Udaipur – Eklingji – Nagda – Udaipur

Eklingji

A RELIGIOUS COMPLEX Northern region of Mewar (22 Kms) It houses 108 temples chiselled out of sandstone and marble, this temple of Eklingji was built in 734 AD. Enclosed by high walls, it is devoted to Eklingji (A form of Shiv Deity adored under the epithet of EKLINGA). One of the prominent deity of the Maharanas of Mewar, worshiped as Mahadeva Chaumukhi,the quadriform divinity, represented by a bust with four faces., it has an ornate Man dap [ A pillared hall ] and the huge pyramidal roof composed of hundreds of knots very vividly carved and finely decorated with the coloured stones. Before the entrance in the main temple there is a beautifully sculpted huge Nandi [ the sacred brazen bull who is the loyal steed of Lord Shiva and has his altar attached to all his shrines. The temple of EKLINGJI was constructed roughly in between the Uda- Nath route, with the hills towering around it and abundant small springs of water where more or less every tourist takes a break. And locals pay homage through out the whole year.The Belief is such.


Nagda

At Nagda in Rajasthan are the remains of the Sahastra Bahu temples of the 9th & 10th century AD, dedicated to Vishnu. It is popularly referred to as Sas Bahu temples (a local corruption of the original Sahastra-Bahu, meaning “One with thousand arms”, a form of Vishnu). The temples are now in partial ruins but one can still marvel at their original splendour, the artisanry and the perfect geometry that must have been the hallmark of that era! The temple is on the Archaeological Survey of India’s list of heritage monuments.


Haldighati

The extensive terra firma, towards the south west of Nathdwara, this historical site witnessed the great legendry battle fought between Maharana Pratap and the Mughal Emperor -Akbar in 1576 AD. See Your AD Here The vast terrain that was supposedly covered with blood (the sand turned Red in colour) evokes a chill in the spine till date and envelopes a feel of nostalgia, this was the place where the heroic Chetak the gallant charger with his dedicated loyalty towards his chivalrous master (the Maharana Pratap) proved his worth by co-operating till his last breath. A ‘Chhatri’ with delicate white marble is dedicatedboth to the indomitable hero and his loyal charger, is note worthy. A jeep drive to this place is rather interesting.