Kalika Mata Temple

The Kalika Mata Temple is one of the oldest structures within Chittorgarh Fort, originally an eighth-century Sun Temple that was later converted to a shrine of the goddess Kali. The outer walls retain some of their original carved panels in a style characteristic of Pratihara-period architecture. The temple remains an active place of worship, particularly busy on Navratri, the festival of the goddess.

The interior is typically simple — a sanctum with an image of Kali — but the setting within the fort, combined with the temple's complex architectural history, makes it one of the more interesting buildings on the plateau. Shoes must be removed before entering.

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A story
The Kalika Mata Temple was originally built in the eighth century as a Sun Temple — the carved panels on its outer walls still show the sun god Surya in characteristic style. After Alauddin Khalji's sack of the fort in 1303, the temple was repurposed as a shrine to the goddess Kali, and the solar iconography was adapted or covered. The transformation is visible if you look closely at the carved figures: solar symbols sit alongside later additions of Shakta imagery.

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