Bharat Mata Mandir
Concept and Dedication: The Bharat Mata Mandir (Mother India Temple) is a highly unique and secular national monument dedicated to 'Mother India' (Bharat Mata). It is a symbol of unity and patriotism, deviating entirely from traditional Hindu temples dedicated to mythological deities. Instead of ido ls, it houses a massive relief map of undivided India, carved out of white Makrana marble. Historical Foundation: This temple was constructed by Babu Shiv Prasad Gupta, a philanthropist and prominent freedom fighter, and was inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi on October 25, 1936. It stands within the campus of the Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith university, linking it to the educational and national movement. The Marble Map: The central focus is the geographically accurate, floor-level, three-dimensional relief map of undivided India (including present-day Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Myanmar). It precisely depicts mountains, rivers, plains, and sacred sites on a large scale (9.5 m x 9.5 m), based on scientific calculations for latitude, longitude, and height. Symbolism: The temple's five supporting pillars symbolise the five basic elements of creation (Panch-Tattva: Earth, Wind, Fire, Water, and Sky). This unique dedication and design make it a powerful symbol of nationalism, geographical knowledge, and cultural integrity, unlike any other temple in the world. :
General information
-
Ideal Duration:
30 Minutes to 1 Hour:Place Type:
National Monument, Unique Temple, Educational:Entry Fees:
Temple Entry: There is No Entry Fee to enter the Bharat Mata Mandir. It is a public monument and is free for all visitors.
Photography Fees: Usually, there is No Fee for Photography with handheld cameras or phones. However, professional vi...Temple Entry: There is No Entry Fee to enter the Bharat Mata Mandir. It is a public monument and is free for all visitors.
Photography Fees: Usually, there is No Fee for Photography with handheld cameras or phones. However, professional video camera usage might require permission and a possible fee, though this is rare.
Donations: Voluntary donations can be offered in the designated boxes for the maintenance of the monument. Be cautious of unofficial solicitors.
Other Fees: The temple is easily accessible by road and local transport. There is No Parking Fee associated with the temple area, but parking facilities are typically street-side or within the university campus, and availability can be limited.
:Timing:
Regular Timings: The temple is generally open daily from 9:30 AM to 8:00 PM. It is advisable to visit during the day to appreciate the details of the marble map fully.
Ideal Visit Time: The best time to visit is during the Morning Hours (10...Regular Timings: The temple is generally open daily from 9:30 AM to 8:00 PM. It is advisable to visit during the day to appreciate the details of the marble map fully.
Ideal Visit Time: The best time to visit is during the Morning Hours (10:00 AM to 1:00 PM), when the light is good for viewing the marble map and before the afternoon heat sets in during the summer. Late Afternoon is also pleasant.
Peak Seasons: October to March is the most comfortable period to visit. The temple is especially busy on national holidays (August 15, January 26) but offers a unique, celebratory atmosphere during those times.
Duration Planning: The visit is relatively short, requiring only about 30 minutes to 1 hour to fully appreciate the map and the historical context.
:Special Events:
Independence Day (August 15): The temple is a focal point for the city's Independence Day celebrations. Flag hoisting ceremonies, patriotic songs, and cultural programs are held, attended by students and local dignitaries. Republic Day (January 26): Similar to Independence Day, the temple hosts gr...Independence Day (August 15): The temple is a focal point for the city's Independence Day celebrations. Flag hoisting ceremonies, patriotic songs, and cultural programs are held, attended by students and local dignitaries. Republic Day (January 26): Similar to Independence Day, the temple hosts grand official ceremonies to celebrate the country's constitution, emphasizing the temple's role as a national monument. Gandhi Jayanti (October 2): Special prayers, cleaning drives, and functions are held on the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, who inaugurated the temple, highlighting the temple's link to the freedom movement.
University Events: Being located on the university campus, the temple is often part of the route or venue for various university-level academic and cultural events, such as annual days and convocation ceremonies, providing local cultural insight.
:Best Photo Spots:
The Full Map Panorama: The best photo spot is from the upper balconies of the hall, capturing the entire marble relief map of undivided India, emphasizing its vast scale and intricate topographical detail from an elevated perspective.
Map Close-...The Full Map Panorama: The best photo spot is from the upper balconies of the hall, capturing the entire marble relief map of undivided India, emphasizing its vast scale and intricate topographical detail from an elevated perspective.
Map Close-ups: Focus on close-up sections of the map to capture the fine carving of the mountain ranges (like the Himalayas) and the river courses, which beautifully showcase the geological artistry.
