1.Galtaji Temple
About
Located on the outskirts of the regal city of Jaipur, Galtaji Temple is a prehistoric Hindu pilgrimage site. Outlined by the striking Aravalli hills, it consists of several shrines, holy kunds, pavilions and natural springs. This majestic temple is situated at the heart of a hilly terrain that is bounded by a beautiful gorge that attracts tourists here every year. Galtaji Temple was built using pink colour sandstone and is a vast temple complex housing varied shrines. Located inside the City Palace, the walls of this temple are beautifully adorned with carvings and paintings that make this place worth visiting. The Galtaji temple is unique in its architecture and has been constructed like a palace.
It is situated in the Aravalli hills and is bound by thick plush trees and bushes. This remarkable building is decorated with painted walls, round roofs and pillars. Apart from the kunds, this pre-historic Hindu pilgrimage place also has temples of Lord Ram, Lord Krishna and Lord Hanuman within the temple. One of the main tourist destinations of Jaipur, the temple complex boasts of natural freshwater springs and seven holy ‘kunds’ or water tanks. Among these kunds, the ‘Galta Kund’, is the holiest one and is believed never to get dry. Pure and clear water flows from the ‘Gaumukh’, a rock shaped like a cow’s head, into the tanks.
This spectacular temple is designed to look more like a grand palace or ‘haveli’ than a traditional temple. The Galta Monkey Temple has a scenic and gorgeous landscape featuring rich green vegetation and has a spectacular sight of the Jaipur city. This temple is known for the many tribes of monkeys that are found here and the religious hymns and chants, along with the natural setting, offer a peaceful ambience to tourists.
History
The magnificent pink sandstone structure is said to have been built by Diwan Rao Kriparam who was a courtier of Sawai Jai Singh II. Since the early 16th century, Galtaji has been a haven for the puritans belonging to the Ramanadi sect and under the occupation of the Jogis. It is believed that Saint Galtav spent all this life at this sacred site, performing Tapasya for a hundred years. Pleased by his devotion, the Gods appeared before him and blessed his place of worship with copious water. To venerate this rishi, the Galtaji Temple was constructed here and named after him. Legend says that sections of the holy Ramcharitra Manas were written at this spot by Tulsidas. Galav is said to have meditated here for many decades and was blessed with springs. This is also the reason why the temple complex is named after the sage. Legend says that sections of the holy Ramcharitra Manas were written at this spot by Tulsidas. Galav is said to have meditated here for many decades and was blessed with springs. This is also the reason why the temple complex is named after the sage.
Architeture
It features traditional Rajputana architecture with richly ornamented facades, fresco paintings, haveli architecture, pavilions with Kunds and natural water springs. Join the walk to explore the various facts and stories behind the temple complex and the importance it holds for the city.
Things to Do
1.Take a dip in the holy waters of the kunds.
2.Watch the beautiful sunset from the sun temple.
3.Feed peanuts and bananas to the playful monkeys.
Interesting fact about Galta Temple
1.The temple was built in the 18th century and since then has been one of the pilgrim sites for the Hindus.
2.The temple was built under the supervision of Diwan Rao Kriparam who was an attendant to Sawai Jai Singh.
3.A saint named Saint Galav is said to have spent 100 years here doing his tapasya and as a tribute a temple is named after him.
4.The water in the kunds are considered to be holy and never dry out.
5.Taking a dip in these waters is said cleanse all the sins of a person.
6.This temple is adorned with beautiful architecture and paintings on the walls and pillars that give people an idea of the Hindu Mythology.
7.Galta Ji is a dwelling ground for a number of monkey tribes that happen to be very friendly with tourists.
8.The sunsets from the sun temple is phenomenal and is a must watch while visiting Jaipur.
Importance
It is believed that the temple was built by Diwan Rao Kriparam back in the 15th century, and has been an important location for meditation yogis since the 16th century. It is named after Saint Galtav who spent his life meditating here
Best Time to Visit
The temple is open all days of the year between 5:00 AM to 9:00 PM. Entry is free for all irrespective of nationality or faith. Best Time To Visit Galta Ji Jaipur: The best time to visit Galta Ji in Jaipur is, between February and March as well as between October and December.
