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Jaipur- The Pink City, and the capital of Rajasthan, has always been associated with royal families who have made significant contributions to the state. The presence of beautiful palaces, forts, and temples demonstrates their link to this must-see destination in India. Along with decorating Jaipur with exquisite palaces and forts, the Maharajas began to build a few temples that turned out to be magnificent works of art.

Jaipur's silhouette began to appear respectable with temples such as Shila Devi, Galta Ji, Pataleshwar, and Govind Devji. Despite its growth, this city has managed to strike a balance between ancient and modern times.

One such temple of extraordinary magnificence is the ‘Shila Devi temple’.

About Shila Devi Temple

Shila Devi temple is a famous tourist destination of Jaipur and a temple dedicated to the Goddess Durga. This temple stands within Amer Fort. In 1604, Maharaja Man Singh brought the Goddess Shila Mata's statue from Jessore, "Bangladesh."

#Trivia: As per legend, the Goddess appeared in the Maharaja's dream and instructed him to retrieve her statue, which was floating in the sea near Jessore (now in Bangladesh), and place it in a temple.

Raja Man Singh found the idol from the water in the form of a Shila (Slab), and when it was cleaned and washed, the current idol appeared, hence the name Shila Mata. Interestingly, the temple took ten years to build.

During the nine-day Navratri celebration, devotees offer special prayers at the Shila Devi temple. Thousands of people gather from Jaipur and the neighbouring areas to make offerings to Shila Devi. The entire area is illuminated with beautiful lights around Navratri.

History of Shila Devi Temple

In the 17th century, a high astrologer told Maharaja Man Singh that if he worshipped this goddess, he would never fail in any fight. So, following that, Maharaja Man Singh fought with West Bengal's monarch and married his lovely daughter.

The then-ruler of Bengal had sent Maharaja Man Singh this black statue of "Kali Maa" as a gift.

According to certain historians, Maharaja Man Singh found this black stone in the sea that was floating. When the Maharaja held this unexpected sight, he chose to carve it into a stone and set it in his royal area as "Kaali Maa."

Importance of the Shila Devi Temple

Not only is the interior of this gorgeous temple quite enthralling and extraordinary, but there is also some traditional artwork here that is appealing. This temple's main gate is made of silver. A gate door covering all of the numerous characters of "Maa Durga" is present at the entry.

Nav Durga, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyani, Kalratri, Maha Gauri, and Siddhidatri are all depicted on the silver gate. Kali, Tara, Chhinnamasta, Tripura Bhairavi, Dhumavati, Baglamukhi, Sri Matangi, Shodashi, Bhuvneshwari, and Kamala Devi are ten famous idol characters painted in modest size on the main gate.

A painted giant statue of God Ganesha stands at the temple's main entry gate.

Entry Fee and Timings of Shila Devi Temple

There is no entry fee to visit the Shila Devi Temple. It is open from 6:00 am to 12:00 pm, and then from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm on all days of the week.

Sightseeing Spots Near Shila Devi Temple

1. Jaigarh Fort: Jaigarh Fort is close to Amer Fort. In 1726, Sawai Jai Singh II constructed the fort to protect the Amer fort. The fort, also known as Victory Fort, is located on a high hill known as Cheel ka Teela, or Hill of Eagles.

2. Jagat Shiromani Temple: The Jagat Shiromani Temple in Amer is dedicated to Meera Bai, Sri Krishna, and Lord Vishnu. Queen Kankawati, the first wife of Raja Man Singh, built this temple between 1599 and 1608 AD. The temple is 400 metres away from Amer Fort.

3. Nahargarh Fort: The Nahargarh Fort was also constructed to guard the Amer Fort. Its original name was Sudarshangarh, which was eventually altered to Nahargarh, which means "tiger habitation." Sawai Jai Singh II constructed the fort in 1734. Sawai Ram Singh expanded the fort in 1868, while Sawai Madho Singh built numerous palaces between 1883 and 1892.

4. Panna Meena Ka Kund: There are two more names for it: Panna Mian's Baori and Panna Mian's Kund. Amer Fort is about 0.6 kilometres distant from this location. The Anokhi Museum is adjacent to the Kund and was built in the 16th century as a swimming pool and relaxation area. They came here in the summer because the floor was quite cool in the afternoons.

5. Jal Mahal: Jal Mahal is in the centre of Man Sagar Lake, approximately 1.9 kilometres from Amer. Raja Jai Singh II built the palace in the 18th century as his home. Rajput and Mughal architecture spread beautifully inside the building.

To reach Jal Mahal, tourists must take a boat. It is a five-story palace made of red sandstone. The Jaipur government has taken the onus of restoring this beautiful and unique palace to its former glory.

Things to Do in Jaipur near Shila Devi Temple

After paying respects to the goddess in the temple, you can take a hike through the nearby hills or enjoy handicraft and artwork shopping in Amer town's markets and artisan shops. Also, take an elephant ride inside the fort if travelling with kids. If staying till evening you can join the evening light shows, which are available in both English and Hindi.

To satisfy your cravings, you can enjoy Rajasthani cuisines in the Surabhi Restaurant 1135 AD on the fort grounds. In addition, the Stag Rooftop Restaurant is located directly across the street from the fort and is also a popular spot.

How to Reach Shila Devi Temple

It is relatively easy to reach the Shila Devi Temple via different modes of transportation.

By air- Sanganer airport is 11 km from the temple.

By train- Ramganj mandi railway station is 2km away.

By road/bus- The stand is 5km away from the temple.

By cab - Book a cab from top car rental companies in Jaipur to reach the temple from any location in Jaipur.

From Jaipur, buses, auto-rickshaws, taxis, and cars are available. From Ajmeri Gate and MI Road, you may take a public bus to Amer town. Once at the fort, you might have to walk or take an elephant ride to reach the top.

Even today, the temple appears to be as magnificent, beautiful, and spectacular as before. It is truly a delight to experience the aura and purity of this famous temple of Jaipur whenever you visit.

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Location Map for Shila Devi Temple Jaipur