North India · Rajasthan
Nathdwara, Rajasthan
Sources: wikimedia
Before you go
Seat of the Pushtimarg tradition; darshan happens in short, timed jhankis through the day rather than continuous opening -- plan around them. ~45 km from Udaipur.
About Nathdwara
- Hills
Where it is
Nathdwara is a temple town on the Banas river in Rajsamand district of Rajasthan, in the Aravalli hills about 48 km north-east of Udaipur.
History
The image of Shrinathji, a child form of Krishna, was carried away from Braj to protect it during Aurangzeb's reign, and in 1672, when the cart bearing it sank into the mud at the village of Sinhad, Maharana Raj Singh of Mewar gave it refuge. A temple was built on the spot, and the town that grew around it became the chief seat of the Pushtimarg tradition founded by Vallabhacharya.
People
Nathdwara speaks Mewari and Hindi, and its life follows the rhythm of the temple, which is run like a noble household with its own cooks, musicians and artists. Many pilgrims are Gujarati Vaishnavs, and families of painters produce the town's pichwais.
Known for
- The Shrinathji Temple, or haveli
- Pichwai paintings
- The Annakut festival after Diwali
- The Statue of Belief, a giant Shiva statue
Did you know?
Pichwai means something hung at the back: these painted cloths were made to hang behind the image of Shrinathji and are changed with the seasons and festivals.
Shrines and sites
- Shrinathji Temple
- Pichwai painting workshops
- Statue of Belief
Traditions
- Hindu
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.