The township of Nathdwara (the gateway of lord) is
approximately 48 km from Udaipur. The main attraction of this town is
the great Lord Krishna shrine, built in the 17th century. There is a
legend attached to this holy town. It is believed that the Lord himself
defined the place where now the shrine stands. The statue of Lord
Krishna was being transferred from Vrindaban to shield it from the
devastating and harmful anger of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. The image
was being carried in a bullock cart. It is said that when the vehicle
reaches the spot of the shrine, its wheel got stuck in the mud. The
priest traveling with the statue comprehended that Lord Krishna had
chosen the spot for his shrine. Thereafter, a temple of Lord Krishna was
constructed at that particular spot only.
Read on this Nathdwara city guide to know more about this holy
township:
The temple of Nathdwara in Rajasthan, India houses a black stone statue
of Lord Krishna. Just like a living deity, the idol of the Lord follows
a daily routine like taking a bath, dressing up, having a meal, resting,
etc. The arties and shringar (dressing up) of the deity are some of the
main attraction points of the temple. The idol is dressed up in
delicately woven shaneels and silk cloth, adorned with real beautiful
zari and shredded work. Loads of dazzling jewelry ornamenting the Lord
further enhances his divinity.
Nathdwara travel and tourism gains importance for the devotees of Lord
Krishna as one of the most revered pilgrimages. The temple assumes
special significance at the time of Janamashtmi, the birth anniversary
of the Lord, along with the other festivals. When the purdah
(veil/curtain) over the statue of the Lord is lifted, it presents a
captivating sight. Along with being a famous pilgrim center, the
Nathdwara is also a small but booming township. You can even shop for a
number of items in Nathdwara. It is especially famous for its pichwani
paintings (Lord Krishna paintings with extensive usage of gold color).
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