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TEMPLE · SHIVA · NARMADAShoolpaneshwar Temple
A Shiva shrine of the Narmada — Shoolpaneshwar, the ancient Mahadev temple that gives its name to the great wildlife sanctuary, a sacred site by the river.
A namesake of the wild
Shoolpaneshwar is an ancient and sacred Shiva temple of the Narmada valley — so revered that the vast surrounding wildlife sanctuary takes its name from it. The original shrine, in the river gorge, was a famed stop on the Narmada Parikrama, mentioned in legend and long visited by pilgrims and sadhus.
With the building of the Sardar Sarovar Dam, the old site was affected by the rising reservoir and the deity reinstalled at a relocated temple. Shoolpaneshwar Mahadev remains a focus of devotion in this stretch of the Narmada, blending the spiritual pull of the sacred river with the wild beauty of its forested hills.
Faith and wilderness, side by side. (A Shiva temple; modest dress. Illustrated emblem shown.)
From a riverside experiment to the road to freedom
Illustration — Mahadev shrine.
A revered Shiva shrine.
A famed river-walk stop.
The old site affected.
At a relocated temple.
Reasons to make the time
Ancient Shiva shrine
Of the Narmada.
Namesake
Of the sanctuary.
Parikrama site
A river-walk stop.
Riverside faith
By the Narmada.
Legend
Old & storied.
Forest setting
Wild beauty.
What to look for inside
Shoolpaneshwar
A Shiva temple.
Forest & river
Wild & sacred.
How to spend an hour or two
Seek darshan
Of Shiva.
Learn the legend
An old shrine.
Sense the devotion
By the river.
Pair with the sanctuary
The namesake forest.
Sit by the Narmada
A sacred pause.
Attend the aarti
At the temple.
A Shiva shrine of the river
Shoolpaneshwar is an ancient Shiva temple of the Narmada that gives its name to the great wildlife sanctuary — a famed Narmada Parikrama stop, its old gorge site affected by the dam and the deity reinstalled nearby.
Faith and wilderness side by side. (Modest dress. Illustrated emblem shown.)
An ancient Shiva temple
Namesake of the sanctuary
A Narmada Parikrama stop
Relocated after the dam
When to go
Cool and pleasant — the ideal season.
Lush and green by the river.
Hot — start early.
⏰ Visit at aarti time in the cooler months; combine it with the Narmada ghats and Kevadia.
Timings & entry
- Open at worship hours
- Morning & evening aarti
- Best in the cool season
- By the sacred Narmada
- Free entry
- Modest dress; remove footwear
- Respect worshippers
- Photography may vary
Getting there
By Air
Vadodara airport (~90 km).
By Rail
Ekta Nagar (Kevadia) station.
By Road
Kevadia / Rajpipla.
At Shoolpaneshwar Temple
FAITH & FOREST
A river-forest shrine
What to shoot
The shrine.
Setting
Forest & river.
Moment
Aarti.
Best light
Morning.
Know before you go
More to see close by
Zarwani Falls
A monsoon cascade inside the sanctuary
Garudeshwar Weir
Calm Narmada backwaters & a Dattatreya shrine
Rajpipla Temples
Royal-era shrines of the old capital
Statue of Unity
The world's tallest statue — 182 m of Sardar Patel
Karnali — Kuber Bhandari
An ancient Shiva temple by the river
Rajpipla Palaces
The old royal town & its grand palaces
Where to eat around the ashram
Gujarati Thali
Full sweet-savoury meals.
Dhokla & farsan
Steamed snacks.
Kevadia food courts
Snacks for visitors.
Local fare
Gujarati & tribal food; Kevadia food courts.
Shoolpaneshwar Temple FAQ
What is Shoolpaneshwar Temple?
Shoolpaneshwar is an ancient and sacred Shiva temple of the Narmada valley — so revered that the vast surrounding wildlife sanctuary takes its name from it. The original shrine, in the river gorge, was a famed stop on the Narmada Parikrama, mentioned in legend and long visited by pilgrims and sadhus.
Where is it?
Narmada district.
Is there an entry fee?
Free.
When should I visit?
October to March; at aarti time.
What's nearby?
The Narmada ghats, Statue of Unity and Kevadia.
How long does it take?
About 30 minutes.
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