The Five Pillars: A creative shot can capture the five supporting pillars, emphasizing their convergence at the top, symbolically representing the five elements and the structural uniqueness of the monument.
Entrance and Campus Setting: Photograph the temple's external facade and entrance, framed by the academic setting of the Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith campus, to highlight its role as a national-educational monument. (Approx.
):Photo Gallery
Things To Do
-
Study the Marble Map: Spend time walking around the perimeter of the hall and carefully observing the massive relief map of undivided India. Identify the key mountains (Himalayas), rivers (Ganga, Yamuna), and plains, appreciating the scale and accuracy.
Visit the Basement View: Be sure to go downstairs to the basement to look through the viewing window, which offers a unique perspective to appreciate the vertical relief of the map and the height of the mountain ranges.
Reflect on Patriotism: Take a moment for quiet reflection on the secular, patriotic message of the temple, considering the efforts of the freedom fighters who created this unique monument. It is a place for national contemplation.
Explore the Kashi Vidyapith Campus: Take a brief walk through the ...Study the Marble Map: Spend time walking around the perimeter of the hall and carefully observing the massive relief map of undivided India. Identify the key mountains (Himalayas), rivers (Ganga, Yamuna), and plains, appreciating the scale and accuracy.
Visit the Basement View: Be sure to go downstairs to the basement to look through the viewing window, which offers a unique perspective to appreciate the vertical relief of the map and the height of the mountain ranges.
Reflect on Patriotism: Take a moment for quiet reflection on the secular, patriotic message of the temple, considering the efforts of the freedom fighters who created this unique monument. It is a place for national contemplation.
Explore the Kashi Vidyapith Campus: Take a brief walk through the campus of Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith to soak in the academic atmosphere and see the institution with which the temple is historically linked.
Photography of the Map: Capture the overall scale and detail of the map from the elevated viewing balconies. Use wide-angle shots to include the entire marble map and the surrounding supporting pillars. Remember to avoid stepping on the map itself.
Combine with Train Station Visit: As the temple is only about 3 KMS from the Varanasi Junction railway station, it can be the first or last stop of your Varanasi tour, either upon arrival or just before departure.
Read the Plaques: Take time to read the informative plaques detailing the history of the temple's construction, the inauguration by Mahatma Gandhi, and the significance of the map's scales and carving.
Attend an Event: The campus often hosts national and cultural events, especially around Republic Day (January 26) and Independence Day (August 15). Visiting during these times offers an added cultural and celebratory dimension.
:
Information
-
Why Famous:
Unique Map as Deity: It is famous as the only temple in the world where the deity of worship is not a traditional idol but a geographically accurate, large-scale relief map of undivided Mother India (Bharat Mata), carved in white marble.
Symbol ...Unique Map as Deity: It is famous as the only temple in the world where the deity of worship is not a traditional idol but a geographically accurate, large-scale relief map of undivided Mother India (Bharat Mata), carved in white marble.
Symbol of Patriotism: The temple stands as a potent symbol of Indian nationalism and the freedom struggle. Its inauguration by Mahatma Gandhi in 1936 cemented its importance as a secular, patriotic monument.
Scientific Precision: The map is celebrated for its incredible engineering and scientific accuracy, depicting mountains, rivers, and geographical features of the subcontinent with precision in both vertical and horizontal scales.
Educational Value: The temple serves a significant educational purpose, offering visitors, especially students, an impressive visual representation of India's vast and diverse geography, linking the land to the concept of the nation as a mother figure.
: -
Architecture:
Architectural Style: The architecture is unique and unconventional, eschewing the traditional Nagara or Dravidian styles of Hindu temples. It is a large, square, open-hall structure designed to house and display the massive relief map at its center, with an emphasis on func...Architectural Style: The architecture is unique and unconventional, eschewing the traditional Nagara or Dravidian styles of Hindu temples. It is a large, square, open-hall structure designed to house and display the massive relief map at its center, with an emphasis on functional and structural integrity.
Key Features and Dimensions: The hall is supported by five distinct pillars, which converge at the top, representing the five elements (Panch-Tattva). The main feature is the 9. 5 x 9. 5 meter relief map, meticulously carved from 762 pieces of Makrana white marble. The map is set on the ground level, covering the entire central area of the hall.
Geographical Accuracy: The architectural challenge was the scientific precision required for the map. It maintains a highly accurate vertical scale (1 cm = 240 m) and horizontal scale (1 cm = 4. 05 km), which required years of painstaking work by a team of artisans and sculptors.
Viewing Area: A window installed at the ground level in the basement allows visitors a unique vertical perspective on the map, clearly showing the accurate height differences of the mountain ranges, demonstrating the sophisticated cartography embedded in the structure.
