Exquisite holy abode of Lord Shiva

Madareshwar temple is nothing less than a charming natural beauty. Located on Banaswara’s eastern side, this temple nestles within a natural cave atop a hill. This hilltop Shiva temple is as famous as the holy shrine of Amarnath. Hence, it attracts a lot of pilgrims from across India.

Maha Shivaratri celebrations here are worthwhile for every pilgrim. The locals light up and decorate the temple on this grand wedding occasion of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Relish yourself with the ‘prasad’ if you visit the Madareshwar during Maha Shivaratri.

Scenic surroundings for picture-perfect snaps

Treat yourself to some soothing delights of nature’s astounding beauty. The Madareshwar temple atop the eastern hills of the Banaswara offers plenty of picturesque spots to soak in your eyes. The hill gives you a bird-eye view of Banaswara town. It is a perfect spot to adore the sunrises and sunsets.

The temple is painted in hues of white and orange shades signifying the importance of Hindu dharma. In one immediate outer corner of the temple, you can witness a giant ‘Nandi’. According to Hindu mythology, ‘Nandi’ is the ‘Vahan’ or vehicle and the first disciple of Lord Shiva. It is believed that prayers offered to ‘Nandi’ are equivalent to the prayers offered to Lord Shiva.

You can enjoy a short nature trail with your family, friends, and spouse around this temple.

Relish your soul with Lord Shiva’s auspicious presence

The main shrine has a barricade displaying the word ‘Om’ in vernacular script. Hindu mythology has a great significance for ‘Om’. The main shrine also has a huge ‘Shivlinga’ in the centre resembling the face of Lord Shiva and a small one where the devotees can offer milk, flowers, etc. There is a ‘Trishul’ just beside the small ‘Shivlinga’. In Hindu mythology, the ‘Trishul’ or trident, is the weapon of Lord Shiva and a divine symbol.

The main shrine of the temple lies within a natural cave. The distance between the ceiling and the floor of this natural cave is less so if you are tall, you need to be pretty cautious while you step inside. There are several bells hung from the ceiling of this natural cave just above the main shrine.

Kawad Yatra – the annual pilgrimage

The Madareshwar temple holds a spiritual significance in the annual pilgrimage called Kawad Yatra, as pilgrims start of their yatra during the auspicious month of ‘shraavan’ (July-August) by worshipping Lord Shiva here. The endpoint of the Kawad Yatra is Baneshwar Temple. It is believed that to seek the blessings of the yatra, you should walk barefoot. The yatra is considered fulfilled only when you carry some water from River Mahi and conduct puja by offering the holy water at Shivlinga. Locals believe that correctly performing this Kawad Yatra may bring good fortune.

Beyond Madareshwar Temple

Once you are done with your spiritual things at Madareshwar Temple, there’s a lot to do in Banaswara.

Located in Umrai, a small village of Matabari, Shri Tripura Sundari Temple is just 14kms away from Banaswara. What makes this temple unique is the idol of Maa Bhagwati Tripura Sundari depicting 8-breasted arms here. The temple is vibrant during the nine days of the Navratri festival.

Another noteworthy family spot to explore is the Mahi Dam which is just 16 km away from Banaswara. Constructed between 1972 and 1983, the Mahi Dam serves as the magnificent hydel power plant for Rajasthan.

Situated just 3 km away from the main city of Banaswara, Kagadi Pick Up Weir is another tourist attraction to add to your Banaswara bucket list. Tourists are drawn here to see the magnificent quantity of water gushing down from the Kagadi gates during monsoons. On a bright day, one can even witness the reflections of clouds in the water below for a perfect candid click.

During the Treta Yuga, the soil of Banswara received blessings from Lord Rama during his 14-year exile, along with Sita and Lakshman. While they were wandering through this region, they reached a primitive cave that had a pool of fresh water beside it. Since Lord Rama quenched his thirst here, the freshwater pool came to be known as Ram Kund. The Ram Kund is flanked by barren hills resembling a perfect isolated area for nature lovers to seek the solitude.