Places to visit near Eklingji temple: A Sacred getaway from Udaipur

Udaipur is surrounded by the mesmerizing Aravalli hills from all directions and the presence of many man-made and natural lakes. While Udaipur in itself has many places to explore, there are many places around Udaipur that are full of surprises and have so many things to do. While my blog on 3 days in Udaipur covers all the highlights of the city, today I am going to write about Eklingji temple. 

Located at a distance of about 22 km from Udaipur, Eklingji Temple is one of the most popular pilgrimage spots of Rajasthan. Other than the Eklingji temple which makes the area famous, there are many other places to visit near the Eklingji temple. Read on to know more.

Eklingji temple

Eklingji is made up of two words – Ek which literally means ‘one’ and ling which means ‘lingam or the phallic symbol of Lord Shiva’. The Eklingji temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, who is one of the prominent gods of Hindu mythology. Situated right at the banks of the idyllic Indersagar Lake, this 8th-century temple offers beautiful views. 

History of Eklingji temple

Eklingji temple has been a victim of loot and plunder, due to which the original structure of the temple as well as the idols were known to have faced a lot of physical damage. It was renovated by the Kings of Mewar in order to preserve the glory as well as the faith of people in the power of Shri Eklingji. 

Eklingji temple not only holds an interesting past but also a strong religious belief among people. This 1000-year-old temple is completely made out of marble, a local stone available in plenty, and has intrinsically carved walls. It is actually a temple complex containing 108 shrines in total. It was built by Bapa Rawal, founder of the Mewar Dynasty. It is believed that Eklingji has been the ruling idol of the brave Mewar rulers which is why the current head of the Mewar royal family continues to worship at the temple every week.

Read about other Shiva temples: Trimbakeshwar Temple | Bhojeshwar Shiva Temple | Mahakuta Temples

Architecture of Eklingji temple

The temple is made in a pyramid style and is further supported by a hefty pyramidal style roof. Upon entering the Eklingji temple, the first thing one sees is the silver image of Nandi. According to Hindu mythology, Nandi (the bull) is believed to be the gate guardian of the Mountain of Kailasa, which is the humble abode of Lord Shiva. There are two other stunning images of Nandi that are carved in the temple walls in black stone and brass.

On entering the temple, one can see a striking four-faced idol of Lord Shiva himself. Made in black marble, this 50 feet idol is located in the middle of the main temple and is placed in a towering pillared hall which is referred to as a mandap. This four-faced idol of Lord Shiva is believed to depict the four forms of Lord Shiva. While the western side of the idol recognizes Lord Brahma who is the ultimate creator, the eastern side refers to Surya or the Sun. The northern side depicts Lord Vishnu who is the supreme being and, the southern side represents Rudra who is considered as the mightiest of the mighty. This four-faced Eklingji statue is further garlanded by the silver snake. The statue is also encircled with idols of Goddess Parvati who is the wife of Lord Shiva, Lord Ganesha, and Lord Kartikay, who are the two sons of Lord Shiva.

Eklingji temple timing: 4:15 am to 6:45 am, 10:30 am to 1:30 pm, and 5:15 pm to 7:45 pm

Entry fee: Entry to Eklingji Temple is free for people of all religions.

Note: Check COVID-19 restrictions before visiting the temple as it may be temporarily closed.

Saas-Bahu Temple, Udaipur

Saas Bahu Temple is an ancient shrine built in the 11th century by King Mahipala in Nagda Village very close to Eklingji temple. This shrine is dedicated to Lord Vishnu hence the original name of the temple is Sahastra-Bahu (meaning multiple hands). The temple is located on the banks of the beautiful Bagela lake.

According to the legends, the Queen of Mahipala was an ardent devotee of Lord Vishnu. The King was very kind and generous in his love for his beloved wife, and he got this temple constructed. He wanted her to worship her favoured Lord Vishnu peacefully. Later, when the prince got married, another temple was constructed for his wife, who was a worshipper of Lord Shiva. Thus, another temple was made to pay honour to Lord Shiva. The temple was built next to the Vishnu shrine for the daughter-in-law of the King.

Although both temples are in ruins, a visit to the Saas-Bahu temple is a must while on the Udaipur tour. The temple is not active, meaning there are no idols or puja that take place; however it is a must-visit to explore the ornate carvings on the walls, ceilings, doorways, and pillars of the temple. The carvings include relief sculptures and decorative designs. This is one of the must-visit places in Udaipur.

