Last Updated: August 17, 2021
Famous Temples In Jaipur
Jaipur sits just south of New Delhi in the region of Rajasthan in India. It’s an incredibly lovely place to visit while traveling around India and mostly for the famous temples in Jaipur.
The temples in Jaipur were built by the Maharajas and the historical kings who ruled the city. The architectural design of the temples is nothing short of outstanding. They are beautiful to look at and wander through and, as you take in the amazingly unique carvings and structural elements, you’ll be nothing short of awestruck.
The temples were built for religious purposes to provide a place for all the locals to worship and seek religious guidance and dedication, and they are still used for this today.
Now, your chances of seeing all the famous temples in Jaipur in one visit is a tad unlikely, so we have brought together some of the best for you to see while you’re there.
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Swaminarayan Mandir Akshardham Temple
A very famous temple in Jaipur is Swaminarayan Mandir Akshardham Temple. You’ll find it on the southwestern edge of the city and it’s a temple you must see while you’re there.
When you enter the grounds of the temple, you’ll first notice the amazing staircase and walls of the temple surrounded by luscious green hedges, foundations, and gardens. Your eyes will then move to the incredible architecture which is has a typical Hindu temple design with domes and steeples all over the roof. It looks like the temple in the Jungle Book, King Louis hung out at.
As you walk inside the temple, you’ll find stunning carvings and statues all over the walls and around the rooms. The temple is dedicated to the Hindu God, Narayan as designed as a sanctuary that is meant to be the divine dwelling place of the incomparable God.
Getting to the temple is easy via tuk-tuk or taxi, and it’s worth spending some time hanging out in the tranquil gardens after you have walked around the temple. It’s open from 7:30 am – 12 pm and then 4 pm – 8 pm and it’s quite a cool place to be after dark as the temple roof is lit up with very colorful lights.
Govind Dev Ji Temple
You’ll find the Govind Dev Ji temple in the City Palace of Jaipur and it’s one of the most famous temples in Jaipur as it’s considered one of the most significant and sacred by those who worship there.
The Govind Dev Ji temple was first built in the city of Vrindavan and was then moved to Jaipur by the city’s founder, Raja Sawai Jai Singh II, during the Mughals’ age when it quickly became extremely popular.
The reason the Govind Dev Ji temple is considered so sacred is that it’s thought that the image of Lord Krishna that you’ll find in the temple is the exact image of what Krishna looked like when was incarnated on Earth.
The story goes that Shri Bajranabh, Lord Krishna’s great-grandson, asked his grandmother what Lord Krishna looked like. He then proceeded to create three images, one of Krishna’s feet, another of his chest, and the third image of his face that resembled exactly what Krishna looked like on heart.
Thousands of worshippers visit the Govind Dev Ji temple every day and it’s open to visitors too from 5 am to 9 pm. Architecturally, the temple is quite magnificent and painted with earthy tones of faded orange and brown with places of bright white and red. Inside you’ll find stunning Hindu carvings and statues too.
You’ll find the Govind Dev Ji temple on the south side of Jaipur. It’s very easy to get to via tuk-tuk or taxi depending on where you’re staying. It’s always quite busy as worships run from 4:45 am to 9:15 pm daily.
Galtaji Temple
The most famous temple in Jaipur is probably Galtaji. Now, Galtaji isn’t a single temple on its own, it’s actually a series of temples that you’ll find a little outside the city of Jaipur, around 10km in the hills.
At Galtaji, you’ll find numerous temples that are built into a crevice between two hills when a natural spring emerges. The water flows from the top of the hill and is channeled into the temple complex and then fills a series of sacred water tanks (known as kunds) where worshipers and pilgrims bathe.
When you visit Galtaji, you can walk around all the temples, bathe in the pools, and walk up the hillsides to the highest water pool and to a hilltop temple. The views from the hilltop temple are quite incredible and you’ll get to see Jaipur in the distance and the entire temple complex as it spread through the valley in the hills.
Galtaji has been a retreat for Hindus since the early 15th century and is host to a huge Hindu pilgrimage every year where thousands of people come to bathe in the holy water pools.
While walking around the Galtaji, you’ll be quite amazed by its size, it is huge and its pink-colored stone walls with the emerald green pools provide quite an insane color contrast. The complex is also filled with Hindu carvings, statues, and is home to a lot of monkeys who you’ll have to interact with on your visit.
The temple is open from sunrise to sunset, both of which are the best hours to see it – when it’s draped in colorful soft light. Being just 10km outside of Jaipur, the Galtaji complex is easy to get to. The best and most convenient way is with a taxi, just ask them to wait for you or come back to pick you up once you’re done.
