found the Padavali fort in good condition in the case of cleanliness and structure. But there are no guards and guides available at the site. We also found some locals drinking alcohol inside the fort premises. So I think for now it is not a safe place to visit alone.
Mitawali
A few kilometers from Padavali there lies the historical Chausath Yogini Temple of Mitawali (Mitaoli), Morena, Madhya Pradesh. The temple is also known as Ekattarso Mahadeva Temple. It is believed that the temple was built by the Kachchhapaghata king Devapala in the 11th century. The temple looks like the Parliament House of Delhi as both are circular in style. It is said that this temple was the inspiration behind the Parliament House.
The temple is standing atop an isolated hill of about a hundred feet high, this circular temple commands a splendid view of the cultivated fields below. It is externally circular in shape with a radius of 170 feet and within its interior part, it has 64 small chambers.
It is said that the temple was the venue for providing education in astrology and mathematics based on the transit of the Sun. The Archaeological Survey of India has declared the temple an ancient and historical monument.
How to Reach Bateshwar Temples, Padavali Fort, and Mitawali Temple in Morena Madhya Pradesh
Mitawali, Padavali, and Bateshwar are historical tourist destinations in the Morena district near Gwalior Madhya Pradesh. If you want to visit these places and looking for a complete travel guide on how to reach Mitawali, Padavali, and Bateshwar then you have come to the right place. In this article, I am going to tell you about the best way to reach Mitawali, Padavali, and Bateshwar from Gwalior city.
The best way to reach Bateshwar, Padavali, and Mitawali from Gwalior is to go via the Gwalior to Shanichara route. From the Shanichara there is a short route to the Bateshwar temples, and just a few kilometers from Bateshwar there lies Padavali fort, and a few kilometers from Padavali there lies the heritage Chausath Yogini Temple of Mitawali.
How to Reach Bateshwar Group of Temples From Gwalior
Bateshwar is the first destination you will reach through the Shanichara route. It is located about 40 kilometers from Gwalior city and 35 kilometers from Morena town. The complete address of the Bateshwar group of temples is Chambal Valley, Padavali-Banmore, District Morena, Madhya Pradesh.
Address– Chambal Valley, Padavali-Banmore, District Morena, Madhya Pradesh.
Bateshwar distance from Morena town – 35 km approximately.
Bateshwar distance from Gwalior city – 40 km approximately.
How to Reach Garhi Padavali From Gwalior
Around 2 kilometers from Bateshwar temples, there lies the heritage fortress of Padavali. It is situated in Gadi-Padavali, Chambal Valley, Banmore, District Morena, Madhya Pradesh. The approximate distance of Padavali fort from Gwalior city is 42 kilometers and from Morena town is 37 kilometers.
Address – Chambal Valley, Garhi-Padavali, Banmore, District Morena, Madhya Pradesh.
Padavali distance from Morena town – 37 km approximately.
Padavali distance from Gwalior city – 42 km approximately.
How to Reach Mitawali (Mitaoli) From Gwalior
A few kilometers from Padavali there lies the historical Chausath Yogini Temple of Mitawali. The temple is also known as Ekattarso Mahadeva Temple. It is located around 46 kilometers from Gwalior city and 41 kilometers from Morena town. The complete address of the Mitawali temple is Mitaoli Village, Mitawali, Near Padavali, Morena, Madhya Pradesh.
Address – Mitaoli Village, Mitawali, Near Padavali, Morena, Madhya Pradesh.
Mitawali distance from Morena town – 41 km approximately.
Mitawali distance from Gwalior City – 46 km approximately.
There are no bus or train services available between Gwalior to Bateshwar, Padavali, and Mitawali. You have to go in your own vehicle or you can also book a cab/ taxi from Gwalior city. Mitawali, Padavali, and Bateshwar group of temples are hidden gems of Madhya Pradesh tourism where every tourist gets spellbound by the beauty and history of these heritage places.
Here I am also leaving a short video of the way to Bateshwar, Padavali, and Mitawali for your reference. It is my personal road trip video from Gwalior city to Bateshwar, Padavali, and Mitawali. Watch this video and if you like it then share it with your friends and family. And don’t forget to subscribe to our Youtube channel.
My trip to Mitawali, Padavali, and Bateshwar’s group of temples was completely fun and amazing. And I will definitely suggest you visit these historical places as soon as possible if you live nearby. But make sure about the route and the necessary precautions because all these places are far from the town and there are not many hotels and petrol pumps available nearby.
I hope this article has answered all your queries on how to reach Bateshwar, Padavali, and Mitawali from Gwalior city. But still, if there is anything missing or you want to know about any other place in Gwalior then please ask us in the comment section below.
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