JAGDISH TEMPLE
Only 150 meters north of the entrance to the City Palace,
this fines Indo-Aryan temple was built by Maharana Jagat
Singh I (1628-53) in 1651.
The pinnacled Jagdish Temple was built at a cost of Rs.
15 lacs. It enshrines a beautiful four-armed black image
of Lord Vishnu. A brass image of the Garuda is in a shrine
of the temple and the steps up to the temple are banked
by elephants. The temple, 80 feet high, is on a 25 feet
high platform accessible by a flight of 32 steps.The bold
structure of the temple, representing the variety of scenes
relating to the life on this Earth as well as the World
beyond, is a delight to an architect who should minutely
examine these figures engraved with all well-thought details.
The ornamental decorum and the architectural beauty of
the temple defies any description.
JAIN TEMPLES OF UDAIPUR
There are more than 30 mentionable Jain temples in Udaipur
of which the temples of Sheetal Nathji and Vasupoojyaji
(both being incarnation of Mahaveer Swami) deserve special
reference. The temple of Sheetal Nathji is the oldest
of all the temples said to have been founded with the
foundation of Udaipur. It is on the right side of the
way from Clock Tower to city palaces and contains beautiful
glass work. But more beautiful is the temple of Vasupoojyaji
wherein there is a bewitching glass mosaic and paintings.
It is in Bada Bazar hardly half a furlong from the Clock
Tower.
JAGAT
Jagat is known as Khajurah of Rajsthan, with erotic sculptures,
Ambika Mata Mandir and Surya Mandir of Jagat are archeological
sites.
EKLINGNATH
TEMPLE
15th century famous temple of Bhagwan Shiv (Eklingji or
Eklingnath) at Kailashpuri. The four-faced idol of Eklingji
is carved in black stone. The temple is at a 20 km distance
from Udaipur on the National Highway No. 8, while going
towards Nathdwara. The temple was built originally by
Bappa Rawal in the third decade of the eight century,
and later on repaired and remodelled by different Maharanas
to wipe out the vestiges of destruction caused by attacks
of Mohammedans. By dint of the kindness of Eklingnath,
Bappa Rawal got the kingdom of Mewar and hence Eklingji
was the ruling deity of Mewar and the Maharana was the
devotee and Dewan of Eklingji.
Inside the temple is a beautiful four-faced image of Lord
Shiva carved out of black marble open for darshan for
a number of times throughout the day, but the most lovely
darshan is had at the time of the evening worshipping
(arti) held between 7.00 and 7.30 P.M. The temple has
a double-storeyed porch, ornamented by a pyramidal roof
and peculiarly ornate tower over the sanctuary proper.
Carvings require critical and patient eyes to enjoy.
NAGDA
TEMPLES
The ancient capital of Mewar founded by Nagaditya in the
sixth century.. The place of historical importance &
the beautiful temple of Sas-Bahu with intricate carvings.
At a 1 1/2-mile-distance in the west from Eklingji, are
the famous ruins caused by Mugal invaders, (especially
Altumush) of the temples of Nagda.
The Jain temple, having in it a nine-foot-sitting idol
of Adbhutji Baba and the temples of Sas-Bahu which expose
an enviable specimen of fine texture of the material that
dictates a more tender care for details than the buff
and red sandstone of Rajasthan and the mastery over this
material and difficulties of chiselling granite, have
paved the way for similar sculpture elsewhere.
NATHDWARA
The temple-town of Nathdwara situated on the right bank
of river Banas, at a distance of 50 km from Udaipur, connected
by a rail-link as well as by a regular bus-service is
well known far and wide for the Vaishnava (Vallabhacharya
Sect) temples, the chief of which is the temple of Shrinathji.
The full-view-black-idol of Shrinathji is seated in a
simple but grand temple where thousands of pilgrims come
every month- Also the temple is fabulously wealthy and
until some years ago wagon-loads of supplies of food stuffs
used to arrive there both consigned by and consigned to
'Shrinathji'.
Rana Raj Singh in 1672 A.D. rescued the idol of Shrinathji
from the persecution of Aurangzeb when no ruler of Rajputana
could dare do so for the fear of incurring the displeasure
of Aurangzeb. There are 7 Darshans of the deity every
day.Nathdwara has about more than a dozen Dharmshalas
for the stay of pilgrims coming to this town.
Ivory articles, paintings and tasteful prashad (sweets
which are offered to the deity and later on sold in shops
regularly) purchased from here will always form sweet
memories of the visit to this place.
KANAKROLI
Kankroli situated on the bank of the famous Rajsamudra
lake, 60 km away from Udaipur but linked by railway as
well as a regular bus-service is famous for the temple
of Dwarkanathji revered by the Vaishnava sect. The idol
was drought in 1671 A.D. (during the reign of Maharana
Raj Singh) which was seated in its present temple constructed
at the time of the inauguration of the Rajsamudra lake
in 1676 A.D. Those visiting Udaipur and Nathdwara, generally
visit this town too which has the additional attractions
of the famous Rajsamudra lake and its exquisite Nau-chowkis
and the fort of Dayal Shah - a famous Jain personality.
CHARBHUJAJI
The temple of Charbhujaji about 60 km from Kankroli and
27 km from the Railway station of Charhhuja Road has a
four-armed deity of Charbhujanathji worshipped by Vaishnavites.
On the eleventh day of Bhadra-Shukla a grand fair is held
which is attended by thousands of pilgrims from Mewar,
Marwar and Gujrat.
Unsophisticated way of performing puja of Charbhujaji
is a mentionable speciality here. Gurjars (a community
residing in the town here) manage the affairs of the temple
and perform puja turn by turn. Glass-work inside the temple
imparts a beautiful look to the interior of the structure.
The temple is said to be much older.
RIKHABDEOJI
The town Rikhabdeoji (or Dhulev) situated at 65 km south
of Udaipur is famous for the well-famed 15th century temple
of Rikhabdeoji, one of Tirthankar of Jain religion (also
called Keshariyaji on account of the saffron offered to
the idol by thousands of the pilgrims). The 3 feet high
black stone idol of Rikhabdeoji is in a sitting position
carved out of one entire black stone. The temple is a
centre of faith of Jains, Meena tribals and other Vaishnav
Sanatan community believers.
Rikhabdeoji being one of the incarnations of Lord Vishnu,
is also worshipped by Vaishnavites apart from the thousands
of Jains who come every month this place through Udaipur.
There is a good Dharmshala for the pilgrims to stay at
the place.
Rishabhdev is now become a main export center or Green
marble (serpentine).