Saas-Bahu Temple timing: 8 am to 7 pm

Entry fee: Car parking charges are Rs 20 per vehicle in the dedicated parking space. 

Bagela lake

Bagela lake, or Vagela talao, is formed by a very substantial bund across the north end of the ravine and is in the heart of Nagda village. It has shot to fame due to many Airbnb properties that are available for rent overlooking the lake waters and panoramic Aravalli hills. The lake offers unmatched idyllic views straight from the country as on one side one can see buffaloes happily bathing and on the other village kids taking a splash, on another side lotuses blooming in the monsoon sun while on another side, local fishermen catching the fish. 

There is no provision for boating for the tourists and the lake around the boundary is full of algae so it is not ideal to dip your feet in the waters.

Bagela lake timing: Always open

Entry fee: Free

Purohito ka talab

This is one of the new tourist attractions in Udaipur located at a distance of 15km from Eklingji temple. The talab or lake is located in the region of Amberi Panchayat that is famous all over Rajasthan as the mini Jaisamand. This man-made lake has unparalleled views of the Aravalli mountain ranges on all sides covered in the blankets of lush green vegetation standing brightly against the waters of the lake.

The lake overlooks a small manicured garden where people can sit and enjoy the views. Near the lake, there are constructed sit-out areas with red chhatris which are very endemic to Rajasthani architectural style. Chhatris are four-pillared decorative arched roof-like structures having a dome and Shikhara at regular intervals by the lake.

Eklingji temple timing: 9 am to 6:30 pm

Entry fee: Rs. 10 per person

Where to stay near Eklingji temple

There are many Lakeview villas and resorts for tourists who want to stay away from the hustle-bustle of Udaipur city. Being 23 km away from the city, it is ideal to have your own car or hired a car to move around. I stayed at the Seven Stays Villas which is perched on a small hillock overlooking Bagela lake and was extremely comfortable and luxurious. Read my detailed review about Staycation in Seven Stay Villas, Udaipur.

Resorts: Heritage Resort, YAAN Wellness Retreat

Villas/ AirBnB: Seven Stays Villa, Villa Moustache

How to Reach the Eklingji Temple, Udaipur

Being a favourite tourist destination in Rajasthan, Udaipur is well–connected to the rest of the country via air, railways, and road. Some of the best ways to reach the Eklingji temple are as follows:

By Air: The nearest airport to reach the Eklingji Temple is Dabok airport which is located at a distance of 21 km from the main city center. This airport is well–connected to some of the major cities of the country such as Delhi, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, etc. From the airport, one can hire a private car to reach the temple.

By Railways: Udaipur is accessible by railways as the nearest railway station is located at a distance of just 3 km from the city centre. This station provides regular direct trains from many major nearby cities including Jaipur, Jodhpur, Ajmer, Ahmedabad, Delhi, Mumbai, etc.

By Road: National Highway 8 passes through Udaipur so the road connectivity is one of the best with great roads throughout. NH 8 is a major Delhi – Mumbai link road, so getting public transport such as cabs, buses or taxis is very easy. Private and Government buses ply from states like Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh to and from Udaipur. The journey is affordable, and comfortable as well as offers plenty of scenic views too. One can drive from major cities in Rajasthan or from other states.

Best time to visit Eklingji Temple, Udaipur

In spite of being a city of lakes, the summer season in Udaipur is hot. It is best to visit Udaipur in winter (November to March). Monsoons are pleasant with showers that can extend to a long duration which may make moving around the city not possible.

Sustainable travel tips for Eklingji temple trip

• Photography is not allowed inside the Eklingji temple. Respect the temple rule and do not try to photograph the main sanctum or the idol presiding there.
• Blend in the culture by wearing the right clothes. Skirts and pants till knee level are good. Avoid spaghetti and tank tops. Cover your shoulders with a scarf if necessary, especially in the temple premises.
• Being an ancient heritage site of historic importance it needs to be respected by not harming the temple structures. Do not sit or lean on the carvings/sculptures. 
• Do not harm the structures by carving or writing on it.
• Do not enter places that are closed off, there’s a reason why they are closed.
• Do not litter tourist places. Always use a dustbin.

I hope you found this Eklingji temple travel guide helpful! Though many Udaipur travel packages are available, planning a trip here is fairly easy and can be done on your own with little research!

Read More Rajasthan Blogs here:

• Jaipur itinerary
• Kumbhalgarh
• Jawai Leopard Safari
• Souvenirs from Jaipur
• Ranakpur Jain Temple

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