Neelkanth temple, Alwar

Neelkanth Temples in Alwar is a famous tourist attraction of the city of Alwar in Rajasthan . It is located nearly 32 km from the main gate of the world famous Sariska National Park. There is no clear evidence concerning the construction date of the temple, but history suggests that this temple was built during the period between 6th and 9th century AD.

The Neelkanth Temples in Alwar temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. As per Hindu mythology, Lord Shiva is also known by the name of Neelkanth. The temple attracts huge number of devotees throughout the year from all over the country. The temple town of Neelkanth was deserted and the temple was covered by forests, which was discovered by the villagers in the 1950s.

The Neelkanth Temple in Alwar is surrounded by lush green trees that add to its beauty. The temple is quite similar to an ancient museum. The temple is in a dilapidated state. Apart from its religious importance it is noted for its excellent stone carving. The exquisite fine work on the shikhara or the spire is still undamaged. The wonderful carvings of figures on the temple are worth seeing. Some of the pillars of the temple are severely damaged. A number of carved stone slabs lie all around the temple.

Architecture of Neelkanth Temple
Talking about the architecture of the temple, there is a rangamandapa standing on four pillars which originally had three pancharathas housing three deities. Of these three pancharathas, two have been destroyed while the third one in the middle remains intact with its Shikhara.

The Jangha is decorated with sculptures of Harihararka in the East, Narasimha in the South and Tripurantaka in the South. The doors bear ornamented figures of Natesa while the projections carry figures of Surasndaris and Dikpalas. Besides, the ceiling of the Rangamandapa is designed with Padmasila and sculptures of Surasundaris and Gandharvas.

Naugaza Digambar Jain Temple
Nearby the Neelkanth temple, there used to be a temple at Naugaza but all that is left on the site is a gigantic statue of Jain Tirthankara Shantinatha built in the Digambar style of architecture. The statue is guarded by a rocky structure on both sides with a couple of stairs on the front portion. The ancient yet magnificent architecture in the isolated ruins makes it one of the most attractive tourist spots in Alwar.

How to Reach
For air route, the nearest airport is at Jaipur which is 116 kms away from the site while road travelers can take buses plying from Alwar. Also, if you choose to take a road trip in your own vehicle, make sure that it’s an SUV because the route has a rough terrain.