Temple of Kalbhairav

This dark and fearsome hunisman's-deity is sometimes considered to be an aspect of Siva but is, more correctly, identified, as the leader of eight awesome semi-divine beings of the jungle and wilderness named the Bhairavs. Interestingly, at the bottom of the steps leading to the temple are a number of shops selling bottles of alcohol. Liquor is one of the authorised offerings given to this unusual Hindu god. A descriptive board says that the worshippers of Siva also revere the eight Bhairavs and this temple has been mentioned in one of the old scriptures of Hinduism.

Traditionally, the followers of both the Kapalika and Aghora sects worship Kal Bhairav. These mendicants practice extreme austerities: the Aghoras, in particular, live in cremation grounds and their lifestyles are regarded as repulsive and very anti-social by most people. The temple is built a bit like a fortress with steps leading to a nail-studded gate, set in a gate-house in the wall encircling the temple. In the grounds, there is a large, black, light-tower and both this, and the architecture of the temple, show the influence of the Marathas.