Pataleshwar / Kedareshwar Mahadev Temple is located in Malhar in Bilaspur district. Nagar Panchayat Malhar, located 32 km from Bilaspur city, is a historical site. The temple was built by a Brahmin named Somaraja in the 10th to 13th centuries in the Kalkuri period.
Pataleshwar sits on the ground of the Mahadev Temple. The special thing about this temple is that there are 108 angles in the temple. Pataleshwar Mahadev is also known as Kedareshwar. It is a shivling of black shiny stone cow face. It is believed that the water offered in Lord Shankar’s watercourse reaches the Hades.
A grand fair is organized in the temple premises on the occasion of Maha Shivaratri here. This fair runs for 15 days.
Malhar is an important place from an archaeological point of view. There is also a spread of soil mural fort on several acres. The first mention of Malhar’s soil wall fort (Mud Fort) D. Begler during his tour of 1873–74. But he did not show special interest in this mud fort. He mentioned 2 ruins of temples in this city.
History of malhar:-
The Mallasur demon described in the Puranas was killed by Shiva. Due to this, his name Malari, Mallal became popular. This city is currently called Malhar. In the inscription of Kalchuri period 1164 AD from Malhar, these cities have been called Mallal Pattan. Especially this city got more publicity when the ancient idol of Diddeshwari Devi was stolen from here. It was then published prominently in newspapers.
The pavilion shrine of the Palleshwar temple is high, but to get to the sanctum sanctorum, 5-6 steps have to be taken, that is, the sanctum sanctorum is on the ground. On the left side of the gate is the life-size statue of the Kachhap Vahini Yamuna and on the right is the Vakha Vani of Ganga Devi. Along with these, other followers of Shiva are also installed.