Kalika Mata Temple, Ancient Hindu temple in Chittorgarh Fort, India.
Kalika Mata Temple is a Hindu temple inside Chittorgarh Fort, in the state of Rajasthan, India. Its stone walls, both inside and out, are covered with carved reliefs showing deities and decorative patterns.
The temple was built in the 8th century as a sun shrine and was later rededicated to the goddess Kalika in the 14th century. This change came during a period of religious transformation across the region.
The temple was originally dedicated to the sun, and some of the carvings on the walls still show solar motifs that predate the current dedication. Visitors today can watch worshippers bring flowers and incense as part of daily rituals.
Entry to the temple is covered by the Chittorgarh Fort ticket, and sturdy footwear is helpful since the stone floors inside are uneven. Going in the morning means fewer visitors and better natural light for seeing the carvings on the walls.
Inside the inner chamber, a flame called Akhanda Jyoti has reportedly burned without interruption for centuries, tended by priests as part of daily care. This makes the temple one of the few active shrines on the fort grounds where a ritual flame is kept going around the clock.
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