Neelkanth Temple Alwar “Welcome to heaven”, your heart will say when you approach this wondrous site. Neelkanth is possibly the oldest attraction and most famous travel destination in the entire region surrounding Sariska. It is a cluster of more than 300 Hindu and Jain temples that date back to 6-9th century AD.
Neelkanth is located near the buffer zone of Sariska Tiger Sanctuary and is perched on a plateau above the hills near Rajgarh village. The temples are overlooked by the silhouette of Rajorgarh Fort.
It is a fantastic experience for nature lovers and history buffs to stumble upon these ruins amidst fabulously green landscapes. The temples have intricate carvings on pillars and some wonderful statues of various mythological figures. The most important of the temples here is the Shiva Temple.
Another great and artistic attraction is a huge statue of Jain Tirthankara, Shantinath, which is located close by. It is locally known as ‘nogaza.’ The temples are maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and are so historically significant that this place has a valid reason to be classified as a world heritage site. There is a small baori near the ruined temple complex.
A curious eye can spot ruins of more than 300 temples and baoris spread across the forest; the architecture of these is immaculate and is of great heritage value. The distance of Neelkanth Temples is approx. 25 km from Sariska.
Architecture of Neelkanth Temple
Talking about the architecture of the temple, there is a rangamandapa standing on four pillars which originally had three pancharathas housing three deities. Of these three pancharathas, two have been destroyed while the third one in the middle remains intact with its Shikhara.
The Jangha is decorated with sculptures of Harihararka in the East, Narasimha in the South and Tripurantaka in the South. The doors bear ornamented figures of Natesa while the projections carry figures of Surasndaris and Dikpalas. Besides, the ceiling of the Rangamandapa is designed with Padmasila and sculptures of Surasundaris and Gandharvas.
How to Reach
For air route, the nearest airport is at Jaipur which is 116 kms away from the site while road travelers can take buses plying from Alwar. Also, if you choose to take a road trip in your own vehicle, make sure that it’s an SUV because the route has a rough terrain.
