The Eklingji Temple sits twenty two kilometers north of Udaipur, in the town of Kailashpuri. The road passes through dry hills and small villages. The temple is not on a hill. It is in a valley, surrounded by walls. The deity is not a lingam in the usual sense. It is a Chaturmukha Shivling, a black stone lingam with four faces. Each face looks in a different direction. The west face is Brahma. The east is Surya. The north is Vishnu. The south is Rudra. The top is Sadashiva. The goddess Amba sits beside him. This is not the Shiva of the forest. This is the Shiva of the kingdom. The Maharanas of Mewar did not call themselves kings. They called themselves dewans, caretakers. The real king was Eklingji. The temple was the throne.
The temple was built in the 8th century by Bappa Rawal, the founder of the Mewar dynasty. It was damaged by invasions. It was rebuilt in the 15th century by Maharana Raimal. The silver doors are from that period. The carvings are deep. The complex has over one hundred small shrines. The sacred tanks, Karz Kund and Tulsi Kund, are on the northern side.
Daily Darshan Timings for 2026
The temple opens at 4:30 AM every day. The morning darshan runs from 4:30 AM to 7:00 AM. The early morning hours are the best. The crowd is light. The air is cool. The morning aartis begin at 5:30 AM.
The temple then closes from 7:00 AM to 10:30 AM. During these three and a half hours, the sanctum remains closed. The priests perform internal rituals. Do not come during these hours expecting darshan.
The afternoon darshan runs from 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM. The temple then closes again from 1:30 PM to 5:00 PM. The evening darshan runs from 5:00 PM to 7:30 PM. The evening aartis begin at 5:00 PM and 6:30 PM. The temple closes at 7:30 PM.
The darshan schedule is the same every day. On Mondays and on Pradosh days, the temple may open fifteen minutes earlier. The crowd on these days is larger.
Aarti Timings for 2026
The morning aartis are at 5:30 AM, 8:15 AM, 9:15 AM, and 11:30 AM. The afternoon aartis are at 3:30 PM and 4:30 PM. The evening aartis are at 5:00 PM and 6:30 PM.
The aartis are performed with lamps, incense, and chants. The evening aarti at 6:30 PM is the most attended. The temple fills up. The lamps are waved. The chant is loud.
The Unique Idol and Architecture
The Chaturmukha Shivling is the main attraction. The four faces are carved from a single stone. The expressions are calm. The eyes are half closed. The stone is black. The silver doors of the sanctum are engraved with scenes from the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. The Nandi at the entrance is large. The bull is carved from a single stone. The detail is fine.
The complex has over one hundred small shrines. Most are empty. The idols are gone. The walls are intact. The silence is heavy.
Karz Kund and Tulsi Kund are the sacred tanks. The water is green. The steps are old. Devotees take a dip before entering the temple. The water is cold. The ritual is cleansing.
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Festivals Celebrated at the Temple
Mahashivratri is the biggest festival. The temple stays open all night. The lingam is bathed every hour. The crowd is massive. The energy is high.
Navratri is celebrated with devotion. The goddess is worshipped for nine nights. Pradosh Vrat is observed every fortnight. The evening of the 13th day of the lunar cycle. Makar Sankranti is in January. The Shravan month, July to August, is sacred. Every Monday in Shravan is crowded.
During all these festivals, the temple timings may be extended. The crowds are heavy. Arrive early.
Entry Fee and Rules
Entry is free. No ticket is required. Mobile phones are not allowed inside. Lockers are available near the entrance. Photography is strictly prohibited. Dress modestly. Men should wear full length trousers or dhoti. Women should wear saree or salwar kameez. Shorts and sleeveless tops are not appropriate.
Remove your footwear before entering. There are shoe stands near the entrance.
How to Reach the Temple
By road, the temple is twenty two kilometers from Udaipur. The drive takes about forty minutes. Taxis and auto rickshaws are available. Buses also run. By train, the nearest station is Udaipur Railway Station, about twenty three kilometers from the temple. From the station, take a taxi. By air, the nearest airport is Maharana Pratap Airport, about thirty three kilometers from the temple. From the airport, take a taxi.
Best Time to Visit
The best months are September through March. The weather in Udaipur is pleasant. The summer heat is gone. The winter mornings are cool. The best days are weekdays, Tuesday through Thursday. Weekends are crowded. The best time of day is early morning, between 4:30 AM and 6:30 AM. The temple opens at 4:30 AM. The morning aarti at 5:30 AM is peaceful. The queue is short.
A Final Word for First Time Visitors
The Eklingji Temple is not a quiet temple. The auto horns, the vendor calls, the bus engines, all of it is loud. But the four faced lingam is not in the noise. It is in the silence between the chants. The face of Vishnu, the face of Shiva, the face of Brahma, the face of Surya, all of them are one stone. That is the teaching. Not separation. Unity. Come early. The morning mist will be on the hills. The temple will be empty. Stand before the lingam. The four faces will look at you. That gaze is the darshan. That gaze is the blessing.