Mahoba Attractions - Tourist Places To Visit In Mahoba

Situated close to Gorkha or Gukhar Mountains in district Mahoba in Uttar Pradesh, Shiv Tandav Temple, as the name suggests, is a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. It hosts a large idol of God Shiva dancing in his fierce Tandav form.

The idol is built from a single black granite stone. It is flanked by a fountain which emits milky-white water brought down from the Gorakh Hills. The idol of Shiva in Tandav dance form is one of the rarest in the region. There is also a well of Shiv Tandav close to the temple.

Rahila Sagar Sun Temple, as the name suggests, is dedicated to the Sun God. The 9th century shrine is located in the western side of Rahila Sagar. It was built by the powerful Chandela king during his reign in the neighbouring state of Madhya Pradesh from 890 to 910 AD.

The magnificent temple that currently stands in a dilapidated state is a fine example of the early Pratihara style of architecture of the region.

Kakramath Temple is situated on an island in the Madan Sagar Lake close to the temple of Lord Vishnu in the Mahoba district of Uttar Pradesh. It is revered by the believers in Nath faith in Hinduism. The faith was set up by Baba Gorakhnath who along with his disciples built a shelter in Gokhar Hill.

The pyramid-like architectural structure of the shrine resembles the temples of Khajuraho. The sculpture of the monument is reminiscent of the Chandella tradition.

Chandika Devi, also called Chandi Devi is revered as a goddess representing Shakti or female power. She is regarded as the destroyer of demons and the saviour of the pious and the faithful. There are two temples dedicated to Chandika Devi which are located in the same region. While one is called the temple of Chhoti Chandika, the other is named Badi Chandika temple.

Of these two, the Chhoti Chandika temple, situated approximately half a kilometre from Bageshwar is regarded as the oldest in Mahoba city. The temples draw huge crowds of devotees who congregate to worship the goddess during the Navratras.

Gokhar Parvat or Gokhar Hill in Mahoba district in Uttar Pradesh is located approximately 1 km from Banda city and 31 km from Mahoba. Gokhar Parvat is one of the most popular tourist destinations of this region. The hill range comprising magnificent granite rock formations, scenic waterfalls and spectacular caves was once an abode of Guru Gorakhnath and his disciples.

The famous Kakramath temple is also situated in Gokhar Parvat. The mountain range particularly attracts the devotees of Nath sect of Hindu religion. The Parvat draws huge crowds of picnickers and climbers. It is home to a host of shrines dedicated to Hindu, Jain and Buddhist faiths.

Some of the popular tourist spots located here include Bari Chandrika Devi Temple, Suraj Kurd and Shiva Temple at Katheswar and Ram Kurd. Another tourist centre that has come up here is the Betel Research Centre. It is a branch of the NBRI Lucknow and is situated at Chhattarpur Road.

Manaiya Devi Temple houses the idol of goddess Manaiya Devi who is revered as the protector of the Chandela dynasty. The temple is situated on the bank of Madan Sagar Lake near the shrine of Pir Mubarak Shah, a Muslim sage who came here from Arabia in 1252 AD. An important feature of the temple is the 18 ft tall and 1.75 ft wide granite pillar.

Vijay Sagar Pakshi Vihar, a bird sanctuary in Mahoba in Uttar Pradesh is situated on the bank of Vijay Sagar, a lake built by Vijay Pal Chandela of Madhya Pradesh during the 11th century. The sanctuary is located about 5 km from the city and attracts various species of birds. It is an ideal destination for swimmers and lovers of water sports.