Temples

Galtaji Temple

Location:	20km from Jaipur On Jaipur-Agra Highway, near Sisodia Rani ka Bagh
Built In:	18th century
Built By:	Diwan Rao Kriparam
Dedicated to:	Sun God, Lord Hanuman/Balaji
Famous For:	Natural water springs
Visiting Hours:	Sunrise to Sunset, on all week days

A pre-historic Hindu pilgrimage site, the Galtaji Temple, is located only 10km away from Jaipur. One of the jewels of Jaipur, the temple complex encompasses natural fresh water springs and 7 holy 'kunds' or water tanks. Among these kunds, the 'Galta Kund', is the holiest one and is believed to never get dry. A spring of pure water flows from the 'Gaumukh', a rock shaped like a cow's head, into the tanks. A spectacular structure, this magnificent temple is built in pink sandstone, amidst low hills, and is structured to look more like a palace or 'haveli' than a traditional temple. The Galta Monkey Temple has a back-drop of gorgeous landscape featuring lush green vegetation, and offers a fascinating view of the city of Jaipur. This temple is famous for the many tribes of monkeys that dwell in this area. The religious hymns and chants, combined with the natural setting, provide a peaceful ambience for anyone who visits there.

History
Diwan Rao Kriparam, an attendant to Sawai Jai Singh II, in the 18th Century, built the Galtaji Temple.

Legends
It is believed that, Saint Galav spent all his life here and performed his 'tapasya' for 100 years. Pleased with his penance, the Gods appeared before him and blessed his place of worship with abundant water. To honour this great 'rishi', a temple was built here and it was named after him. Taking a dip in the natural springs of Galtaji is considered very auspicious and is said to cleanse a person of his sins.

Layout Of The Temple
The Galtaji Temple is located in the Aravalli hills and is bounded by dense trees and bushes. This impressive building is ornamented by painted walls, adorned by rounded roofs and pillars. Apart from the kunds, there are temples of Lord Ram, Lord Krishna and Lord Hanuman situated within the temple complex.

Best Time To Visit
Every year in mid-January, on 'Makar Sankranti', a large crowd of visitors come here to take a dip in the holy kund. Sunset is the best time to visit this gracious temple because, at this time, you can witness a large family of monkeys flocking towards the temple tank, for a bath. The visiting hours for this temple are from sunrise to sunset.

Nearby Tourist Attractions
You can also visit the Krishna Temple, Surya Temple, Balaji Temple and the Sita Ram Temple, situated very near to the Galtaji Temple. Another tourist attraction near this temple is the Sisodia Rani Ka Bagh, which is a magnificent palace and garden.

A reminder of the regality of Rajasthan, the Galtaji Temple has a splendid architecture and is enclosed in natural scenic beauty. This temple, located in a mystical place, is a pleasure for all tourists. The sacred shrine, surrounded by a clan of monkeys, makes this place, eye-catching and interesting, for nature lovers and photographers.

                                                                                                                                                                   

Birla Temple

Built in:	1988 AD
Built By:	B.M Birla Foundation
Visiting Hours:	8.00 AM to 12.00 Noon; 4.00 PM to 8.00 PM everyday

The Birla Temple, originally known as Lakshmi Narayan Temple, and is situated below the Moti Dungri Fort in Jaipur. Dedicated to Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi, this temple is a proud architectural landmark of Jaipur. Built in pure white marble, the Birla Temple is unlike the traditional ancient Hindu temples, and is built with a modern approach. Inside this magnificent shrine, beautifully sculpted idols of Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi, as well as other Hindu Gods and Goddesses, can be seen. Delicate carvings of Hindu symbols, and ancient quotes from the Geeta and the Upanishads ornament the walls of this fascinating temple. One can also recognize the mythological events engraved on the walls. Apart from the religious idols, pictures and figures of several religious saints, philosophers and historical achievers, like Socrates, Buddha, Zarathustra and Confucius, are also included in the temple. A work of art, this temple truly represents architectural beauty, in a modern form.

Birla Mandir Jaipur

History Of The Temple
According to history, the Birla temple was built on the land given to the Birla family by the Maharaja, for just a token sum of one rupee. One of India's most famous business families, B.M Birla Foundation, built this temple in the year 1988.

Layout Of The Temple
Located beneath the Moti Dungri Fort, the Birla Temple has three domes to represent the three religions of India; a tribute to the secular nature of the country. The Birla temple is bordered by lavish green gardens that highlight the splendour of the temple.

Best Time To Visit
The best time to visit this temple is between the months of October to March. In this temple, 'Janmashtami', the birth anniversary of Lord Krishna, is celebrated with great enthusiasm and gusto; that is the time you would witness the glamour of this temple at its fullest scale. The regular visiting hours are between, 8.00 AM to 12.00 Noon and 4.00 PM to 8.00 PM every day. At night, one can witness the temple illuminated beautifully, against the dark skyline.

Nearby Tourist Attractions
Apart from the main temple, the Birla Temple complex incorporates a majestic museum that displays the ancestral possessions of the Birla family, and a stunning garden with a shopping complex. Various items are available at this shopping complex, perfect for tourists who wish to make their trip memorable. Situated very near the Birla temple is another famous temple of Jaipur, the Ganesh Mandir or Moti Dungri Temple. The people who visit the Birla Temple usually visit the Ganesh Mandir as well.

The Birla Temple has a calm and serene atmosphere that compliments this spiritual site. The temple's exquisite structural designs and elegant carvings represent the sophisticated architectural formation of a modern India. The Birla Temple is aptly located in the city, and is bounded by a luxurious garden setting, making this temple a major attraction, for tourists everywhere.

