Jaipur has a long and illustrious history. The stronghold and the epicentre of Kucchwaha Rajputs who built the magnificent Amer fort that to this date remains the cynosure and to many travellers the singular attraction of Jaipur.
Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II ruled the lands around here during 1693-1744. Coming to power at the young age of 11, Jai Singh was a fearless warrior and a brilliant politician, a rare combination. His relationship with Aurangzeb, the Mughal Emperor was one of cordiality and mutual respect and admiration, so much so that the title Sawai was conferred on Maharaja Jai Singh II by Aurangzeb as a mark of recognition of his above-average abilities, Sawai literally translating to one and a quarter.
As Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II grew in importance and prosperity, he embarked on the mission that would make him immortal in history. He started the construction of a city that would come to be named after him. Jaipur was the gift of Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II to us all. A little-known fact is that Jaipur was one of the first cities that were planned and built. Vidhyadhar Bhattacharya, the chief architect from Bengal, planned Jaipur on strong scientific principles based on the ancient text of Shilpa Shastra, an ancient architectural manual. Even to this Jaipur remains the best-planned city.
With lung spaces and community engagement spaces all around, lands were earmarked for various construction activities over the generations. Temples were given primacy. Rajputs are deeply devoted people and building temples was a way of giving back to the community as well. Temples were much more than just places of worship. They would perform as schools, shelter and food for the poor and downtrodden. If you find yourself in Jaipur, whether or not you believe in gods, religion and the likes, we would highly recommend as a thing to do in Jaipur, visit its numerous temples, each competing with the other in terms of architecture and importance – historical and cultural.
Let us make a list of temples to visit in Jaipur so that your things to do in Jaipur is easily populated with our recommendations. Tree of Life Resort in Jaipur is conveniently located a short distance from the heart of the pink city, with the best of all worlds – natural, historical and cultural. You can cover all the popular destinations of Jaipur and then some when you stay at our resort in Jaipur.
Without further ado, here is our list of temples as things to do in Jaipur for your reading pleasure.
Galtaji Temple
Like everything else in Jaipur, let us bedazzle you at the beginning itself with Galtaji Temple, or rather temples. Galtaji is a series of temples, dating back to ancient times, built around a pass in the mountains of Aravalli, creating a man-made dam and reservoir. A natural spring fills the many tanks here, the primary of them being the Galta Tank. Considered holy by the Hindu pilgrims who flock here, the waters of these tanks have been the saving grace through history when drought hit. Ram Sita temple here, curiously has a large number of monkeys guarding it, reminiscent of Hanuman himself. It is popular among locals and travellers as the Monkey Temple!
Garh Ganesh Temple
Garh Ganesh Temple has the claim to be the first thing built when Jaipur was planned. The Hindu custom of starting any good work with obeisance to Lord Ganesh, motivated Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh to construct a temple to Ganesh. The site chosen was such that it could be seen from anywhere in Jaipur. Sitting atop the Aravalli hill, Garh Ganesh is perhaps a novice would fail to recognize as the elephant god temple. Perhaps because here Lord Ganesh is worshipped in his child form. Perhaps one of the very across India where Ganesh is worshipped as a human child without the signature elephant head and trunk!
Shila Devi Mandir
Goddess Durga suffusing with strength and warmth at the same time is perhaps the perfect representation of the people of Rajasthan itself. No wonder, they flock to Devi temples. One such is in the Amer Fort, the very citadel of courage and welcome. Here Durga is worshipped in her primal and fear-inducing form of Kali. The genesis stories or legends are varied. But the name Shila Devi Mandir which means stone slab temple perhaps gives credence to the tale that a slab recovered from the sea, when washed revealed the shape of Kali and thus the name. There are many curiosities about this temple which a guide who is aware of the history could regale you with. Our resort in Jaipur could help you with a perfect guide to truly understand and appreciate the behemoth of art, architecture, culture and heritage that Jaipur with its innumerable things to do, is.
Sun Temple, Galtaji Temple Complex
A lesser-known yet beautiful temple is the sun temple at the entrance of Galtaji Temple. Atop the hill, the sun temple was built in the 18th century. The sweeping vistas with a clear view of the entire city of Jaipur make for a compelling reason to add the Sun Temple to your things to do in Jaipur.
Pataleshwar Mandir
Jaipur has a long and illustrious history. The stronghold and the epicentre of Kucchwaha Rajputs who built the magnificent Amer fort that to this date remains the cynosure and to many travellers the singular attraction of Jaipur.
Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II ruled the lands around here during 1693-1744. Coming to power at the young age of 11, Jai Singh was a fearless warrior and a brilliant politician, a rare combination. His relationship with Aurangzeb, the Mughal Emperor was one of cordiality and mutual respect and admiration, so much so that the title Sawai was conferred on Maharaja Jai Singh II by Aurangzeb as a mark of recognition of his above-average abilities, Sawai literally translating to one and a quarter.
As Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II grew in importance and prosperity, he embarked on the mission that would make him immortal in history. He started the construction of a city that would come to be named after him. Jaipur was the gift of Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II to us all. A little-known fact is that Jaipur was one of the first cities that were planned and built. Vidhyadhar Bhattacharya, the chief architect from Bengal, planned Jaipur on strong scientific principles based on the ancient text of Shilpa Shastra, an ancient architectural manual. Even to this Jaipur remains the best-planned city.
With lung spaces and community engagement spaces all around, lands were earmarked for various construction activities over the generations. Temples were given primacy. Rajputs are deeply devoted people and building temples was a way of giving back to the community as well. Temples were much more than just places of worship. They would perform as schools, shelter and food for the poor and downtrodden. If you find yourself in Jaipur, whether or not you believe in gods, religion and the likes, we would highly recommend as a thing to do in Jaipur, visit its numerous temples, each competing with the other in terms of architecture and importance – historical and cultural.
Let us make a list of temples to visit in Jaipur so that your things to do in Jaipur is easily populated with our recommendations. Tree of Life Resort in Jaipur is conveniently located a short distance from the heart of the pink city, with the best of all worlds – natural, historical and cultural. You can cover all the popular destinations of Jaipur and then some when you stay at our resort in Jaipur.
Without further ado, here is our list of temples as things to do in Jaipur for your reading pleasure.
Galtaji Temple
Famous Places in India
Like everything else in Jaipur, let us bedazzle you at the beginning itself with Galtaji Temple, or rather temples. Galtaji is a series of temples, dating back to ancient times, built around a pass in the mountains of Aravalli, creating a man-made dam and reservoir. A natural spring fills the many tanks here, the primary of them being the Galta Tank. Considered holy by the Hindu pilgrims who flock here, the waters of these tanks have been the saving grace through history when drought hit. Ram Sita temple here, curiously has a large number of monkeys guarding it, reminiscent of Hanuman himself. It is popular among locals and travellers as the Monkey Temple!
Garh Ganesh Temple
Make My Trip Plan
Garh Ganesh Temple has the claim to be the first thing built when Jaipur was planned. The Hindu custom of starting any good work with obeisance to Lord Ganesh, motivated Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh to construct a temple to Ganesh. The site chosen was such that it could be seen from anywhere in Jaipur. Sitting atop the Aravalli hill, Garh Ganesh is perhaps a novice would fail to recognize as the elephant god temple. Perhaps because here Lord Ganesh is worshipped in his child form. Perhaps one of the very across India where Ganesh is worshipped as a human child without the signature elephant head and trunk!
Shila Devi Mandir
Credits: Abhishek
Goddess Durga suffusing with strength and warmth at the same time is perhaps the perfect representation of the people of Rajasthan itself. No wonder, they flock to Devi temples. One such is in the Amer Fort, the very citadel of courage and welcome. Here Durga is worshipped in her primal and fear-inducing form of Kali. The genesis stories or legends are varied. But the name Shila Devi Mandir which means stone slab temple perhaps gives credence to the tale that a slab recovered from the sea, when washed revealed the shape of Kali and thus the name. There are many curiosities about this temple which a guide who is aware of the history could regale you with. Our resort in Jaipur could help you with a perfect guide to truly understand and appreciate the behemoth of art, architecture, culture and heritage that Jaipur with its innumerable things to do, is.
Sun Temple, Galtaji Temple Complex
Shashank Sharma
A lesser-known yet beautiful temple is the sun temple at the entrance of Galtaji Temple. Atop the hill, the sun temple was built in the 18th century. The sweeping vistas with a clear view of the entire city of Jaipur make for a compelling reason to add the Sun Temple to your things to do in Jaipur.
Pataleshwar Mandir
E-Temple
A unique temple if there ever is, Pataleshwar Mandir has mesmerized devotees and visitors alike for 400 years. Perhaps a failed attempt at digging a mammoth well or a tribute to a certain aspect of Lord Shiva, whatever the reason for constructing this curious temple in Jaipur, Pataleshwar Mandir is shrouded in mystery and 20 feet of earth!
The list is hardly exhaustive, but we have tried to capture the most curious and unique temples that perhaps no other place can lay claim to, individually or collectively. This richness of spread in choices of things to do in Jaipur makes a visit to the pink city of India a must. Tree of Life Resort Jaipur, on the idyllic outskirts of the city makes for a blissful stay with rolling hills of Aravalli, verdant farmlands girdled by these hills and mountains spreading to the horizon, the richness of flora and fauna. The resort itself has several activities and experiences that are unique to Jaipur.
