Malhar, a town in Bilaspur District of Chhattisgarh is a hub of ancient relics and structures. This historic town is an important place as it preserves ruins, temples and excavation sites from eras ago. Dating back to when the Kalachuri dynasty ruled the region, Malhar is home to some great structures with ancient architecture. There are numerous ancient temples like the Pataleshvar Temple, Devri Temple and the Dindeshwari Temple that are famous and are visited by many tourists and locals as well. Remains from excavations go back to 1000 century BC and are the prime attraction for tourists. Let’s have a look at some of the tourist places to visit in Malhar.

The Paraleshwar Temple is one of the most deeply rooted places of worship, especially for devotees of Lord Shiva. At the very start, this temple was known as Kedareshwar which was dedicated to Lord Shiva who is also known as Kedar. This temple was built in 1100 BC by a Brahmin named Somraj. The Pataleshwar Temple has rare architecture and has been constructed on a platform which is higher than ground level and lies inside a square podium. The temple is approached by a flight of steps that you can easily take and visit the Shiva Ling.

Malhar Fort is an ancient fort in Malhar that is made out of mud. The entire area around the fort is barricaded by Archeological Survey of India for further observation and speculation. This fort is built in a secluded area and is not explored completely. Unknown by many locals as well, this fort is one of the hidden treasures of Malhar. This is a very ancient fort and most of the fort is now inhabited by vegetation. If you want to visit this place, make sure you go there in the morning or in the afternoons only to get a glimpse of the old fort.

The region of Chhattisgarh is quite famous for its old temples and ruins from previous eras. The Dindeshwari Devi Temple in Bilaspur district is an example of ancient temples and dates back to Kalachuri Dynasty. The architecture of the temples is so vibrant that it will definitely appeal to you. Blue coloured pillars with sculptures of Durga Maa hold the ceiling of the mandir that is intricately designed. Inside the temple you will find the shrine of Goddess Durga dressed up in vibrant saree. During Navratri, the Devi as well as the temple is decorated and the festival is celebrated with much enthusiasm.

Located at a distance of 25 km from the main center of Bilaspur is the city of Ratanpur in Chhattisgarh. Ratanpur was an important city for the Kalachuri dynasty and was the capital of the state back then. The city was founded by Ratanraj whose successors then made this place the capital. The main reason for people to visit Ratanpur is the famous Mahamaya Temple. The best time to visit this city and the temple is during Shivratri when you can get an authentic feel of the city. After the Kalachuri’s left, many other kingdoms also ruled upon this area and brought in some great changes and constructed some lovely structures.

Deur Temple, also known as Bhima Khichak Temple is a famous temple near Malhar. Since all of these temples in Malhar are ancient, it has been taken over by Archeological Survey of India. Just like the other temples in the vicinity, the Deur Temple has also been restored from all the ruins that were excavated. Inside the temple, you will find a beautiful Shiva Ling and a lot of Shiva devotees flock to the place. There are live size depictions of Shiva as an idol and also the holy Ganga and Yamuna.

Shiva Bhagwan is worshipped the most in India and also in the state of Chhattisgarh; hence you will find a lot of temples dedicated to Shiva in Malhar. Another such temple is the Shiv Mandir in Malhar. This temple is situated at the heart of Malhar and has intricate architecture. Made out of stone, this temple has pillars with carvings and inscriptions on them. Inside the temple there are idols of Lord Shiva along with a Shiva Ling with a kalash hanging on top for milk and water. You can also see idols of other gods and goddesses inside.

The Nandmahal Temple in Malhar is a famous temple with beautiful architecture. Located in the city limits of Malhar, the Nandmahal Temple is devoted to Nandi Bail. This temple is made of stones and Archeological Survey of India has rebuilt the temple from its dilapidated state. Outside the temple you will find a huge stone statue of Nandi Bail which is still in a very good state. Several people come here to see the architecture of temple and pray to the almighty. This is a great place to visit if you want to explore excavation areas.

Raj Mahal is a historic landmark in Malhar and an important one. The Raj Mahal is basically the skeleton of the palace that once stood there. This was one of the royal palaces for the Kalachuri dynasty as well as the dynasties that succeeded in ruling the place. The palace does not stand tall anymore and is in a dilapidated state; you can only see the skeleton of the palace that used to be there. You can even see the designs and sized of the rooms that were a part of the palace.

Located in Bilaspur district is another great mandir that is related to Lord Krishna is the Radha Krishna Temple. This is a nice temple with wall inscriptions and images of Rasleela of Krishna and Radha. When you enter the temple, you get a serene feel that cannot be replicated. The best part about this temple is its serene surroundings and the ringing of bells inside the temple. When you go further inside, you can see the shrine that has Lord Krishna and Radha standing side by side and a few other idols of Hindu Gods beside them.

Sankar ji ka Mandir in Bilaspur is a famous one; this temple is also dedicated to Lord Shiva. Greeted by two live size lion idols on either side of the gate, this temple has a lovely entrance. Inside you will see a temple complex inside which there is a couple of mandirs. The one straight from the gate is the main mandir with a shrine of Lord Shiva and a Shiv Ling that many people come and pour milk on. During Maha Shivratri you can see a lot of people gathering up and praying to the almighty.