Maihar Devi Temple: Timings, Steps, Ropeway Guide

Facts checked November 2026.

Maa Sharda of Maihar is one of the most loved Devi shrines of central India. Families come here to offer thanks, perform mundan and seek the Mother’s blessing before new work. This guide explains timings, the steps and ropeway, the Alha–Udal legend and how to plan a calm darshan, especially with elders.

Where is Maihar Devi Temple located?

The temple stands on Trikuta (also written Trikut) hill, about 5 km from Maihar town, according to the Government of India’s Utsav portal. Maihar was part of Satna district until October 2023, when the state government formed Maihar as a separate district. Many maps and older articles still write “Maihar, Satna”, so do not be confused by either name.

The name Maihar is explained as “Mother’s necklace” (Mai ka haar). This comes from the belief that the necklace of Mata Sati fell here.

What are the Maihar Devi Temple timings?

The temple’s managing committee does not publish a timing chart on any official page we could find. The timings printed on popular websites do not match each other, so please treat the table below only as a rough guide and confirm locally the day before.

What all these reports agree on is that the doors open very early, before sunrise, and close after the evening aarti. By local tradition, no one, not even the priests, stays on the hill at night. During Navratri the hours and queue arrangements can change, so watch for local announcements.

How many steps are there in Maihar temple?

The Utsav portal, MP Tourism and Amar Ujala all give 1,063 steps. Some websites write “1,001” or “about 1,200”, but 1,063 is the number used by official and news sources.

The shrine is about 600 feet above the ground below, according to Patrika and regional reports. The steps are steep in parts, so climb slowly and rest often. Carry water, wear comfortable footwear up to the point where footwear must be left, and avoid the midday heat in April to June.

Is there a ropeway at Maihar, and what are its timings?

Yes. The Maihar ropeway is run by Damodar Ropeways. Their own Maihar page states:

• Cabins carry 4 persons each.
• Service runs from 6:30 AM to 7:30 PM, but hours may be adjusted day to day for daylight, weather and the evening aarti. (Their online booking page lists 6:30 AM to 7:00 PM, so confirm the closing time.)
• Listed fares, plus GST: adult both ways ₹142.85; adult one way (temple down to the lower station) ₹95.24; child (3 to 10 years) both ways ₹95.24; child one way ₹80.95. A 30-day monthly pass is also offered at the counter. Fares can change, so check the board at the counter.

Tickets can be bought at the counter at the base of the hill. The operator’s own website also lists online booking and a toll-free tele-ticketing line. Book only through the operator’s website or counter, and be careful of other sites or agents selling “ropeway tickets”.

The ropeway is shut on some days for maintenance and safety checks. For example, Amar Ujala reported that it was closed from 26 March to 3 April 2024, just before Chaitra Navratri, and devotees had to use the steps. If you are travelling with elders, check that the ropeway is running before you leave.

Can senior citizens go up by road or van?

There is a hill road. Patrika reported in April 2025 that the proposed Maa Sharda Lok plan includes making the “existing 4 km hill road” safer, and an older Patrika report says vehicles can cover about 300 feet of the height. Whether private cars or a van can take devotees close to the shrine on a given day depends on local rules and crowd control, especially during Navratri, so confirm locally.

For elders, the simplest plan is usually the ropeway plus a short walk. Ask at the base about any vehicle or wheelchair help on the day of your visit.

Is Maihar Devi temple a Shakti Peeth?

MP Tourism and the Utsav portal describe Maihar as the place where Mata Sati’s necklace fell, and MP Tourism counts it among the 51 Shakti Peeths. But sources differ: some traditional lists of the Shakti Peeths do not include Maihar, and Patrika has written that it is not a Shakti Peeth even though devotees’ faith in it is very strong. The honest answer is that Maihar is revered as a Shakti Peeth by many devotees, while some lists leave it out. For an overview of the main Peeths, see our Shakti Peeth yatra guide.

What is the story of Alha and Udal at Maihar?

This is a legend, loved across Bundelkhand. Alha and Udal were warrior brothers of Mahoba, famous from the folk epic Alha Khand. The story says they were the first to find the goddess on Trikuta hill. Alha did penance for 12 years and is believed to have received the boon of immortality. He lovingly called the goddess “Sharda Mai”, and the name stayed.

Devotees believe Alha still comes every day before dawn to worship first, which is why the hill is emptied at night. At the foot of the hill behind the temple is Alha’s pond (Alha Talab), and about 2 km further is the Alha–Udal akhara (wrestling ground), as per Patrika.

How old is Maihar Devi temple?

Dates vary between sources and none is proven. The Utsav portal and Patrika say the idol was installed in Vikram Samvat 559, and the Utsav portal adds that Adi Shankaracharya is believed to have worshipped here in the 9th–10th century. The historian Alexander Cunningham studied the temple in detail. Patrika reports that in 1922 the then ruler, Brajnath Judeo, banned animal sacrifice at the temple. Other deities worshipped on the hill include Kaal Bhairavi, Hanuman, Kali, Durga, Gauri Shankar, Shesh Nag and Phoolmati Mata.

Who manages Maihar Devi temple?

