Eklingji Temple
The Ruling Deity of Mewar
Overview
Eklingji is a walled Hindu temple complex at Kailashpuri, about 22 km north of Udaipur in Rajasthan, India, dedicated to Eklingji, a form of Shiva who is the tutelary deity (kula devata) of the Mewar dynasty. By tradition the Maharana of Udaipur rules only as the god's diwan, or regent. First built by Bappa Rawal in the 8th century and rebuilt by Rana Kumbha in the 15th, the complex enshrines a four-faced black-stone image of Shiva amid scores of subsidiary shrines. Photography is prohibited inside. MyTripMyTravel arranges an escorted, respectful darshan.
Eklingji is arguably the most politically significant temple in Rajasthan. For over a thousand years the rulers of Mewar have governed not in their own name but as the diwan, the steward, of Eklingji, the form of Shiva enshrined here. The god is the sovereign; the Maharana merely serves. Understanding that single idea transforms the visit.
The complex at Kailashpuri, near the old Mewar capital of Nagda, was first raised by the dynasty's founder Bappa Rawal in the 8th century, destroyed in later invasions, and rebuilt by the great builder-king Rana Kumbha in the 15th. Inside its walls stand more than a hundred shrines around the principal temple, whose sanctum holds a striking four-faced black-marble Shiva under a silver door and Nandi bull.
MyTripMyTravel times the visit for a darshan window and provides an escort who explains the Mewar to Eklingji covenant, the architecture, and the etiquette, including the strict no-photography rule inside, so the stop is smooth and genuinely illuminating.
At a glance
Eklingji Temple in brief
What to see
Highlights
The four-faced Shiva
The chaturmukha black-marble Eklingji image, the sovereign deity of Mewar, in the main sanctum.
Rana Kumbha's temple
The 15th-century pillared mandapa and pyramidal roof rebuilt by Mewar's greatest builder-king.
The walled complex
More than a hundred subsidiary shrines to Shiva, Vishnu and the goddesses within the enclosure.
Silver doors & Nandi
The ornate silver sanctum doors and the facing Nandi bull of the darshan axis.
Nagda nearby
The ruined Sas-Bahu temples of the old Mewar capital, a short drive away.
Visitor information
Our tips
Time the visit to a darshan window, the temple closes between them.
Phones and cameras must be left outside; our escort manages storage.
Pair it with the Sas-Bahu temples at nearby Nagda for a fuller morning.
Dress modestly, with shoulders and knees covered, as at any active shrine.
Good to know
Eklingji Temple, your questions
Why is Eklingji important to Udaipur's rulers?
Eklingji, a form of Shiva, is the ruling deity of Mewar. The Maharana of Udaipur traditionally governs only as the god's diwan, or regent, the temple is the symbolic sovereign of the state.
Can I photograph inside?
No, photography is prohibited within the complex. Our escort explains the etiquette and arranges secure storage for cameras and phones.
When is it open?
Only during set darshan windows morning and evening, with the temple closed in between. We schedule the visit to hit an open window.
How old is the temple?
It was first built in the 8th century by Bappa Rawal and rebuilt in the 15th by Rana Kumbha, so it carries over a millennium of Mewar history.
Visit with us
See Eklingji Temple, properly.
A private, chauffeured visit with a licensed expert guide, timed for the best light and the smallest crowds. We fold Eklingji Temple into a wider Udaipur and Rajasthan Escapes itinerary, built entirely around you.
- Skip the queue where possible, at the right hour
- Licensed local guide who brings the story to life
- Private car and chauffeur, door to door
Plan your trip
Plan a visit to Eklingji Temple
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