Just 42 km away from Udaipur lies the bustling city of Nathdwara on the banks of river Banas. Nathdwara houses the renowned Shrinathji Temple. This town is frequented with tourists almost throughout the year. The name Nathdwara means the gateway to the Lord, basically a temple town and it is a perfect place for the spiritual seeker, temple lovers, researchers and history buffs. The Vaishnavite shrine was built in the 17th century on the location which is exactly suggested by the Lord himself. Legend says idol of Shrinathji emerged naturally from the Govardhan hill and to save it from the Mughal ruler, Aurangzeb, the idol was shifted from Mathura to Nathdwara. With the influx of visitors, if not much but the number of Nathdwara hotels have increased from the past decades.
This picturesque town is a popular place in the map of Udaipur. Tourists beside taking a tour of the palaces in Udaipur, they also land in Nathdwara just to witness or worship the “Apollo of Mewar”. The famous Picchwai paintings are the culinary of the place. The colourful terracotta products take the second position after Picchwai paintings. The artworks date back to 2000 year ago and Meena work is the most famous attraction of all. When you are here, do not forget to bring some wonderful Meena Kari clothes and various other ethnic handicrafts.
Nathdwara is a holy and a peaceful place. With temples in and around the area, temple hopping is the most prominent things to do. Srinathji temple dominates the town. The darshan timing depends upon the aarti timings and it is divided into 8 slots. At the time of every important festival, the temple is thronged by devotees and visitors from other parts of the state. The idol is carved out of a single marble. It is now beautifully decorated and well maintained. Dwarkaheesh is another well-known temple of Nathdwara. It is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and the red stone idol is the delight to the God lovers. The Eklingji temple dates back to the 15th century and it is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Monday is the time for special puja in Eklingji temple. Sanwaria Seth, Rajsamand and Sathiya Mandal Library are some of the other places to explore.
Though Nathdwara observes a good number of visitors throughout the year, it is important to know the favourable weather for an easy sightseeing and memorable stay. October to March is the apt time to explore this region. However, you can plan short trips between July and September. It is always recommended to book room whenever you visit the place. You can pick from budget hotels in Nathdwara for a hassle-free stay.
Udaipur Airport is the nearest one. The airport is connected with schedule flights with other parts of the country. Foreign tourists can reach Nathdwara from Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi. Udaipur also serves as the nearest railway station. Cabs and buses are available from the major cities of the state to reach this region.
Dimpy Roy
Dimpy Roy is a travel writer working with an Online Travel Guide. She guides travelers to various resources where they can find best way for Delhi to Udaipur by car.