Jagat Shiromani Temple
Another famous temple in Jaipur that is a must-see is the Jagat Shiromani Temple. It sits out of town a bit on the northern end of Jaipur and is a stunningly peaceful place and architecturally quite amazing.
The temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna and his wife Meera Bai, which the temple is also often referred to. Meera Bai was actually the wife of King Mewar but she devoted herself to Lord Krishna during her childhood and considered him to be her husband.
The Jagat Shiromani Temple was built a long time ago, between the years 1599 and 1608. It was commissioned but the wife of King Man Singh I, Queen Kanakwait in the memory of Jagat Singh, their son.
On arrival at the temple, you’ll walk through one of the two stunningly made main gates, either from the street or from the Amer palace. Inside you’ll find an open courtyard, temple stands, and a three-story temple for you to explore.
The top floor is home to incredible paintings on the marble walls and ceiling. There is a very detailed carving of Lord Vishnu in front of the temple, and at the entrance, you’ll notice an incredible marble pylon next to a string of immaculately carved elephants.
The story goes that the statue of Lord Krishna you’ll find in the temple is the exact same statue that Meera Bai used to worship over 600 years ago. The statue was apparently saved from destruction during a war and smuggled safely to its resting place in Amer.
The Jagat Shiromani Temple is open every day from sunrise to sunset, and it’s best to visit early to beat the crowds. Getting to the temple is easy as it’s just 15 mins out of town into the hilly countryside on the outskirts of Jaipur.
Garh Ganesh Temple
Another beautiful temple in Jaipur that is a little bit out of town is the Garh Ganesh Temple. You’ll find it just outside of the city of Jaipur to the west and in the stunning hills that Rajahstan is so famous for, near the forts of Nahargarh and Jaigarh which are also worth a visit while you’re nearby.
The Garh Ganesh Temple is a temple devoted to Lord Ganesh. The worshipers who attend the temple believe that Ganesha is still present at Garh Ganesh as Purushakriti, in the form of a child, and you’ll find a statue of the child Ganesha (Lord Ganesh) inside as Vigra Purushakriti, so without a trunk.
The Garh Ganesh Temple dates back to the 18th century and was built under the order of Maharaja Swai Jai Singh II before Jaipur was established. It was built as a shrine to Ganesha and the statue of Lord Ganesha was tactically placed so that the Maharaja could see it with binoculars from the City Palace of Jaipur.
When visiting the Garh Ganesh Temple, you’ll have to climb hundreds of stairs to reach the temple walls and as you rise up the hill, the views become more and more beautiful. You’ll be able to look over the city of Jaipur and the views to the west over Rajahstan are quite incredible.
The temple is open every day from 5 am to 8 pm and it’s worth getting there for sunrise to beat the crowds and to see the sun come up over the stunning landscapes. Getting there is simple, just hop in a very affordable taxi for 15-30 mins (depending on where you’re staying) and you’re there.
Lakshmi Narayan Temple
The Lakshmi Narayan Temple in Jaipur is a Birla Mandir temple. Birla Mandir temples are found all over India and are built by the Birla Foundation. The Lakshmi Narayan Temple is very new as far as the temples in Jaipur are concerned and was built in 1988.
It’s made solely out of white marble and dedicated to Lord Vishnu and Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess. You will find their images all over the temple along with many other Hind goddesses and gods plus so bits of the Upanishads and Gita.
Architecturally the Lakshmi Narayan Temple is quite amazing. You’ll find a stunning entrance leading to the main hall and then there is a sanctum and tower too. The temple features three towers that resemble the three major Indian faiths along with beautiful Hindu stories that are depicted in stained glass windows.
The grounds of the temple are also quite beautiful and very lush. The greenery really sets off the white marble and having out in the gardens is a wonderful way to relax after looking around the temple.
While visiting the temple you can also visit the Smt. G. P. Birla Gallery and the B. M. Birla Family Museum that features treasures of the Birla Famling along with photos of the construction of the temple.
The Lakshmi Narayan Temple is in central Jaipur making it very easy to get to. It’s open every day from 8 am to 12 pm and then 4 pm to 8 pm. It’s highly recommended to be at the temple during sunset as the white marble begins to glow in the colors of the Rahjahstan sunset.
Thanks to its central location, getting to the Lakshmi Narayan Temple is incredibly easy from anywhere in Jaipur, and you can easily hail tuk-tuks from outside it to get home after your visit.
About the Author Roger Timbrook
Roger is a little obsessed with travel. He has been to over 40 countries, broken 3 suitcases and owned over 10 backpacks in 12 months. What he doesn't know about travel, ain't worth knowing!
