Bijamandal, Vidisha
Bija Mandal
Ruins of an 11th-century Paramara-dynasty Hindu temple in Vidisha's old town, converted into a mosque in the 17th century. Carved pillars and bases are still visible.
Bijamandal lies in the old town of Vidisha, about 10 km northeast of Sanchi. It was originally a large Hindu temple built by the Paramara dynasty in the 11th century and is believed to have been dedicated to the goddess Chamunda. In the 17th century, under Aurangzeb, it was converted into a mosque. Today it is an archaeological site where you can see the tall plinth, carved pillars and scattered sculpture fragments. The unfinished temple floor plan carved on the plinth is also worth a look. An ancient stepwell stands beside the mosque. The site is managed by the Archaeological Survey of India, and admission is cheap. It can be combined with the Vidisha District Museum, the Udayagiri Caves and the Heliodorus Pillar in a half-day trip.
Opening hours
Sunrise to sunset
Nearby sights
- Heliodorus Pillar
- Udayagiri Caves
- Sanchi Archaeological Museum
- Chetiyagiri Vihara
- Sanchi Stupa
- Sanchi Stupa No. 2
- Satdhara Stupas
- Maladevi Temple, Gyaraspur