Jagdish Temple Udaipur is dedicated to Lord Vishnu (Laxmi Narayan), the preserver of the Universe. The temple was built by Maharana Jagat Singh with an estimated cost of 1.5 million rupees in 1651 AD. It is celebrated for being the largest temple in the city of Udaipur. The gateway of this temple can be sited at a distance of 150 meters from the Bara Pol of the City Palace. The temple was originally called the temple of Jagannath Rai but is now called Jagdish Temple.
This temple is built in the Indo-Aryan style of architecture. This three-storied temple is a wonder of architecture that comprises beautifully carved pillars, decorated ceilings, painted walls and lush halls. The first and the second storey of the temple possess 50 pillars each and all have magnificent carvings which add to temple beauty. The spire of the main temple is around 79 feet high that undoubtedly dominates the skyline of Udaipur. Sculptures of dancers, elephants, horsemen and musicians adorn the shikhar (spire). This temple was built keeping in the mind the Hindu architectural science of 'Vastushstra'.
At the entrance, visitors are welcomed by two huge stone elephants. A stone slab that is imprinted with the inscriptions referring to Maharana Jagat Singh is located in front of the temple. To reach the main shrine, one has to take a marble flight of 32 steps. The doorway of Lord Vishnu is guarded by a brass image of Garuda, the celestial bird. The main shrine houses the striking four-armed black stone image of Lord Vishnu. There are four smaller shrines encircled the main shrine and are dedicated to Lord Ganesha, Sun God, Goddess Shakti and Lord Shiva respectively.
History of Jagdish temple
The temple was built in 1651 under the reign of Maharana Jagat Singh who ruled Udaipur from 1628 to 1653. Jagdish Temple is the home of Lord Vishnu and an iconic example of Maru-Gujaru architecture of the era. The Maharana Jagat Singh spent 1.5 million rupees to enhance the structure of the Jagdish temple. The temple was renovated due to Mughal invasion.
The Mughal invaders have destroyed many figurines and carvings in the temple as a part of revenge upon Rajput rulers. The Mughals took to vandalism to take out their anger and frustrations on their defeat by the hands of Mewar rulers.
According to the old legends, it is believed that the marble slab in the Jagdish temple has magical powers. If you rub your shoulder, knees, or back on the marble, you can get a quick relief against the pain. For some people, it might be hard to believe, but the beliefs associated with religion cannot be questioned.
Best Time to visit Jagdish temple
The best time to visit Jagdish temple is the winter season, i.e., November, December, January, and February as well. At this time, the cold and pleasant weather eases the occasional tiredness of sight-seeing around the temple as well as the city.
The temple is a marvelous site to visit during festivals as it is decorated with lights to enhance its pomp and show. The annual car festival in the month of July should never be missed. The festival coincides with the yearly rath yatra or the car festival of Puri Jagannath or Lord Vishnu.
