Charan Chauki Kota: Krishna Footprint Shrine and Visit Guide

Charan Chauki (often spelled Charan Chowki) is a small shrine on the outskirts of Kota with a big story attached. Rajasthan Tourism describes it as the spot where Lord Krishna is said to have rested for a brief moment while travelling from Mathura to Dwarka, and where his footprints are said to be preserved. It lies about 15 km from the city on the road to the Dad Devi temple, and the two make a natural half-day outing.

An earlier version of this page described Charan Chauki as a neighbourhood temple about 5 km from the centre. We have corrected the location and description using Rajasthan Tourism’s listing.

History of Charan Chauki

There is no published architectural history of the shrine, and its importance comes from tradition rather than from inscriptions or dated buildings. The name itself tells the story: charan means feet and chauki a resting place or seat. Footprint shrines of this kind are found across India, marking places where a deity or saint is believed to have stopped.

The tradition here connects Kota to Krishna’s journey from Mathura, in Braj, to Dwarka on the coast of Gujarat, where according to the epics and Puranas he founded his kingdom. Kota lies roughly between the two, and the story fits a city whose rulers were devoted to Krishna: Maharao Bhim Singh I and his successors made Kota a centre of Pushtimarg Krishna worship, and the Mathuradheesh temple in the old city is one of the tradition’s principal shrines.

Treat the story as faith rather than history, and enjoy the shrine as a quiet place of devotion off the usual tourist trail.

What to see at Charan Chauki

• The footprints (charan) venerated as Krishna’s
• A small, living shrine with daily worship
• The rural approach road from Kota towards Dad Devi
• A peaceful contrast to the busy temples of the old city

Tips for visiting

1. Combine with Dad Devi. Rajasthan Tourism places Dad Devi about 18 km from Kota, surrounded by thick forest, and describes it as the temple of the deity of the royal household of Kota, an incarnation of Durga. Charan Chauki is on the way.
2. Dress and behave as at any temple. Remove footwear, cover shoulders and knees, and ask before taking photographs of the shrine or worshippers.
3. Go in the cool of the day. The road is exposed and summer middays are very hot; see the best time to visit Kota.
4. Festival days such as Janmashtami bring more devotees to Krishna shrines across the city, while Navratri is the busy time at Dad Devi.
5. Carry water and small change, as facilities on the route are basic.

Visiting Charan Chauki: practical details

Detail	Information
Where	On the road from Kota to Dad Devi temple
Distance from Kota	About 15 km (Rajasthan Tourism)
Best time to visit	October to March; early morning or late afternoon
Timings	Follow daily worship; not officially published
Entry	Free
Getting there	Taxi or auto-rickshaw from Kota, combined with Dad Devi

Distances are approximate road distances. Timings change, so confirm them locally before you set out.

Krishna in Kota

If the Krishna connection interests you, follow it through the city: the Pushtimarg haveli of Mathuradheesh, the Krishna murals and Brijnathji paintings of the Garh Palace, and the court paintings described in our guide to the Kota school of painting. The temples of Kota guide lists the city’s other major shrines.

Combine Charan Chauki with nearby places

• Dad Devi Temple: The forest temple of the goddess worshipped by the Kota royal household, about 18 km from Kota and coming alive during Navratri.
• Bhitariya Kund: A serene traditional kund (water tank) near Kota, a peaceful spot associated with a small shrine and quiet local devotion.
• Kansua Temple: One of the oldest temples in Kota, with an inscription dated 738 CE.
• Khade Ganesh Ji Temple: An old temple where Ganesha is worshipped in a rare standing (khade) posture.