Places of worship in Ratlam
- 01
Bibrod Tirth
A Jain pilgrimage centre near Ratlam with a black 2.5-foot Adinath image in lotus posture, believed to pre-date the 13th century.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Morning; fair days are crowded
- Tickets
- Entry is free in the usual temple way. Remove footwear, avoid leather, and ask staff about photography. Timings and fair dates are not published; confirm with the temple office.
- 02
Kalika Mata Temple
A well-known temple to the goddess Kalika in the middle of Ratlam city, a short walk from the Gulab Chakkar.
- Time needed
- 30 to 45 minutes
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Early morning or evening; avoid Navratri if you dislike crowds
- Tickets
- Free entry. Footwear is removed, leather items are generally not allowed inside, and photography rules vary; ask the staff. Timings and aarti hours are not published, so ask locally.
- 03
Kedareshwar Temples, Sailana
Two Shiva temples, Bada and Chota Kedareshwar, carved into a cliff of igneous rock about 4 km from Sailana fort, with a man-made lake beside Bada Kedareshwar.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes to an hour
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- Winter mornings; Mahashivratri is crowded
- Tickets
- Entry is free in the usual way for temples, but timings are not published; remove footwear and follow local customs. Check photography rules at the shrine.
Gardens and parks in Ratlam
- 04
Cactus Garden, Sailana
A cactus garden behind the Sailana palace, reported to hold around 1,200 varieties, some twice a person's height.
- Time needed
- About an hour
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Morning or late afternoon, any season
- Tickets
- Timings and entry charges are not published on the district listing; check locally before you go.
Landmarks in Ratlam
- 05
Gulab Chakkar
A circular monument in central Ratlam, built in 1879 by Raja Ranjit Singh, a short stop in the old centre.
- Time needed
- 15 to 30 minutes
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Morning or evening
- Tickets
- No ticket is mentioned in the district listing; it is a city landmark that can be seen from the street.
Day trips in Ratlam
- 06
Sailana Kharmor Sanctuary
A small grassland sanctuary of about 13 sq km near Sailana, set up in 1983 for the lesser florican, or kharmor, which visits in the monsoon.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- July to October for the florican; winter for resident grassland birds
- Tickets
- Visiting hours, permits and fees are not published; confirm with the Ratlam forest office before you go. Local people may not know the exact entry point, so carry the coordinates and a Hindi-speaking driver.