The temple is run under a state law, the Madhya Pradesh Maa Sharda Devi Mandir Adhiniyam (Act 5 of 2003). It gives control and management of the Mandir to the Maa Sharda Devi Mandir Managing Committee, headquartered at Maihar. The Act names the district Collector as chairman, and an Administrator handles day-to-day work. Under the Act, ownership of the temple and its endowments rests with the deity, Maa Sharda Devi, herself.

When is the Navratri mela at Maihar?

The two big melas are in Chaitra Navratri (March–April) and Sharad Navratri (September–October). MP Tourism notes that Navratri brings special rituals and very large crowds, so expect long queues and waits for the ropeway. Navratri dates follow the Hindu calendar, so they move each year.

These are panchang dates; the temple’s own mela arrangements are announced locally closer to the time. If you are coming with elders or small children, consider a non-Navratri date or arrive very early.

How to reach Maihar Devi temple?

• By train: Maihar railway station is well connected to Delhi, Bhopal, Kolkata, Varanasi, Mumbai and other cities (MP Tourism). The Utsav portal puts the temple about 7 km from the station.
• By air: MP Tourism names Jabalpur and Khajuraho as the closest airports.
• By road: Maihar is reached via NH-34 (MP Tourism), with buses and taxis from Satna, Rewa, Jabalpur and Chitrakoot.

We could not find official road distances from Katni or Prayagraj, so check your route on the day.

Where to stay near Maihar Devi temple?

MP Tourism lists its own hotel, MPT Surbahar, in Maihar, along with a homestay. Rooms fill up fast in Navratri, so book well ahead if your dates fall in the mela. Staying in Maihar the night before lets you reach the base early, before the queues and the heat.

What are the rules for darshan at Maihar?

• Visitors report that phones and cameras are not allowed in the sanctum and that lockers are available at the base; confirm locally.
• No one stays on the hill at night, as per temple tradition.
• Wear modest, comfortable clothes, and leave footwear where asked before the temple area.
• Join the normal queue; we found no official online darshan pass.
• During Navratri, follow police and volunteer directions, and keep elders and children close.

When is the best time to visit Maihar?

MP Tourism suggests October to March, when the weather is pleasant. April to June is very hot on the open steps, so go at first light if you visit then. In the rains the steps can be slippery. Early mornings on weekdays outside Navratri are usually the calmest.

What are the places to visit near Maihar?

• Alha Talab and Alha–Udal akhara: at the foot of the hill, linked to the legend.
• Maihar’s music heritage: MP Tourism notes that Maihar is the birthplace of the Maihar gharana founded by Ustad Allauddin Khan.
• Chitrakoot: about 70 km away, sacred to Bhagwan Ram. Read our Chitrakoot Dham yatra guide.
• Amarkantak: the source of the Narmada, often paired with Maihar in one dharmik yatra.
• Ujjain: many families add a Jyotirlinga darshan on a longer Madhya Pradesh yatra; see our Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga guide.

How Yatra To Temples can help

Our Maihar and Amarkantak Shakti Peeth Darshan Yatra starts from Bilaspur and ends at Jabalpur. It covers Amarkantak (Narmada Udgam, the Kalachuri-era temples, Sonmuda and Kapil Dhara), Maa Sharda on Trikuta hill at Maihar, and Bhedaghat, Dhuandhar falls and the Gwarighat aarti at Jabalpur. The package page lists hotel stays, pure-vegetarian breakfast and dinner, a private AC vehicle with driver, and guidance on darshan and aarti timings with phone and WhatsApp support. Ropeway tickets, paid pujas and train or air tickets are not included. For other places or special needs, ask us.

Frequently asked questions

How many stairs are there in Maihar Devi temple?

Official and news sources give 1,063 steps from the base to the shrine. Some websites say about 1,000 or 1,200, but 1,063 is the figure used by the Utsav portal, MP Tourism and Amar Ujala.

Can I book the Maihar ropeway online?

Yes. The operator, Damodar Ropeways, lists online booking and a toll-free tele-ticketing line on its website, and tickets are also sold at the counter at the base. Use only the operator’s website or counter.

What is the height of Maihar Devi temple?

Regional reports put the shrine about 600 feet above the ground at the foot of Trikuta hill. We found no official sea-level altitude for the temple.

Which is the nearest railway station to Maihar Devi temple?

Maihar railway station is the nearest; the Utsav portal puts it about 7 km from the temple. Satna and Katni are larger stations nearby if you cannot get a train that stops at Maihar.

Which body part of Sati fell at Maihar?

The common belief is that Mata Sati’s necklace fell here, which is how the name “Maihar” is explained. Not every traditional Shakti Peeth list includes Maihar, so sources differ on its status.

Who built Maihar Devi temple?

No single builder is known for certain. Legend links the shrine’s discovery to Alha and Udal, and the Utsav portal mentions an idol installed in Vikram Samvat 559, but these dates are not proven.

Is Maihar temple open at night?

No. The temple closes after the evening aarti and, by tradition, no one stays on the hill overnight. It reopens before dawn.

How far is Chitrakoot from Maihar Devi temple?

MP Tourism gives about 70 km from Maihar to the Kamta Nath temple in Chitrakoot, which is why many families visit both on one yatra.