Nathdwara: Exploring the Rajasthan of Temples.

By Hiren Busa.

Rajasthan is considered one of the most beautiful states in India, a state full of rich history and traditions. Rajasthan has some real gems like Jaipur, Udaipur, Jaisalmer, Mount Abu and Bikaner. I have had the pleasure of visiting many of these places and returning with fond memories. However I feel Nathdwara, a small town located near Udaipur, is relatively unexplored. I have been visiting the beautiful town of Nathdwara since I was a child, and have some of my favorite memories attached to this place.

Nathdwara is most known for its Krishna temple, which houses the idol of ‘Shreenathji’. Nathdwara is also referred to as ‘Shreenathji’ by many people, getting its name from this idol of ‘Shreenathji’. It is believed that the famous Krishna temple was built in the 17^th century in the exact location where the god ‘Shrinathji’ was born. Devotees from around the country visit this temple every year to get blessings from their favourite god. The temple is built with a very simple architecture, but its beauty is worth watching. The temple gates are opened 8 times a day for the devotees to view the idol of Shreenathji. The Vaishnav community visit Nathdwara during the festival of Diwali every year, to enjoy the different traditions and rituals of the place. The temple has more than 500 cows and nearly all of them are in display during the Diwali and Khekra celebrations.

The idol of Shreenathji is decorated with different dresses throughout the day and is one of the main attractions to visit the temple. Thousands of people visit this temple every year and tight security is implemented to avoid any hazards. During festivals like Diwali, Holi and Navaratri, people from across the country come in large numbers to visit the town and the temple itself. Nathdwara may be a small town but is a great place for shopping different items related to Indian traditions. People love to buy Indian jewellery, saris, shreenathji idols and beautiful paintings from this small town.

We all are aware about the popularity of the Mumbai street food. Well, the street food in Nathdwara is equally popular among locals and travellers alike. I have had some amazing experiences whilst visiting the streets of Nathdwara and enjoying the different Indian delicacies. You can find some really tasty Indian dishes like jalebi, poha, pav bhaji and suran on the streets of Nathdwara. One piece of advice though, try them only if you have a stomach for street food.

Getting there: You have the option to reach Nathdwara by road, rail or air. The easiest way to get to Nathdwara from any major cities in India would be by Indian railways. Udaipur is the closest city to Nathdwara, and from there you can take a bus or a private car to reach Nathdwara within a couple of hours. While in Nathdwara, do visit Shreenathji Temple, Rakt-Talai, Charbhuja Temple and Gavshada.

So what are you waiting for? I would highly recommend a visit to this vibrant and religious place of Nathdwara to experience Indian culture and traditions.

Author Bio: The author works for Translation Services24.Ltd.

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