Salkanpur is where central India comes to pray. About 70 km southeast of Bhopal, in Sehore district, a hill rises some 800 feet above the plains — and on top sits the temple of Bijasan Mata (also called Vijayasana Devi), a form of the goddess Durga. It is one of Madhya Pradesh’s most-visited Shakti shrines, an easy day trip from the city, and during Navratri it draws tens of thousands of pilgrims a day.
A Vindhya hill shrine
The goddess here is revered as Vindhyavasini Bijasan Devi and the hill is treated as a Siddhpeeth — a seat of spiritual power. Pilgrims have climbed it for generations; today the shrine is looked after by the Salkanpur temple trust, and the summit has been steadily built up with halls, lodging and facilities for the crowds it now draws.
Getting to the top — steps or ropeway
There are two ways up the hill:
- The steps — roughly 1,400 stairs to the summit, the traditional climb many pilgrims still prefer.
- The ropeway — built in 2001, it glides you up in minutes for about ₹80–100 per person, and is the sensible choice for elders, children, or a hot afternoon.
The temple is generally open from around 6 AM to 10 PM, with the ropeway running through the day (about 7 AM to 7 PM).
Making the trip
Salkanpur is about a 1.5 to 2 hour drive from Bhopal, heading southeast towards Budhni and Rehti. Most visitors drive or hire a cab; buses run from Bhopal and Sehore, and the nearest railway station is Sehore on the Bhopal–Indore line. It pairs naturally with a broader temple-and-countryside day out south of the city.
Verified June 2026 against MP Tourism, the Sehore district administration and other sources. Timings, ropeway fares and festival arrangements change — confirm locally before a special trip.
