Located in the rural landscape near Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh, the Chamunda Mata Temple is an eleventh-century Bhumija style shrine that continues to remain in active worship. The site is not limited to the temple alone, but includes a baoli and a series of smaller chhatris, forming a layered sacred complex.

Our work formed part of the World Monuments Fund supported Madhya Pradesh Monuments Project, focusing on the conservation of the temple precinct and its associated structures.

The project began with detailed documentation, mapping, and condition assessment of the shrine, baoli, and ancillary elements. Rather than treating the site as a singular monument, the approach considered the relationship between the built structures, the landscape, and the ongoing practices of worship.

The proposal focused on stabilising the historic fabric, restoring the baoli and surrounding elements, and introducing landscape interventions that could support pilgrims while retaining the quiet character of the site.

The intention was to care for the temple as a living place — where conservation strengthens both the historic fabric and the continuing rituals that define it.