Eklingji Temple

Eklingji has served as the state deity and dynastic patron shrine of Mewar's Sisodia rulers since the site's founding in the 8th century, with Mewar's maharanas traditionally regarding themselves not as sovereigns but as diwans, or regents, ruling on the god's behalf — a political theology unusual in its explicitness among Rajput states. The present temple, largely rebuilt in the 15th century under Rana Kumbha after damage from earlier conflicts, houses a distinctive four-faced black marble image of Shiva, faced by a silver Nandi in an ornate pillared mandapa beneath a pyramidal Nagara tower. The complex forms a walled temple town with over a hundred subsidiary shrines, reflecting continuous royal endowment across centuries. Its combination of political history and architectural continuity makes it a significant stop for understanding Mewar's identity, distinct from but complementary to Udaipur's palaces.