8 Places to Visit in Nathdwara: The Sacred Temple Town of Rajasthan

Rajasthan is famous for its forts, palaces, and rich history. However, Nathdwara is one such temple town in this state, which is quite a fascinating destination for various religious sects and history buffs. The places to visit in Nathdwara include holy shrines, temples, and other historical sites. Even though this town isn’t as popular as the rest of them, you can rest assured that you’ll have an excellent time exploring the royal and serene attractions here. This hidden gem is bound to surprise you.

8 Best Places to Visit in Nathdwara: Revel in the Spiritual Essence of this Town

As you step into this serene town of Rajasthan, you’ll be greeted by a mystical aura, which will instantly relax you. That’s the power this place would hold over you. You can lose yourself in the beautiful melodies from the temples, the picturesque views of the lakes and grasslands, and the history of this town. So, here are the attractions in Nathdwara that would rejuvenate your soul.

1. Shrinathji Temple
2. Haldighati
3. Charbhuja
4. Shri Eklingji Temple
5. Kumbhalgarh Fort
6. The Dwarkadheesh Temple
7. Ranakpur Jain Temple
8. Rajsamand Lake

1. Shrinathji Temple: Enter the Pious Temple of Lord Krishna

This town in Rajasthan is named after this famous attraction as Nathdwara translates to “Gateway to Shrinathji.” Therefore, you can’t afford to miss out on this temple, which is among the famous Nathdwara tourist places. Here, Lord Krishna is worshipped as a 7-year-old infant and his black stone idol is dressed in new clothes every day. This idol was earlier in Mathura, but was shifted to this town in 1672 AD. The story of this temple dates back to Meera Bai and the highlight is the blend of folklore and reality in the legend of this temple. You’ll feel the peace and tranquility here the moment you enter but be prepared for long queues.

Best time to visit: 6 A.M to 6 P.M

Aarti timings:

Morning - 5:45 A.M to 6:30 A.M

Evening - 5:15 P.M to 6 PM

Time required: 2 to 3 hours

Distance from the town center: Approx. 3 km

Highlights:

• Lord Krishna’s 7-year-old incarnation is worshipped at this temple
• The idol is bathed, fed, and dressed in new clothes every day
• The temple owns 500 cows, whose milk is used to bathe the deity and these cows are believed to be the descendants of those that served Lord Krishna and his family.
• The head priests are the descendants of Vallabhacharya’s founder.

Travel tips:

• Wear modest clothes
• Respect the customs and traditions
• Visit during festival times, such as Holi, Diwali, or Janmashtami, but with prior bookings

2. Haldighati: Feel the Presence of the Brave Maharana of Mewar

Haldighati is popular in history as the place where the great Maharana Pratap Singh fought with Akbar’s Mughal army. Visiting Haldighati is one of the popular things to do in Nathdwara. This battle of Haldighati is marked in the pages of history, and visiting this location would take you back to a bygone era. This place is known as Haldighati because of its turmeric-colored soil. As you explore this place, you’ll come across a cenotaph of Maharana Pratap Singh’s beloved horse, Chetak. If you wish to immerse yourself in the history of this town, then this location should undoubtedly be on your Nathdwara places to visit list.

Best time to visit: Open 24 hours

Time required: 1 to 2 hours

Distance from the town center: Approx. 14 km

Highlights:

• It’s where the battle between Maharan Pratap Singh and Akbar’s army ensued
• A cenotaph of Maharana Pratap Singh’s horse, Chetak
• Maharana Pratap Memorial and museum

Travel tips:

• Wear comfortable clothes and shoes
• Stay hydrated
• Carry sunglasses and hats

Suggested Read: Adventures in Chittorgarh: Are You Ready for a Royal Adventure?

3. Charbhuja: A Renowned Temple of Lord Vishnu

The Charbhuja temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and was built by King Gang Dev because of a divine dream he had that instructed him to do so. This architectural marvel with its grand entrances, marble carvings and mirror work would leave you in awe of this place. It’s believed to be Lord Vishnu’s fourth dham or abode and it’s also the same idol that was worshipped by the Pandavas. The rich history of this place is what makes it one of the most popular places to visit in Nathdwara.

Best time to visit: 5 A.M to 10 P.M

Aarti timings:

Morning – 5:30 A.M to 6:30 A.M

Evening – 7 P.M onwards

Time required: 2 to 3 hours

Distance from the town center: Approx. 3 km

Highlights:

• It’s the fourth dham of Lord Vishnu
• It’s believed to be the same idol that the Pandavas worshipped

Travel tips:

• Respect the culture and traditions
• Wear decent clothes
• Photography isn’t allowed inside the temple

Suggested Read: Tourist Attractions in Gangtok: Spend a Few Days in the Lap of the Eastern Himalayas

4. Shri Eklingji Temple: A 108-Temple Complex Dedicated to Lord Shiva

You might have heard of this temple because its fame precedes it as it’s counted among the most magnificent places to go in Rajasthan. The Shri Eklingji Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, but it also houses deities of the Mewar dynasty, such as the Sun God, Goddess Durga, and so on. The architecture of this double-storied temple is a sight to behold, with a pyramidal roof style, gorgeous carvings, etc. This temple was built under Bappa Rawal’s rule and includes three images of Nandi, one in silver, the other carved in black stone and the third with brass. The four faced idol of Eklingji and the shivlinga with a silver snake wrapped around it like a garland is the highlight of this Nathdwara sightseeing location.

