Gopal Mandir, Ujjain/ 2023

Gopal Mandir is one of the famous places of Ujjain and the temple is consecrated to Lord Krishna. The temple is also called Dwarikadhish Temple. The temple was built by Bayajibai Shinde in the 19th century.

Bayajibai was the queen of Maharaja Daulat Rao Shinde. The temple is one of the finest examples of Maratha architecture. The deity is in the silver form with a height of almost 2 ft. It is on a marble-inlaid altar where the idol has been placed, and there are silver-plated doors.

There is a myth about the silver-plated doors that they had been stolen by Mahmud Ghazi, and it was stolen from the Somnath Temple. It was taken back to Lahore by Mahmud Shah Abdali who was an Afghan invader.

After a long struggle, the doors were recovered and were installed at the Gopal Mandir. A lot of festivals are celebrated throughout the year including Janmashtami, in the temple premises.