Eklingji Temple
Eklingji temple is a huge temple complex located in Eklingji town, 22 kms in north of Udaipur city (on National Highway No.8). With whopping 108 temples located inside this huge complex, it is indeed like a big spiritual & devotional world in itself. It is undeniably one of the biggest temple complexes in entire India, let alone only in Rajasthan state. And this very lone important fact makes this place so much worth visiting. But besides vast expansive size and huge number of temples, the temple complex itself is very beautiful and deeply rooted in India’s rich history.
At the heart and main attraction of this huge temple complex is the huge Eklingji temple itself, from which this huge temple complex and town gets its name. Eklingji temple is dedicated to Lord Eklingji, considered as one of the reincarnations of Lord Shiva. Eklingji deity was the main deity of the Mewar rulers and for generations Mewar’s dynastic rulers prayed this deity for prosperity and security of their kingdom. Mewar rulers also ensured that temple of its main deity is architectural beautiful and grand. Its architectural beauty is especially visible through its pyramidal style of roof and distinctly carved towers.
Even the idol of Lord Eklingji with its four faces and beautifully carved out from black marble looks very peculiar and distinctly beautiful. There is also of course a Shiv Lingam which is clad with beautifully carved snake in a sliver color that invariably attracts attention of visiting devotees. The vicinity of Eklingji’s deity is also dotted with idols of Goddess Parvati, Lord Ganesha and Lord Kartikay, representing the entire family of Lord Shiva. On a whole, the entire vicinity surrounding Lord Eklingji’s idol looks very wonderful and pleasing. This immensely beautiful temple was built during 15th century on the ruins of depilated temple constructed during 734 A.D. So, in a sense this main temple is 1,400 years old, invariably making it one of the oldest surviving temples of India.