2.Birla Mandir
About
The Birla Temple, originally known as Lakshmi Narayan Temple, and is situated below the Moti Dungri Fort in Jaipur. Dedicated to Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi, this temple is a proud architectural landmark of Jaipur. Built in pure white marble, the Birla Temple is unlike the traditional ancient Hindu temples, and is built with a modern approach. Inside this magnificent shrine, beautifully sculpted idols of Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi, as well as other Hindu Gods and Goddesses, can be seen. Delicate carvings of Hindu symbols, and ancient quotes from the Geeta and the Upanishads ornament the walls of this fascinating temple. One can also recognize the mythological events engraved on the walls. Apart from the religious idols, pictures and figures of several religious saints, philosophers and historical achievers, like Socrates, Buddha, Zarathustra and Confucius, are also included in the temple. A work of art, this temple truly represents architectural beauty, in a modern form
History
According to history, the Birla temple was built on the land given to the Birla family by the Maharaja, for just a token sum of one rupee. One of India’s most famous business families, B.M Birla Foundation, built this temple in the year 1988.
Architeture
The temple is made of white marble. There are four distinct parts of the temple: its sanctum, tower, main hall, and entrance. It has three towers, referencing the three main faiths of India as well as stained glass windows depicting traditional Hindu stories. Marble sculptures also reference Hindu mythology. It features Hindu deities inside – particularly Lakshmi, Narayan, and Ganesh – and figures such as Christ, the Virgin Mary, St. Peter, Buddha, Confucius, and Socrates on the outer walls. Statues of its founders – Rukmani Devi Birla and Braj Mohan Birla – lie outdoors in covered pavilions, facing the temple with hands folded in namaskāra mudra Its architectural style is considered to be modern. It was built on a raised platform, which lifts it up into the Jaipur skyline; at night, it becomes covered in light. In addition to the temple itself, the grounds include gardens and a small gift shop. Below the temple lies the B. M. Birla Family Museum and the Sri and Smt. G. P. Birla Gallery; both contain photographs of the temple’s construction and the Birla family’s philanthropic contributions, as well as treasures belonging to the Birla family.
Things to Do
1.Loose yourself in the serenity of the place.
2.Check out the drawings on the walls and the quotes from the scripts from the holy books like Bhagvad Gita.
3.Experience the rhythm of the soulful aarti during the evenings or mornings make all your stress wash away.
Interesting Facts About Birla Mandir
1.The temple is made completely of elegant white marble.
2.The temple is popularly known as Lakshmi Narayan Mandir
3.The 3 domes of the temple signify the 3 religions that originated in this country.
4.Birla Mandir is considered as one of the finest temples in India.
5.The land on which this temple stands on was given to the Birla’s by the Maharaja for a mere token of 1 rupees.
6.The temple devoted to Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi.
Importance
Birla Mandir, Jaipur (Lakshmi Narayan Temple) is a Hindu temple located in Jaipur, India and is one of many Birla mandirs. It was built by the B.M. Birla Foundation in 1988 and is constructed solely of white marble.
Best Time To Visit
The best time to visit this temple is between the months of October to March. In this temple, ‘Janmashtami’, the birth anniversary of Lord Krishna, is celebrated with great enthusiasm and gusto; that is the time you would witness the glamour of this temple at its fullest scale. The regular visiting hours are between, 8.00 AM to 12.00 Noon and 4.00 PM to 8.00 PM every day. At night, one can witness the temple illuminated beautifully, against the dark skyline.
3.Akshardham Temple
About
Akshardham temple of Jaipur is located near Vaishali Nagar, Chitrakoot, Jaipur. This temple is about 13 minutes (5.7 km) from Jaipur via Ajmer road. Akshardham temple of Jaipur is one of the recent constructions that are so beautiful.
Akshardham temple is also called the Swaminarayan Mandir Akshardham temple. This not only known for its historical, cultural significance and significant heritage but also the temple provides various glimpses of the Hindu Gods to the visitors.
There are many Jaipur tourist places and this is really one of them. Hence this pilgrimage should add into JAIPUR TOUR PACKAGES.
History
Akshardham temple of Jaipuri is popular to have one of the recent constructions. Akshardham in Jaipur has not any miraculous history or such but the temple is the true sigma of the modern temple.
That had built between the 19th and 20th centuries. The proper location is in the Vaishali Nagar, the temple is a tribute to the Vedic supremacy, Lord Narayana, who is also famous by the name of Vishnu.
Though the temple is not backed by much historical significance it upholds the beauty of ‘Hindu’ as a religion. Akshardham temple is of the magical architectures of the Indian temple and is one o9f the most flocked place in Jaipur and is peaceful and serene in nature. To talk about the architectural importance of Akshardham, the temple has bounded by greenery and beautiful gardens and fountains. And the uncommon style of architecture is the reason why tourists love to visit that particular place.
The temple is beautifully carved with all the Hindu gods and the main idol is Lord Vishnu who is ornamented with gold and silver jewelry. The breath-taking architecture of the Akshardham makes the place one the main reason for being the most visited place of Jaipur.
