HOLY SITES IN RAJASTHAN Major Religions : Hinduism, Islam, Jainism Famous Hindu Pilgrimage : Eklingji Temple, Govind Devji Temple Famous Muslim Sacred Site : Dargah Sharif Eminent Jain Pilgrimage : Dilwara Jain Temples

Dilwara Jain Temple , Rajasthan

Ajmer Sharief Religion of Rajasthan

Dilwara Temples

Eklingji Temple

Pilgrimage Destinations In Rajasthan - A Placard of Desert Devotion

Take a temple tour of Rajasthn in India. It is the land of Dharma, where spirituality is the lifeblood of the nation, portraying a religious kaleidoscope that is truly amazing. Temple bells bathe the still silence of the dawn, a scintilla of melody that resonates the fresh air before being swallowed up in great nothingness. The 'aazan' that embraces the towers of the mosques, before finding it's way to the horizon, creates an enchanted, magical beauty, that gives definition to a life full of harsh realities. From birth to death, every breath has a spiritual right in the blessed land of secular India. Spirituality marches out from the heart and finds it's way in every pockets of the country, in every corner of the streets that connects the great nation, letting faiths blend with one another to create a new vocabulary for those who believe in gods, and also for those who don't. In the land of bliss - devotion, rites, rituals, sacrifice and superstition - all amalgamate together to create a positive radiance, a life that is full of celebration of their energies and beliefs.

Hallowed Be Thy Name

Every home in Rajasthan has its deities, every village has its shrines and every faith has its gods - whether Hindu, Islamic, or Jain, in the nature of gurus, or as the cosmos itself. Yet, between them, there has always been a sense of harmony. The holy sites beside being a seat for religious exuberance, are also being used as a meeting place of the people, not only at the time of religious celebrations, but even otherwise. The famous temples of Rajasthan are, often, exquisitely carved and sculptured, for the Rajputs shared their faith, and land, by creating temples and mosques of great beauty.

The major temple destinations of Rajasthan have some of the most famous temples. Visit the city of Pushkar, better known for its Brahma Temple, the one of its kind in the world. The city that careens with the rhythmic beats of spirituality, the city that puts color to every emotion. Though the temple is visited round the year, tourists gather at this favored tourist destination during Kartik Purnima, to rejoice the famous Pushkar Fair, coinciding with the largest cattle fair in the world. Plan a trip to Eklingji temple in Udaipur, built by maharajah Bappa Rawal of Chittaurgarh. Built in 734 AD to propagate the blessings of Lord Shiva, this sacred shrine, now a favored pilgrimage destination in India with its awe-inspiring exquisite temple precinct is dotted with 108 shrines, concomitant with the number of beads in the rudraksh necklace used for meditation in Hinduism. Another temple that draws huge pilgrims, from every corner of the country, is the Govind Devji temple in Jaipur. The presiding deity is of Lord Krishna and is believed to be carved by Vajranath, one of the greatest sculptures of that time and grandson of the Lord.

Rajasthan temple attractions includes the reticent self-denial of the Jain way of life has its antagonism in the delightful prodigality, even opulence, that one sees in their temples. For many tourists, Dilwara Temples is enough reason to visit Mount Abu. The stunning architecture of exquisite Dilwara Jain temples, dating back to 11th - 13th centuries, makes the city a popular pilgrimage-cum-tourist destination. The famous Rishabdeo Temple at Dhulev is nearly 2 hours drive from Udaipur. Built in the 15th century, the colossal structure is dedicated to Rishabdeo, while splendid effigies of several other tirthankars embellish the walls of the sanctum sanctorum. BEsides this there are other temple destinations that to have great attractions.

Ajmer's closest association is with the Dargah Sharif, the famous shrine of the eminent Sufi saint Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti, whose disciples included the Mughal emperors and who would claim pilgrims of all creed from every part of the globe. The favored Sufi capital is in the shadow of the Aravallis in central Rajasthan, around 3 hours drive from Jaipur, the capital city of Rajasthan. The unbiased ambiance of the Dargah, which calls devotees from every caste, creed and sect, actually rejuvenates one's spirit and fills one's heart with eternal euphoria during the 6-day Urs festival. Take a religious temple tours of the famous temple destinations in Rajasthan.

Cool Tips

Chalk out a religious tour of Rajasthan in the month of January, during the auspicious occasion of Kartik Purnima. One can be a part of the colourful Pushkar Fair, while paying a visit to the darbar of Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti, at Ajmer Sharif. Besides, during the Urs festival, special buses from RTDC cruise to Ajmer and back from various destinations all over the country. Photography is not allowed inside the temple premises, generally and bags are searched to prevent cameras being taken in. As at other famous Jain temples, all articles of leather have to be left at the entrance (where you pay a few rupees when collecting them) at the Dilwara temples.