As you venture into the city of Udaipur, you will encounter women with vermilion going in and out of temples. With that comes the smell of burning Agarpatis and the chanting of prayers. Udaipur-the city of lakes and the city of palaces is also a city of temples. It is home to some famous temples of Rajasthan. Hence, you must visit the famous temples in Udaipur on your solo trip. The famous temples to visit in Udaipur are Jagdish Temple, Eklingji Temple, Ambika Mata Temple, Neemach Mata Temple, Karni Mata Temple, Mahakaleshwar Temple, and Sahastrabahu Temple. These temples are free to enter for both Indians and foreigners. There is no camera charge and dress code. Even then, decent attire with less revealing clothing is appreciable.

1. Jagdish Temple

To begin with, Jagdish Temple is the most famous temple in Udaipur dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Why is it so famous? The temple is famous for its three-storied elevated structure. And for its spire, which stretches the sky 79 feet long. That said, one has to climb 32 stairs to enter the shrine of the Jagdish temple. The elegant Indo-Aryan architecture is another element of attraction for travellers. Adding to its popularity is its prime location in the busy streets of the old city of Udaipur. It is near the City Palace Udaipur, which makes it convenient for travellers to pay a visit. So close that you can see the gateway of the shrine of the Jagdish Temple from the Bara Pol (Great Gate) of the City Palace.

Timings: 04.15 am – 01.00 pm and 05.15 pm – 08.00 pm, on all days.

Location: Inside the City Palace Complex, Udaipur.

2. Ambika Mata Temple

Succeeding the famous Jagdish Temple is Ambika Mata Temple. Ambika Mata Temple is the oldest temple of Udaipur. It is also known as Jagat temple as it is located in the town of Jagat near Udaipur. The temple is famous for its lavish sculptures and its rock cleft base. The temple sculptures, which date back to 961A.D, are, without any doubt, unique pieces of art that look opulently rich. 

Timings: 06:00 am to 08:00 pm on all days.

Location: SH:32, Udaipur (43 Km from Udaipur).

3. Eklingji Temple

Eklingji Temple is the oldest temple of Udaipur, next to Ambika Mata Temple. It was built around the 8th century by the founder of Mewar Kingdom, Bappa Rawal. The abundant beauty of the temple comes from the 108 small temples that stick with it. The Eklingji Temple is famous for

• The four-faced figure of Lord Shiva in the shrine, carved in black marble
• The silver Nandi idol and the huge silver doors in the entrance
• The 50 feet Shivalinga flaunting his neck with the silver-coloured snake

Timings: 04:30 am to 07:30 pm on all days.

Location: NH:8, Kailash Puri, Udaipur (22 Km from Udaipur).

4. Neemach Mata Temple

Neemach Mata Temple, perched on a 900-metre-high hill, is a famous temple of Udaipur. It is devoted to Goddess Ambaji (Neemach Mata). The temple is famous because Goddess Ambaji is regarded as the Vaishno Devi of Udaipur. And, of course, the temple’s special aarti prayers and beautiful hilltop view equally boost its popularity. The aarti’s taken on the days of Navratri, Diwali, Dussehra, and other festivals attract huge crowds. That said, you have to climb or walk on the pavement, which stretches for 900 metres, to reach the temple. This task can be physically exhausting for travellers.

Timings: 06.00 am to 08.00 pm on all days.

Location: Fateh Sagar Road, Shilpgram, Udaipur.

5. Karni Mata Temple

Karni Mata Temple is an alternative for travellers who got discouraged by the climbing exasperation of Neemach Mata Temple. Unlike Neemach Mata Temple, Karni Mata Temple welcomes visitors with a cable car ride. You can take the cable car ride from Deendayal Park. As I came to know, besides the adrenaline-boosting ride and the 360-degree drone view of Lake Pichola and the Sajjangarh Monsoon Palace, the Karni Mata Temple of Udaipur is famous for rats. 

Rats? You heard it right. The temple is the residence of thousands of rats. Shockingly, these rats are no unwanted guests. Instead, they are willingly pampered by the temple authorities and the devotees. Hence, you shouldn’t be surprised to see the devotees feeding food to the rats. Myth has it that Kari Mata, an avatar of goddess Durga reincarnated her son as a rat. In reference to this story, spotting a white rat is seen as a blessing by the locals as they are believed to be the reincarnated sons of Durga. Truth or not. It is indeed an interesting story to grip your spirit on your solo trip to Udaipur. And I love exploring places with amusing stories.

Timings: 05.00 am to 10.00 pm on all days.

Location: Karni Mata Temple Road, Nokha Mandi, Udaipur.

6. Sahastrabahu Temple

The next famous temple in Udaipur, Sahastrabahu, also has a captivating story to tell. The Sahastrabahu temple, dedicated to Lord Vishnu, is located 20 km from Udaipur. It is also called the ‘Sas-Bahu’ Temple. It takes us to an entertaining backstory. King Kachchwaha, who built the temple, dedicated the temple to Lord Vishnu because his wife was a devotee of Vishnu. Later, he enlarged the temple with another gateway because his daughter-in-law was a devotee of Shiva. Hence, the name ‘Sas Bahu.’ It has become my favourite temple in Udaipur because of its interesting story. However, the main shrine is not open for visitors. You can only enjoy the temple from the outside.

Timings: 08:00 am to 06:00 pm.

Location: 1.5 Km away from Eklingji Temple.

7. Mahakaleshwar Temple 

The Mahakaleshwar Temple in Udaipur is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is famous among travellers because it is located on the banks of Fateh Sagar Lake, one of the famous lakes of Udaipur. The temple circles an area of 3.2 acres which is another tempting reason for the crowd there. The unused land poses as a garden for people to relax and enjoy the scenic beauty of Fateh Sagar lake and the Aravalli mountain range.

Timings: 06.00 am to 08.00 pm on all days.

Location: NH:8, Udaipur (22 Km from Udaipur)

Other not-so-famous temples of Udaipur

So far, we have dealt with the famous temples of Udaipur. Visiting these famous temples is one of the best ways to spend a day in Udaipur. However, other ordinary temples in Udaipur are popular among the locals. Suppose you are bound by spirituality more than popularity. In that case, you can check out Adbhut Ji Temple, Amba Mata Temple, Mahalaxmi Temple, Bohra Ganesh Temple, Sagasji Bavji Temple, and Kankroli Temple in Udaipur. If you have visited these lesser-known temples, please do leave your comments for the benefit of our fellow solo travellers.

For further information on the temples in Rajasthan, click here.