Architecture
The temple is surrounded by bu lush green gardens and fountains. Its unique architecture is what attracts most of the tourists here. The walls of the temple are beautifully decorated with the number of sculptures and carvings which feel amazing to watch.
The main idol of the temple which is Lord Vishnu, is decorated with the gold and silver ornaments.
Interesting facts to know About AksharDham Temple
1.Akshardham temple is built of 6000 metric tons of pink sandstone, brought all the way from Rajasthan.
2.The temple follows the Vedic architecture principles and there are no iron and steel structures used in the construction.
3.To support the temple, stone beams are used, each 20 feet long and weigh 5 tons. These are used as a load bearing support throughout the temple.
4.The Akshardham Mandir is at the epicenter of the complex and is 108 feet high, 131 feet wide, and 240 feet long. It features 97 carved pillars, 17 domes, 8 balconies, 220 stone beams, and 264 sculpted figures.
5.The central chamber of the temple houses a 7 feet tall, gold-plated statue of Swaminarayan.
6.The temple complex has exhibition halls, open green lawns, in-house theaters, etc.
Importance
Akshardham Temple in Jaipur is one of the nine temples built in some major cities in India. All the temples show unique forms of Krishna’s life. Akshardham temple of Jaipur is dedicated to Lord Vishnu while the other temples are dedicated to other Hindu Gods.
Best Time to Visit
October to February is always best to plan your visit to the Akshardham Temple in Jaipur. This period is a winter period here in Rajasthan when the temperature remains pleasant throughout. The months of December and January turn out to be on extremely colder sides.
It is recommended to completely avoid your visit to the Akshardham Temple during summers as the heat turns out to be a sweltering one. You may witness the temperatures soaring as high as 40 degrees. As it is a dry region, you can expect little to no showers in the month of monsoons
4.Jagat Shiromani Temple
Jagat Shiromani Temple is a temple located in Amer, a town in Jaipur. This temple is also known as Meera Bai temple as this temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna and Meera Bai. It is the most famous temple in the city of Jaipur, the capital of the Indian state Rajasthan. This temple was built between the years 1599 to 1608 AD.
Meera Bai was the wife of a Mewar king; since she devoted her life towards Lord Krishna and her husband, the Mewar king, the temple became popular as a Meera bai temple. It is also said that the temple was built by the 1st wife of King Man Singh, Queen Kanakwati in the honour of her son Jagat Singh; hence the name Jagat Shiromani Temple was given to the temple.
The Jagat Shiromani Temple is connected to the Amer Palace in Jaipur. There are two entrances present in the temple where one entrance leads to the Amer palace and the other leads to the Amer town. This temple was built beside the courtyard of the Amer palace so that the queen could visit the temple anytime she wanted.
The Jagat Shiromani Temple is also known for its architecture as few structures of the temple like the elephants at the entrance were made with single marble stone. These stones were carved into various designs to decorate the temple; therefore it is a one of a kind temple in Rajasthan. The idols of the gods were also carved from a single stone.
Architecture
It is one of the oldest temple of Amber town. The best specimen of early 17th century Mahameru prasad. It consists of a Sanctum, Vestibule and Mandapa with Projecting screen window on either side the temple stands on a high ornate Adhisthana the three storeys Garbhagriha is crowned by Sikhara which is adorned with successive rows of urusringas and karansringas. The mandap is two storeyed with lateral transepts on either side. The walls of upper storey and ceiling bear painting the marble garuda-mandapa in front of the temple is intricately carved which is carrier of lord Vishnu.
Insteresting Fact About Jagat Shiromani Temple
Jagat Shiromani Temple is an interesting temple from the heritage, architectural, and religious perspectives. It’s being claimed that this is the only temple having an idol of Meera Bai. Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) maintains the Jagat Shiromani Temple.
Importance
agat Shiromani is a Hindu temple situated in Amer, India. This temple is dedicated to the Hindu gods Meera bai, Krishna and Vishnu. It was constructed between 1599 and 1608 AD by Queen Kanakwati, who was the wife of King Man Singh I The temple was built in the memory of their son Jagat Singh.
Best Time to Visit
October to February is always best to plan your visit to the Akshardham Temple in Jaipur. This period is a winter period here in Rajasthan when the temperature remains pleasant throughout. The months of December and January turn out to be on extremely colder sides.
It is recommended to completely avoid your visit to the Akshardham Temple during summers as the heat turns out to be a sweltering one. You may witness the temperatures soaring as high as 40 degrees. As it is a dry region, you can expect little to no showers in the month of monsoons.
