Sacred Sights in Jaipur

While Jaipur is most often associated with its regal architecture and gargantuan forts, the Rajasthani capital is home to numerous temples, many dating back hundreds of years. Here are a few that shouldn't be missed.

Lakshmi Narayan Temple (Birla Mandir)

One of Jaipur's newer but more popular holy sites, the Lakshmi Narayan temple was built in 1988. Dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu and his consort Lakshmi, this white marble structure contains images of deities and historical figures from across cultures and religions. Stained-glass windows illustrate scenes from Hindu myth.

Galtaji (Monkey Temple or Temple of the Sun God)

Home to a community of rhesus macaque monkeys, this Hindu pilgrimage site sits on a complex of traditional sandstone architecture and multistoried water tanks. The temple is dedicated to Surya, the Hindu god of the sun. 

Moti Dungri Temple (Ganesh Temple)

Dedicated to the elephant-headed Hindu god Ganesha, Moti Dungri is one of Jaipur's most famous temples. Built in 1761, the temple houses an icon of Ganesha believed to date to the Middle Ages. During the annual Maha Shivratri festival, you can visit the shrine to the god Shiva, located on the hill above the temple. 

Shila Devi Temple in Amber Fort

Inside Jaipur's sprawling Amber Fort, the royal Shila Devi temple houses an idol of the Hindu goddess Kali (a form of the goddess Durga) that Maharaja Mansingh carried to the region from Bengal in the late 16th century. If you don’t mind crowds, visit during the Navaratri festival, a nine-day celebration of Durga.