Are you ready for a trek to the top of a lush green hill? Look no further than Neemach Mata Temple in Udaipur!
Legend has it that the temple is the clan goddess of the royal family of the Maharanas in the city. But don’t worry, you don’t have to be royalty to visit! The central deity, Neemach Mata Devi (also known as Ambaji), is greatly revered by Hindu pilgrims and devotees. And with a grandiose ‘shikhar’ towering above the temple, you’ll feel like you’re in the presence of something truly majestic.
But hold on to your hats, because the climb up to the temple is no joke! It’s a whopping 850 meters up, with both stairs and uphill slope walkways to tackle. But fear not, the journey is covered with natural mountain forest and lush greenery which makes the tough journey look easy. And the clean air will have you feeling like a brand new person by the time you reach the top.
Once you make it to the temple, you’ll be rewarded with panoramic views of the Fateh Sagar Lake and the entire township below. The temple also houses an idol of the Lord Ganesh and three stone lions facing west. And if you’re up for it, you can even perform a yagna at the Hawan Kund outside the inner sanctum.
Fun fact: The temple is known as ‘Udaipur ki Vaishno Devi’ thanks to the efforts of Dr. R.K Agarwal, a local who developed the temple over time. According to sources, devotees used to carry bags filled with stone and bajri for developing the way to the temple. So, next time you’re feeling a little lazy, just remember the dedication of those devotees and keep climbing!