5.Garh Ganesh Temple
Among many religious places in Jaipur, the Garh Ganesh Temple is another spiritual site which is often visited by tourists during their trip here. It is located on the top of the Aravalli Hills. The temple is dedicated to Lord Ganesha and it is believed that in this temple Ganesha resides in the form of a small child called Purushakriti.
Another unique thing about this temple is that the idol of Ganesha here does not have trunk as he is built in his child form. All the works and arrangements of the temple are looked after with lot of care by the Audhchya family. Special ceremonies are organized in the temple premises on the first Wednesday after Diwali when a festival called Anna-Koot is celebrated. Another occasion held here is the Paush Bade which is arranged on the last Wednesday of the Paush month. A large number of devotees visit the temple during this time of the year. The idols of Riddhi Siddhi and their two children Subh and Labh are also seen in the temple. The chanting of mantras and smell of incense creates a very peaceful atmosphere inside the temple.
History
The Garh Ganesha temple was constructed by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh I when he was performing the Ashwamegha Yagya. The shrine and the place where the statue of Lord Ganesha would be there were made by him. After this the city of Jaipur was found. The statue of the deity was kept on such a place that the king could see the idol from his palace in Jaipur with the help of binoculars.
Insteresting Facts About Garh Ganesh Temple
In the Garh Ganesha temple, Lord Ganesha is established in the statue of child Ganesha – Vigra Purushakriti (without trunk). The temple was built by Maharaja Swai Jai Singh II when he performed the “Ashwamegha Yagya” before the establishment of Jaipur. He made the shrine and placed the statue of Lord Ganesha.
Importance
Garh Ganesha temple is devoted to Lord Ganesha. Devotees believe that Ganesha is present in the temple in the form of a small child – Purushakriti. Located at the top in the Aravali hills, close to the Nahargarh hill.
BEST TIME TO VISIT
Ganesh Chaturthi is the best time to pay a visit to this temple in Jaipur when a five days long fair is organized here every year.
6.Govind Dev Ji Temple
The temple of Govind Dev Ji is one of the most sacred and famous tourist destinations in India. It is located in the City Palace complex, in Jaipur, Rajasthan. The deity, Govind Dev Ji, is none other than Lord Shri Krishna himself. It is believed that the image in this temple looks exactly how Lord Krishna looked during his incarnation on earth. The idol was originally kept in the temple of Vrindavan in Uttar Pradesh and was later brought to Jaipur by Raja Sawai Jai Singh, a staunch devotee of Lord Krishna. The idol of Govind Dev Ji is strikingly beautiful for its complete resemblance with Lord Krishna, and the temple is placed between Chandra Mahal and Badal Mahal in the City Palace complex. Every day, various ‘Aartis’ and ‘Prasad’ or ‘Bhogs’ are offered at the temple, at seven different times. The festival of Janmashtami is among the most important ones celebrated here as it commemorates the birth of Lord Krishna.
History
The idol of Lord Govind Dev Ji was brought by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II from Vrindavan to his own palace, Surya Mahal. The king was inspired by a dream, in which Lord Krishna told him to install the idol in his palace, to save it from being destroyed by the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. Later, he built his new palace, Chandra Mahal, which became his residence
Architecture
The Govind Dev Ji temple is a part of the City Palace, which was the seat of the Maharaja of Jaipur. The temple is surrounded by beautiful gardens and inside it, one can see some beautiful European chandeliers and paintings in Indian art. The ceiling of the temple is decked with gold. The position of the temple allowed a direct view of it to the Maharaja from his Chandra Mahal palace
Importance
The temple is dedicated to Govind Dev (Krishna) and his consort Radha. The deities of the temple were brought from Vrindavan by Raja Sawai Jai Singh II, the founder of Jaipur. This Vaishnav temple is considered to be one of the most sacred and significant temple for devotees.
Best Time To Visit
The best time to visit the Govind Dev Ji temple is during Janmashtami, a festival which celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna. Devotees can start visiting the temple from 5:00 AM, when the first “Aarti” starts. The temple remains open till 9:00 PM
7.Shila Devi Temple
Shila Devi temple is a famous tourist destination of Jaipur and a temple dedicated to the Goddess Durga. This temple stands within Amer Fort. In 1604, Maharaja Man Singh brought the Goddess Shila Mata’s statue from Jessore, “Bangladesh.”
Raja Man Singh found the idol from the water in the form of a Shila (Slab), and when it was cleaned and washed, the current idol appeared, hence the name Shila Mata. Interestingly, the temple took ten years to build.
