Chhatarpur Temple, Delhi

Chhatarpur Temple is located in a down town area in south of Delhi. It is originally known as Chhatarpur Shri Adhya Katyani Shakti Peeth Mandir .This is the second largest temple complex in India, and is dedicated to Goddess, Katyayani. The goddess Katyayani, a part of Navadurga, is considered to be the sixth avatar of goddess Durga. Devotees from all caste and creed are welcomed here. It is located at Chhatarpur, on the southwestern outskirts of the city of Delhi and is just 4 km from Qutub Minar, off Mehrauli-Gurgaon road.

The temple was established in 1974, by Baba Sant Nagpal ji. He died in 1998 and his samadhi shrine lies in the premises of the Shiv-Gauri Nageshwar Mandir within the temple complex.

This temple was considered as the biggest temple in India and second largest in the world, before the Akshardham Temple was created in 2005 in Delhi. This temple is totally constructed from marble. The entire temple complex is spread over 60 acres and has over 20 small and large temples divided in three different complexes.

Architecture
Festival
Temple Timing
How to Reach
Videos

A side shrine within the main temple houses a shrine of Goddess Katyayani (Durga), which opens only during the bi-annual Navratri season, when thousands of people throng the premises for darshan. One nearby room has been made as living room with tables and chairs made in silver, and another regarded as the Shayan Kaksha (Bed Room), where a bed, dressing table and table are carved in silver. This shrine opens on a large satsang or prayer hall, where religious discourses and bhajans, (religious songs) are held. On the main entrance, there is an ancient tree that is covered with holy threads. People tie threads or bangles to this tree with the belief that their wishes would be fulfilled.

The enthralling statues of the deities like Shiv Mandir, Ram Mandir, Maa Katyayani Mandir, Maa Mahishasurmaridini Mandir, Maa Ashtabhuji Mandir, Hanuman Mandir, Laxmi Vinayak Mandir, Jharpeer Mandir, Markandeya Mandapam, Baba Ki Samadhi, Nageshwar Mandir, the Trident (Trishul), 101 feet high Hanuman Murti etc are special attractions for the devotees. The temples have been built in both South and North Indian style of temple architecture. The special celebrations during Navratras, Mahashivratri and Janmashtami make the temple abuzz with religious fervour to the delight of the devotees congregating in hundreds and thousands. The lungar Prasad distributed in both the Navratras to approximately lakh visitors daily is a rare sight to see and believe.

Katyayani is one of the incarnations of Goddess Durga, also known as Parvati or Lalitha, the wife of Lord Shiva and has the following story as the background. There was a Rishi named Katyayan who worshipped Durga devi and asked her for a boon that she be born as his daughter. Devi got pleased and fulfilled his wish. In this Avtaar, she killed Mahishasur, the demon. The idol of Devi is depicted as golden complexioned and carrying various weapons in her hand for destruction of evil.

Mahashivratri is celebrated every year in the temple on the 14th day of the Hindu month of Fagun (February-March). According to Hindu mythology, this day is the marriage day of Lord Shiva and Maa Parvathi.

The celebrations start with Kumbhabhishek i.e. holy bath of Maa Katyayani a few days before the start of the Navratras as per tradition started by Babaji. This is followed by Delhi Darshan when offerings consisting of lehngas/sarees, chunnis, fruits, sweets, garlands and cash are sent to 41 temples, dargahs etc in the city. The Chattarpur Temple remains crowded during most days of the year, but exceptional crowd of devotees would be seen during Durga Puja and Navaratri. Moreover, during Navratris as many as 10 million people or more reach here from far and wide with great devotion to take a glimpse of the deity, to pray, and to fulfill their wishes. This is the time of the year when special bus services are provided to the devotees to make it easy for them to reach Chattarpur Temple

Temple remains open from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM all days of the week. The best time to visit the Chhatarpur Temple is between the months of October and March.

	Delhi is well connected with domestic and international flights, to all the major cities within and outside India. Almost all the major airlines have their flights operating from Indira Gandhi International Airport of New Delhi. Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport is connected to all the important cities of the world with almost all the major international airlines operating out of here. Palam Domestic Airport connects Delhi to the major cities in India.

	Nearest Railway Station is Nizamuddin Railway Station and Nearest Metro Station is Central Secretariat and Functional Metro Station is Central Secretariat from the Chattarpur Mandir Delhi.

	Tourists can either take local buses from various points within the city to reach this temple, or they can hire auto-rickshaws and taxis or take the metro rail. One can easily reach Chhatarpur Temple by taking local Buses, metro, auto rickshaws or by hiring taxis from Delhi .Delhi is well connected to all the major cities of India by a network of highways and roads.