Nathdwara lies very close to Udaipur and literally means the gateway to the Lord, as it is famous as the residence of Shri Nathji - one of the popular icons of Lord Krishna. This great Vaishnavite shrine was built in the 17th century on spot exactly defined by the Lord himself. The legends have it that the image of the Lord Krishna was being transferred to safer place from Vrindaban to protect it from the destructive wrath of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. The image when it reached the spot it vehicle the bullock carts wheel sank axel deep in mud and refused to move further. The accompanying priest realised that this was lord's chose spot and the image did not want to travel any further. Accordingly a Temple was built here. The idol of Shri Nathji is made from a large black stone and has several animals engraved on it.

Nathdwara has a small but throbbing township around the temple. It's shopping in the bye lanes is a great revelation. Other than its temples, Nathdwara is also famous for its pichhwai paintings, which are very similar in theme to the thangka paintings of Ladakh and Tibet. Local Brahmin artists produce fine and intricate paintings on paper and cloth. Literally meaning ‘something at the back’, these are large paintings on cloth portraying Shri Nathji in various costumes and moods. The Lord is also shown in the forests surrounded by cows and gopinis (milkmaids).

How to Reach

Kumbhalgarh 40 Kms, Ranakpur 55 Kms, 45 Kms from Udaipur which in turn is connected to all the major parts of India by rail, road and air.

Where to Stay

1 Kumbhalgarh	The Aodhi, Hotel Kumbhalgarh Fort
2 Ranakpur	Fateh Bagh Palace, Maharani Bagh Orchard Retreat
3 Udaipur	Taj Lake Palace, Fateh Prakash Palace, The Grand Laxmi Vilas Palace, Shikarbadi ,Shiv Niwas Palace, Hilltop Palace, Rajdarshan, Paras Mahal, Lake Pichola, Trident Hilton