The Chhatarpur Temple, officially known as Shri Adhya Katyayani Shaktipith Mandir, is a magnificent temple located in the downtown area of Chhatarpur, Delhi, India. The temple is dedicated to Goddess Katyayani, one of the nine forms of Hindu goddess Durga or Shakti, revered during the auspicious Navratri celebrations. The entire temple complex sprawls over an extensive 70-acre area and is situated on the southwestern outskirts of New Delhi, merely 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) away from the iconic Qutub Minar, accessible from the Mehrauli-Gurgaon road.
Established in 1974 by Baba Sant Nagpal ji, who passed away in 1998, the temple complex includes his samadhi shrine located within the premises of the Shiv-Gauri Nageshwar Mandir.
In the past, the Chhatarpur Temple held the distinction of being the second-largest temple in India and the third-largest in the world, although later, the Akshardham Temple in Delhi surpassed its scale and prominence. The temple’s exquisite architecture features complete marble construction with delicate jaali (perforated stone or latticed screen) work on all its facets, reflecting the vesara style of architectural design.
The temple surroundings are of great ecological significance, forming an essential biodiversity area within the Northern Aravalli leopard wildlife corridor that stretches from Sariska Tiger Reserve to Delhi. The region also boasts historical sites such as Badkhal Lake (6km northeast), the ancient 10th-century Surajkund reservoir, Anangpur Dam, Damdama Lake, Tughlaqabad Fort, and Adilabad ruins in Delhi. Additionally, the temple complex is adjacent to the seasonal waterfalls in Pali-Dhuaj-Kot villages of Faridabad, the sacred Mangar Bani, and the Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary. Moreover, several lakes have formed in the abandoned open pit mines in the forested hilly area of Delhi Ridge.
Encompassing 60 acres (24.3 hectares), the temple complex comprises over 20 small and large temples divided into three different complexes. The primary deity worshipped in the temple is Goddess Katyayani. A notable feature is the side shrine within the main temple, which houses a shrine of Goddess Katyayani (Durga) that opens only during the bi-annual Navratri season, attracting thousands of devotees for darshan. Adjacent to it, a room serves as a living room with tables and chairs crafted in silver, while another room, known as the Shayan Kaksha (Bed Room), showcases a silver bed, dressing table, and table. This side shrine connects to a spacious satsang or prayer hall where religious discourses and bhajans (religious songs) are conducted. At the entrance to the main temple, a revered old tree stands where devotees tie holy threads, expressing their wishes for fulfillment.
Another shrine of Goddess Durga remains open to devotees from morning till evening, situated above the shrines dedicated to Radha Krishna and Lord Ganesh.
Apart from these, the temple complex also houses other temples devoted to Lord Rama, Lord Ganesha, and Lord Shiva, featuring both South and North Indian styles of temple architecture, enhancing the grandeur and diversity of this sacred place.
