Maihar Sharda Devi Temple

Maihar's Sharda Devi is one of central India's most beloved Shakti shrines, drawing pilgrims seeking the Mother's blessings of wisdom and protection. The enduring legend of Alha's undying devotion lends the temple a special aura of faith. Navratri sees enormous gatherings on the hill. Its association with classical music adds a rare cultural dimension to the pilgrimage.

The Sharda Devi temple stands atop the Trikuta hill at Maihar, reached by climbing over a thousand steps or by ropeway. The goddess Sharda, a form of the Divine Mother associated with knowledge, is the presiding deity, and the shrine is wrapped in the folklore of Alha and Udal, the legendary heroes of the Mahoba region who are believed to have been her devotees and, in tradition, to still worship her first each dawn. Maihar is also renowned as the home of the Maihar gharana of Indian classical music, founded by Ustad Allauddin Khan. The hilltop offers sweeping views over the Vindhyan landscape.