During the nine-day Navratri celebration, devotees offer special prayers at the Shila Devi temple. Thousands of people gather from Jaipur and the neighbouring areas to make offerings to Shila Devi. The entire area is illuminated with beautiful lights around Navratri.
History
In the 17th century, a high astrologer told Maharaja Man Singh that if he worshipped this goddess, he would never fail in any fight. So, following that, Maharaja Man Singh fought with West Bengal’s monarch and married his lovely daughter.
The then-ruler of Bengal had sent Maharaja Man Singh this black statue of “Kali Maa” as a gift.
According to certain historians, Maharaja Man Singh found this black stone in the sea that was floating. When the Maharaja held this unexpected sight, he chose to carve it into a stone and set it in his royal area as “Kaali Maa.”
Architecture
The Shila Devi Temple was constructed in the year 1580 A.D. or rather during the 16th century. The work related to construction of the temple was initiated by Maharaja Man Singh which was later completed by Sawai Jai Singh-I. The construction of the temple has been done with a combination of red coloured sand stone along with white marbles. It has been learnt that it a period of ten years for the temple to get constructed. A representation of Lord Ganesh can be observed right at the entrance of the temple which has been carved out just from a sole coral piece.
Interesting facts about Shila Devi Temple
Shila Devi is the famous idol of Durga. Her temple is located in Amer Fort in Jaipur, India. The idol was brought by Raja Man Singh I of Amber from Jessore (now in Bangladesh) in 1604 CE. On the sixth day of winter Navratris, special prayers are offered to this goddess.
Importance
Not only is the interior of this gorgeous temple quite enthralling and extraordinary, but there is also some traditional artwork here that is appealing. This temple’s main gate is made of silver. A gate door covering all of the numerous characters of “Maa Durga” is present at the entry.
Nav Durga, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyani, Kalratri, Maha Gauri, and Siddhidatri are all depicted on the silver gate. Kali, Tara, Chhinnamasta, Tripura Bhairavi, Dhumavati, Baglamukhi, Sri Matangi, Shodashi, Bhuvneshwari, and Kamala Devi are ten famous idol characters painted in modest size on the main gate.
Best Time To Visit
October to February is always best to plan your visit to the Akshardham Temple in Jaipur. This period is a winter period here in Rajasthan when the temperature remains pleasant throughout. The months of December and January turn out to be on extremely colder sides.
8.Moti Dungri Ganesh Temple
History
Moti Dungri Temple of Lord Ganesha is famous for its divine power. It is flocked by the visitors and tourists all through the year. The temple is the centre of attraction on festivals like Ganesh Chaturthi, Krishna Janamasthami, Annakut and Paush Bada. Scholars and architects come here to have flavour of rich cultural heritage of city. Thousands of devotees participate in the preparation of festivities and pay their regards to God Ganesha.
The idol of Lord Ganesha being the prime reason of fascination is centre of attraction for the visitors. A fair is organized every Wednesday.
Architecture
The Moti Dungri temple is a work of architectural brilliance. This ancient structure stands as a testimony to the finesse and progress of the architectural skills of the Indian subcontinent. Spread over an area of about two kilometres, the temple structure is adorned by three beautiful domes, while each one of them purportedly symbolise the three major religions of the country. Talking about the exterior appearance of this popular religious temple in Jaipur, you can spot a plenty of intricate and delicate stone carving on the walls of the temple. Apart from that, the temple is also well – known for its exquisite lattice work on the marble. The lattice work engraved on the marble displays a plethora of mythological images which surely prove to be a splendid sight, especially for the art lovers. Apart from the exterior brilliance of the structure, those of you who wish to know about the highlight of the temple, then it will be the 500 – year – old Ganesha idol. This ancient idol of the primary deity is located right in the heart of the temple. All in all, one can say that the temple is beautiful inside out. No matter whether you talk about the stunning exterior or the religious interior, the temple is worth appreciation.
Interesting Facts About Moti Dungri Ganesh Temple
Moti Doongri means pearl hill, because the hill indeed resembles a pearl drop. Visitors go there to pay homage at the famous Ganesh temple, the most auspicious and important religious temple in Jaipur. The Ganesh temple was built by Seth Jai Ram Paliwal, sometime in the early 18th century.
Importance
Moti Dungri is a Hindu temple complex dedicated to lord Ganesha in Jaipur, Rajasthan. It was built in 1761 under supervision of Seth Jai Ram Paliwal. The temple is a popular tourist attraction in the city.
Best Time To Visit
October to February is always best to plan your visit to the Akshardham Temple in Jaipur. This period is a winter period here in Rajasthan when the temperature remains pleasant throughout. The months of December and January turn out to be on extremely colder sides.