Overview
Well, India will always fascinate me; The central part of the country contains treasures such as mountains, national parks, ancient Indian heritage, the Narmada River, tigers, and so on. But today I will talk about a temple that is not very fascinating to look at; it doesn’t have a grand structure, but it still tells an interesting story about the ancient history of India. The temple, Teli Temple, or, as you call it, Teli Ka Mandir, is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and is located inside the Gwalior fort.
History and Nomenclature of Teli ka Mandir
The name of the temple is a source of great consternation among historians. According to some, the temple was built by the oil merchants of Teli caste rather than the king. The second legend has it that the temple got its name when the Rahstakuta king attacked the fort in the 8th century and appointed Telang brahmins to supervise religious ceremonies. According to the third story, the temple was named after the Telangana region in Andhra Pradesh.
According to historians, Teli ka Mandir, Constructed during Mihir Bhoj’s reign in 850 A.D. is one of the oldest surviving structures in the MP. The architectural styles of Ngari and Valabhi prasad set a temple in the unique style of north Indian architecture
Architecture of Teli Ka Mandir
It’s one of the tallest temples in Gwalior and reaches up to a height of 100 feet. Built in Rajputana style architecture, the temple is a beautiful amalgamation of north and south styles of architecture. The temple sanctum is built on a rectangular platform with a 30-foot barrel vault cap. The shikara of the temple is designed in a Dravidian style and most likely has the Amalaka and Kalasha, but that couldn’t stand the wrath of time. On the circumambulatory walls, as you can see in the picture above, there are four entrances to the temple. The circumambulatory walls that surround the temple are attached to the four entry points. Unlike other temples , it doesn’t have mandapa
The temple consists of two doorways. The outer doorway is 35 feet high, with Vishnu’s Vahana named Garuda, and Ganesh resting on the inner doorway, with Nandi and a lingam placed inside the sanctum.
The temple’s walls are intricately carved with sculptures of the rivers Yamuna and Ganga, reflecting the Nagara style of architecture. Courtship and intimacy scenes are just beautiful to admire.
Invasion of Teli temple
During the reigns of Qutubdin Awak and his successor, Illtumish, the Temple was attacked. The invaders used temple ruins in the mosque, which were later destroyed by the Maratha army a century later.
Conservation
Temple reached a ruinous state in the 19th century, but under the patronage of Keith, an officer of the Royal Scott Regiment stationed in Gwalior, restoration work began.
How to buy a ticket
Teli Ka Temple is situated inside the Gwalior Fort. To buy a ticket, you can pre-book an online ticket on the Arcaelogical survey of India.
How to Reach Teli temple
Road: One can easily travel by auto or taxi near Gwalior Fort.
Timings: All days of the week: 8:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
Entry Fee: INR 10–INR 20 per person