Tanot Mata Temple Jaisalmer or Maheshwari Tanot Rai Mandir is the same temple you have seen many times in the Bollywood ‘Border’ movie. The Tanot Mata Temple is situated close to the India-Pakistan border in a village named Tanot in Jaisalmer District of Rajasthan. This village has a low population (not even a thousand) and very few houses. The village is in the middle of Thar desert and is far away from the city. and sand dunes on both sides of the road makes a great scenery. The feeling of peace one can get at an attack prone place is weirdly amazing.
The road trip to the Temple will be something you will really enjoy. The long-deserted areas. The maintenance and management of this temple is not done by any community or organisation in fact the Indian BSF (Border Security Force) itself handles those things. There is a museum in the Temple where some of the bombs are kept at display from the 1960’s war incident. The BSF men have huge respect for that Temple and they even take some soil from around the temple area and apply that on themselves and their vehicles. They believe that sacredness of the Tanot Mata Temple Jaisalmer will help with their safety.
Even though, there are few restaurants and tea stalls in the area it is suggested for the tourists to carry sufficient amount of food and water which should be enough for them till the return. One more suggestion is to not depend on your mobile phones for anything because the chance of network availability throughout the way and the temple is very low. Another tip is regarding the clothes, temperature there will be too hot given the condition that it is a desert so choose the correct clothes and prepare yourself accordingly, Tanot Mata Temple Jaisalmer.
History of Tanot Mata Temple –
Tanot Mata Temple Jaisalmer In a small Rajasthani village called as Tanot in Jaisalmer district lies this beautiful mystical temple dedicated to the Tanot Mata who is believed to be a re-incarnation of Hinglaj Mata. This is indeed a noteworthy fascination for those who are visiting the mighty Thar Desert of India. The story of this temple is wrapped inside various legends that are certain to impart amazement and interest towards its holy power and immaculateness.
Border Security Force (BSF) of India has been preserving and maintaining this heritage site since the Indo-Pakistan war that took place in the year 1971. It is known that amid the Indo-Pakistani War of the year 1965, Pakistani Army dropped more than 3000 bombs focusing on the Tanot Mata temple and yet not even one detonated.
The Pakistani Tank regiment was stunned and continued shelling, however, again the same thing got repeated. The Pakistani General got curious after the war got over and got to know of the supernatural powers of Tanot Mata Temple Jaisalmer after his visit.
In the wake of offering your regards to the Goddess, you can also check out the historical centre set up in the vicinity. You would be able to see all the arms and ammo that was utilized amid the Indo-Pakistan wars of the year 1965 and 1971. The Tanot Mata temple is a standout one and amongst one of the best places to explore in the Great Thar Desert of Rajasthan. The best time to visit Tanot Mata Temple Jaisalmer is between the months of November to January. It is the time where travellers and tourists flock to this place.
Best Time to Visit Tanot Mata Temple
The best time to visit Tanot Mata Temple is between November and April. During these months, the weather is pleasant and the temperature is not likely to be high. The months of May and June should be especially avoided since the scorching heat of Rajasthan can make you very uncomfortable and might get you sick.
Also, during the months of April and September, the Navratri festival is celebrated in Tanot Mata Temple Jaisalmer, where free lunger is served by BSF. The temple is decorated with beautiful flowers, which make it look glorious. The temple is flooded by devotees from all parts of India during Navratri.
How to Reach Tanot Mata Temple
The best way to reach Tanot Mata Temple from Jaisalmer is via road. It takes about 2 hours to reach the temple from Jaisalmer. There are numerous taxis available from the city to the temple. The route to the temple is quite spectacular as well.
From yellow sand dunes of the Thar Desert to blue vistas of the sky, your trip to the Tanot Mata Temple Jaisalmer will be quite memorable.
Even though hiring a taxi is the safest and quickest way to reach Tanot Mata Temple, a few people also hire a bike to cover the distance.
The road connecting the two places is embellished with windmills and flock of animals, such as camels and deer, truly turning your trip into an adventure!
Places to visit near Tanot Mata Temple –
Some of the places to visit near Tanot Mata Temple are-
Jaisalmer Fort: This spectacular piece of architecture was built by Raja Jaisal in 1156 A.D. Ranked amongst the largest forts in the world, Jaisalmer Fort is also known as the Golden Fort for its mesmerizing gold and yellow sandstones. It is a two-hour drive from Tanot Mata Temple to Jaisalmer Fort.
Thar Desert: The Thar Desert needs no introduction. Do not forget to camp under the stars, camel safari, and dune bashing in the desert. Thar Desert is quite famous for its camel safari, jeep safari, night camps, Rajasthani dance performance, and dune bashing.
Do not miss the splendorous sunrise and sunset during your time at Thar. The desert is located at a distance of 70 km from the Tanot Mata Temple Jaisalmer.
Gadisar Lake: This pristine lake is located near the Jaisalmer Fort. It is known for its enriching history, scenic spots, and great architecture.
It was built by Raja Rawal Jaisal and rebuilt by Maharawal Garsi in 1367 A.D. One can also visit the famous Folklore Museum and historic Tilon Ki Pol gate here.
The distance between this lake and the temple is 120 km and takes about 2 hours to cover the distance.
Kuldhara: This ghost town is known for its ruins and history. It is said that the state minister of the town, Mr. Salim Singh wanted to marry the daughter of the village chief and announced that if he didn’t agree to his demand, the whole village will suffer the consequences.
The village didn’t accept the minister’s demand and moved away, cursing the place to never see human settlement again.
This abandoned town is thus, known for its spooky tales. It takes about 2 hours to reach here from the temple.
Thar Heritage Museum: The Museum is located in the main market. It is quite popular for exhibiting the history, culture, and architecture of the great Thar Desert.