                                                                                                                                                                 

Govind Dev Ji Temple

Location:	Jaipur, Rajasthan
Built In:	1735 AD
Built By:	Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh II
Dedicated to:	Govind Dev Ji (Lord Krishna)
Visiting Hours:	5 AM to 9 PM

The temple of Govind Dev Ji is one of the most sacred and famous tourist destinations in India. It is located in the City Palace complex, in Jaipur, Rajasthan. The deity, Govind Dev Ji, is none other than Lord Shri Krishna himself. It is believed that the image in this temple looks exactly how Lord Krishna looked during his incarnation on earth. The idol was originally kept in the temple of Vrindavan in Uttar Pradesh and was later brought to Jaipur by Raja Sawai Jai Singh, a staunch devotee of Lord Krishna. The idol of Govind Dev Ji is strikingly beautiful for its complete resemblance with Lord Krishna, and the temple is placed between Chandra Mahal and Badal Mahal in the City Palace complex. Every day, various 'Aartis' and 'Prasad' or 'Bhogs' are offered at the temple, at seven different times. The festival of Janmashtami is among the most important ones celebrated here as it commemorates the birth of Lord Krishna.

History
The idol of Lord Govind Dev Ji was brought by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II from Vrindavan to his own palace, Surya Mahal. The king was inspired by a dream, in which Lord Krishna told him to install the idol in his palace, to save it from being destroyed by the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. Later, he built his new palace, Chandra Mahal, which became his residence.

Legend
According to mythology, the idol of Lord Govind Dev Ji was sculpted by the great grandson of Lord Krishna, Bajranabh. Approximately, 5000 years back, when Bajranabh was just 13 years old, he asked his grandmother as to how Lord Krishna looked like. After getting the description, Bajranabh created an image of Lord Krishna. However, his grandmother said that only the feet of the image looked like those of Lord Krishna. He made a second image of him and was told that only its chest resembled Lord Krishna. Finally, he created a third image, about which his grandmother said, it was completely like Lord Krishna. This image was named 'Bajrakrit', meaning 'created by Bajra'.

Layout Of The Temple
The Govind Dev Ji temple is a part of the City Palace, which was the seat of the Maharaja of Jaipur. The temple is surrounded by beautiful gardens and inside it, one can see some beautiful European chandeliers and paintings in Indian art. The ceiling of the temple is decked with gold. The position of the temple allowed a direct view of it to the Maharaja from his Chandra Mahal palace.

Best Time To Visit
The best time to visit the Govind Dev Ji temple is during Janmashtami, a festival which celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna. Devotees can start visiting the temple from 5:00 AM, when the first "Aarti" starts. The temple remains open till 9:00 PM.

The temple of Lord Govind Dev Ji is dedicated to Lord Krishna and boasts of the royal past of Jaipur city. The temple is an extraordinary representation of the architecture of Jaipur as seen during the reign of the Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, the founder of the city. It is a very important spiritual and religious destination for Hindus, especially the devotees of Lord Krishna. 

                                                                                                                                                                   

Moti Dungri

Location:	Jaipur, Rajasthan
Built In:	1761 AD
Built By:	Seth Jai Ram Paliwal
Visiting Hours:	5:00 AM to 1:30 PM & 4:30 PM to 9:30 PM, everyday

The Moti Dungri Ganesh Temple was constructed by Seth Jai Ram Paliwal in the early eighteenth century, and continues to be one the most popular tourist destinations in Jaipur. Situated in the heart of Jaipur, the Moti Dungri temple is perched on a small hill, and is surrounded by an exotic palace. In the recent past, the palace was home to Rajmata Gaytri Devi, but now, the palace is locked to public, with the temple being the only tourist location. The highlight of this place is the famous and auspicious temple of Lord Ganesha, which is frequently visited by the inhabitants of Jaipur, and other tourists from around the world. In modern times, it is said that thousands of devotees flock the temple on a daily basis and it is considered to be one of the most important religious structures in Jaipur. The temple is nestled by the beautiful palace, called the Moti Dungri palace, which is an imitation of a popular Scottish castle.

History Of The Temple
According to the priests of the temple, the King of 'Mewar' was returning back to his palace from a long journey and was carting a colossal 'Ganesh' idol on a bullock cart. It is said, that the king wanted to build a temple, and had decided to consecrate the idol of Lord Ganesh wherever the bullock cart halted the first time. Legend states that the bullock cart stopped at the foot of the Moti Dungri hills, which is where the temple is situated today. It is said that the construction and the design of the temple was commissioned to Seth Jai Ram Paliwal, who supervised the construction of this magnificent structure, on the inspiration of 'Mahant' (chief priest) Shiv Narain Ji. The temple was originally built to house the 'Ganesh' idol, with only the 'Shaiva' (Lord Shiva followers) visiting the temple. Thereafter, the palace complex was built, encompassing the Moti Dungri Ganesh temple within it, making it a popular religious and tourist center in Jaipur.

Layout Of The Temple
The temple is surrounded by the beautiful Moti Dungri palace, which is an imitation of a Scottish castle. The temple itself spans 2 kilometers and is carved out of stone. Apart from the intricate stone carving, the temple is known for its exquisite lattice work on marble with mythological images engraved on the marble, which offer a splendid view for art-lovers. The idol of Lord Ganesh is located in the heart of the temple, and is hidden from view. Only at certain timings in a day are visitors allowed to have a glimpse of the feted idol.

Other Tourist Attractions

• The ‘Hawa Mahal'
• Statue Circle
• The City Palace
• Nahargarh Fort

The Moti Dungri temple houses the idol of Lord Ganesh, and is flocked by devotees and tourists all year round. From 'Ganesh Chathurthi' to 'Paush Bada', the temple is always bustling with the preparations of festivities and is a landmark destination in Jaipur. This is definitely a must-visit for those wanting to savor a bit of the rich cultural heritage of the city.