Best time to visit:

4:30 A.M to 1:30 P.M

5 P.M to 7:30 P.M

Aarti timings:

Morning – 5:30 A.M, 8:15 A.M, 9:15 A.M, and 11:30 A.M

Evening – 5 P.M and 6:30 P.M

Time required: 2 to 3 hours

Distance from the town center: Approx. 2 km

Highlights:

• A four faced idol of Lord Shiva
• A shivlinga with a silver snake garlanded around it
• Feel the divinity around you

Travel tips:

• Respect the traditions of the temple
• Dress in decent clothes
• Photography isn’t allowed in the temple
• Be prepared for long queues

Suggested Read: Attractions in Ajmer: Explore the Majestic Invincible City

5. Kumbhalgarh Fort: The Second Largest Fort in Rajasthan

When it comes to Kumbhalgarh Fort, you can expect to see a massive monument in all its glory. This is the second largest fort in Rajasthan after Chittorgarh Fort and is named after Rana Kumbha who built it. The wall of this fort is second longest to the Great Wall of China; therefore, this fort is also known as the Great Wall of India. It’s one of the must-visit places to see in Asia that you can’t miss out on. This UNESCO World Heritage Site was built at a strategic position to protect the rulers from enemy attacks.

Best time to visit: 9 A.M to 6 P.M

Entry fee:

Indians – Around INR 10/-

Foreigners – Around INR 200/-

Time required: 1 to 2 hours

Distance from the town center: Approx. 52 km

Highlights:

• It’s the second largest fort in Rajasthan with a fort wall second to the Great Wall of China
• This is where the famous ruler Maharana Pratap was born

Nearby attractions: Badal Mahal, Kumbha Palace, Jain Temples, Baoris, Brahmanical, etc.

Travel tips:

• Watch the light and sound show
• Wear comfortable shoes
• Stay hydrated

Suggested Read: Places To Travel In Switzerland For Discovering The Swiss Splendors

6. The Dwarkadheesh Temple: Seek Blessings of Lord Krishna

Here’s another shrine dedicated to Lord Krishna, which is in Kankroli village and is similar to the Shrinathji temple in this town. This temple is quite significant to Vaishnavas and the Vallabhacharya sect and the red stone idol here was brought from Mathura. The reason why this temple is one of the places to visit in Nathdwara is because it tells the tale of Lord Krishna’s journey from childhood to becoming a God. The Rajsamand lake near this temple exudes serene and positive vibes, urging people to spend some peaceful downtime here.

Best time to visit:

7 A.M to 11 A.M

4 P.M to 7 P.M

Aarti timings:

Morning – 5:30 A.M to 6:30 A.M

Evening – 7 P.M to 7:40 P.M

Time required: 2 to 3 hours

Distance from the town center: Approx. 2 km

Highlights:

• It tells Lord Krishna’s story from childhood to becoming a God
• The Rajsamand Lake beautifies this temple even more

Travel tips:

• Dress up modestly
• Respect the cultural traditions
• Photography isn’t allowed inside the temple

Suggested Read: Adventure Activities to Do in Uttarakhand: Time to Indulge in Adventurous Escapades

7. Ranakpur Jain Temple: An Awe-Inspiring Temple to Visit with Family

The Ranakpur Jain Temple is a gorgeous and breathtaking sight to behold with its intricate architecture and carving. It’s craftsmanship at its finest, so there’s no option of missing out on this location when you’re exploring the places to visit in Nathdwara. This marvelous structure was built in the 15th century and includes 1444 carved pillars in its premises. The highlight, however, is the 108 snakeheads carved in a single rock. This Shwetambar temple is dedicated to Tirthankar Adinath, the first spiritual guru of Jainism. There’s also a sun temple located in Ranakpur.

Best time to visit: 12 P.M to 5 P.M

Time required: 1 to 2 hours

Distance from the town center: Approx. 91 km

Highlights:

• There are 1444 intricately carved pillars
• There’s a single stone with 108 snakeheads carved on it
• The temple is dedicated to the first Tirthankhar
• You can also visit the Sun temple

Travel tips:

• Respect the culture and traditions
• Dress in decent clothes

Suggested Read: Places to See in Chittorgarh: Explore the City Marked in the Pages of History

8. Rajsamand Lake: A Gorgeous Man-Made Lake

If you’re looking for the best places to visit in India, then you must add this man-made lake to your list. This cultural and religious site is famous for its relaxing vibe where people can spend some peaceful downtime while looking out at the calm water surrounded by mesmerizing natural beauty. This lake used to be a seaplane base during World War II and has several tourist attractions around it to keep you entertained.

Best time to visit: Open 24 hours

Time required: 1 to 2 hours

Distance from the town center: Approx. 19 km

Highlights:

• This lake was a seaplane base during WWII
• It’s a man-made lake

Nearby attractions: Dwarkadheesh temple, Haldighati, Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary

Travel tips:

• Plan a trip to this lake along with nearby tourist attractions
• Carry food and water as there aren’t any nearby eateries
• Monsoon is the best season to visit this lake

Suggested Read: Travel Guide to Char Dham Yatra: A Union with the Divine

These were the most popular places to visit in Nathdwara because of their religious and cultural significance. You’ll feel rejuvenated and calm once you return from this vacation, and it’s a destination that you’d want to visit frequently whenever you wish to connect with God. The presence of the almighty paired with the serene atmosphere is absolutely blissful and your journey to this city would be worth it all. So, book our India vacation packages and you’re good to go.  

Places to Visit in Nathdwara - FAQs