: -
How To Reach:
By Air: Fly to Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport (VNS), approximately 28 KMS away. Take a pre-paid taxi or cab to the Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith campus (approx. 60-75 minutes).
By Train: Arrive at Varanasi Junction (Varanasi Ca...By Air: Fly to Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport (VNS), approximately 28 KMS away. Take a pre-paid taxi or cab to the Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith campus (approx. 60-75 minutes).
By Train: Arrive at Varanasi Junction (Varanasi Cantt Station - BSB) (approx. 3 KMS). The temple is a very short auto-rickshaw or taxi ride away, making it highly accessible from the railway station. Mughal Sarai (DDU) is about 18 KMS.
By Road: The temple is located on the main road near the railway station and is easily accessible by all forms of road transport, including private cars and buses. Parking is usually available roadside near the campus.
By Local Transport: Auto-rickshaws, cycle-rickshaws, and local taxis are the most convenient ways to reach the temple. Since it is on a major road, transport is readily available for both arrival and departure.
: -
Weather and Best Time to Visit:
Different Types of Seasons: Winter (October to March) is the Best Time to Visit for comfortable temperatures, making the walk around the temple pleasant. Summer can be hot but the temple hall is generally shaded, and the visit is brief. Monsoon does not affect the visit si...Different Types of Seasons: Winter (October to March) is the Best Time to Visit for comfortable temperatures, making the walk around the temple pleasant. Summer can be hot but the temple hall is generally shaded, and the visit is brief. Monsoon does not affect the visit significantly.
Different Parts of the Day: Morning (10:00 AM to 1:00 PM) is the ideal time to see the map clearly under good natural light. The evening is also a pleasant time to visit, but the architectural details might be less visible as the day fades.
: -
Near Tourist Places:
Varanasi Junction (BSB) (3 KMS):
Sarnath (10 KMS):
Kashi Vishwanath Temple (4 KMS): Dashashwamedh Ghat (4.
5 KMS):
Assi Ghat (7 KMS):
Durga Kund Temple (6 KMS):
Sankat Mochan Temple (6 KMS):
New Vishwanath Temple (BHU) (8 KMS):
Alamgir Mosque (
5 KMS):
Gyan Vapi Well (4 KMS):
Tourism Tips
-
Health & Safety: The site is safe and well-maintained. Be careful of your step, as you will be walking around the perimeter of the marble map. There is no major crowd issue here compared to the ghats.
Packing: No specific dress code is req...Health & Safety: The site is safe and well-maintained. Be careful of your step, as you will be walking around the perimeter of the marble map. There is no major crowd issue here compared to the ghats.
Packing: No specific dress code is required, but modest attire is always advisable as it is a place of national reverence. Carry a camera to capture the unique marble map.
Accommodation: Staying near Varanasi Junction (Cantt) or in the main city area will provide the easiest access to this temple. This area is less congested than the ghat areas.
Other Different Topics Heading (Map Etiquette): Do not step on the map itself, as it is considered the deity. Show respect for the national monument by observing silence and solemnity. Read the inscriptions to understand the full significance of the scales.
:
Reviews
FAQs
Varanasi Itineray And Cost:-
Bharat Mata Mandir Tourism:-
Information about New and Updated Locations() of Uttar Pradesh Has Been Added :-
Card subtitle
Note:-
Information provided here in good Faith and for reference only.
All information and pictures will be updated soon, please keep visiting.
Near Places
Alamgir Mosque
Some quick example text to build on the card title and make up the bulk of the card's content.
Go somewhere
Annapurna Devi Mandir
Some quick example text to build on the card title and make up the bulk of the card's content.
Go somewhere
Assi Ghat
Some quick example text to build on the card title and make up the bulk of the card's content.
Go somewhere
Bharat Kala Bhavan Museum
Some quick example text to build on the card title and make up the bulk of the card's content.
Go somewhere
Bharat Mata Mandir
Some quick example text to build on the card title and make up the bulk of the card's content.
Go somewhere
Dashashwamedh Ghat
Some quick example text to build on the card title and make up the bulk of the card's content.
Go somewhere
Durga Kund Temple
Some quick example text to build on the card title and make up the bulk of the card's content.
Go somewhere
Gyan Vapi Well
Some quick example text to build on the card title and make up the bulk of the card's content.
Go somewhere
Harishchandra Ghat
Some quick example text to build on the card title and make up the bulk of the card's content.
Go somewhere
Kaal Bhairav Mandir
Some quick example text to build on the card title and make up the bulk of the card's content.
Go somewherein Other Cities