Namaste, Local Guides!
My Navratri series is going wonderfully, and I’m truly grateful for the love and appreciation you’ve shown to my posts. 
Your encouragement motivates me to share more stories about the temples and destinations I have personally visited. Check my last post here.
I began this journey with Dewas, Madhya Pradesh, a city popularly associated with the meaning “Devi Vaas”—the abode of the Goddesses. Today, I’m taking you to two Maa Bijasan Devi temples in Dewas district that hold a special place in the region’s religious and cultural landscape.
Both temples are connected with my own travel memories, and I’m excited to share them with you! 
1. Maa Bijasan Devi Temple, Iklera Mataji
The first destination is Maa Bijasan Devi Temple in Iklera Mataji village. Devotees from surrounding areas visit this temple every year to seek the blessings of Maa Bijasan Devi.
My Personal Experience
This temple brings back many lovely memories because I have visited Iklera Mataji several times with my family. These family visits made this place familiar and special to me. Every visit offered an opportunity to experience the local atmosphere, devotion, and faith surrounding the temple.
A Special Connection with Rajat Patidar
Iklera Mataji also has a special connection with Rajat Patidar, the Indian cricketer and captain of Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
According to online sources, Rajat Patidar was born in Indore, and his family has ancestral roots in Iklera Mataji village.
However, local people share a different account, saying that he was born in Iklera Mataji and later moved to Indore for his studies. This local account differs from the published information about his birthplace, but it reflects the pride and strong connection people in the village feel towards him.
It is wonderful to see a village like Iklera Mataji associated with a cricketer who has made a name for himself on the national stage! 
Location and How to Reach
- From Dewas: Approximately 50 km, according to my travel estimate.
- Important route marker: Take the turn from Tonk Kala village on Mumbai Agra national highway number 52. Iklera Mataji is approximately 32 km from Tonk Kala.
- Devotees from nearby villages and towns regularly visit the temple.
If you are planning a visit, remember Tonk Kala as an important landmark for finding the route to Iklera Mataji.
2. Maa Bijasan Devi Temple, Tinodiya, Sanod
Our second destination is Maa Bijasan Devi Temple near Tinodiya, in the Sanod area.
Situated on a small cliff along an extension of the Vindhya range, the temple offers beautiful views of the surrounding landscape, including areas towards Dewas and Indore.
Its elevated location and natural surroundings make it an interesting destination for devotees and people who enjoy exploring lesser-known religious places.
My Personal Experience
This temple is connected with some of my favourite local travel memories.
I have ridden to this place on my bike many times, sometimes alone and sometimes with my cousin brothers. These journeys gave me opportunities to explore the surrounding countryside, enjoy the ride, and discover a religious destination away from the usual tourist routes.
For me, these visits were about more than simply reaching a temple. The bike rides, the company of my cousin brothers on some trips, and the beautiful surroundings made the experiences memorable.
These repeated visits are one of the main reasons I wanted to include this destination in my Navratri series.
Location and How to Reach
- From Dewas: Approximately 28 km.
- From Indore: Approximately 25 km.
- Highway landmark: The temple is around 2 km north of the Indore–Betul National Highway, according to my travel estimate.
If you enjoy discovering local temples and exploring the countryside, this place is worth learning more about.
Two Temples, Many Memories
What makes these two destinations special to me is not just their religious significance, but also the personal memories associated with them.
My visits to Iklera Mataji with my family and my bike rides to Tinodiya, either alone or with my cousin brothers, have made these places an important part of my exploration of the Dewas region.
Although both temples are known to devotees in their surrounding areas, detailed historical information about them is limited online. I believe that local knowledge is invaluable. Residents and regular visitors may know stories, traditions, and historical details that deserve to be documented and shared with a wider audience.
Through this Navratri series, I hope to bring attention to such places and preserve their stories for future generations.
A Question for the Local Guides Community
Have you visited either of these Maa Bijasan Devi temples?
If you are from Iklera Mataji, Tinodiya, Sanod, or nearby villages, I would love to learn more about their:
History and local legends- Religious traditions and beliefs
Annual fairs and festivals
Best routes and travel experiences
Old photographs or historical records
If you know something about these temples that is not easily available online, please share it in the comments. Your contribution could help document and preserve the local heritage of the Dewas region.
Jai Maa Bijasan Devi! Jai Mata Di!
@NareshDarji @TravellerG @PrasadVR @AjitThite @RosyKohli @Shrut19 @TusharSuradkar
More temple stories and personal travel experiences are coming in my Navratri 2026 series. Thank you for being part of this journey!
