Tourist Places Banswara

¤ Vithala Deo Temple

Apart from its natural beauty and tribal festivals, the presence of ancient temples makes Banswara an interesting place to visit. A few kilometres away from the city, the Vithala Deo Temple is a fine red structure. The temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna and resembles the temples of Khajuraho.


¤ City Palace

Shri Raj Mandir or more popularly known as the City Palace was built in the 16th century and situated on a hillock overlooking the town. Covering a huge area it follows typical style of old Rajput architecture. Though lack of funds has made many royal palaces of Rajasthan exchange hands with the government after Independence, this palace is still owned by the Royal family. The palace has been maintained rather well and can be visited only by a lucky few, only by invitation. The Tripolia Gate near the entrance of the City Palace has been a mute witness to the fortunes of the palace. This three arched open gateway has a clock embedded on its outer wall, but unfortunately this lovely timepiece has long crossed its working days.


¤ Maharawal Jagmal Singh's Palace

Maharawal Jagmal Singh’s palace wasn’t quite as fortunate as the City Palace. This once imposing structure now lies in ruins on a hilltop south of the town. The stone wall that used to defend the city is also in ruins. Anand Sagar Lake, also known as Bai Talab is an artificial lake built by Lachchi Bai, Maharawal Jagmal Singh’s queen. In local parlance she was called Bai of Idar and thus the epithet Bai Talab. Right beside the Bai Talab are the sorry remains of some chhatris (cenotaphs) of the rulers of the state. They have a very peculiar structure – triple storeyed in the rear and double storeyed in the front.


¤ The Mythical Tree

The charming environs of the Bai Talab also hold a couple of holy trees known as Kalpavriksha. According to Hindu mythology, the Kalpavriksha tree was one of the 14 gems which came out of the depths of the sea after the Samudra Manthan (churning of the ocean). The ancient scriptures speak of a mighty tug of war betwixt the Gods on one side and demons on the other which brought out many divine and exotic elements to the surface of the sea. The first one to emerge was Goddess Laxmi, the goddess of Wealth and Prosperity. Then came Kaustaubh, a precious jewel. Next were the divine white elephant Airawat; Kamdhenu, the celestial cow; Dhanvantri and Nimi, the fathers of medicine and surgery; Shiv Dhanu, Lord Shiva’s bow; Sura, the intoxicating drink and five other elements apart from Kalpavriksha. It is also said to fulfill the desires of all those who have faith on the holy tree. This tree has a generous connotation attached – for ages it has been known to grant wishes of the needy and desperate. Nature worshipped in the forms of trees and animals have been the basis of the pre-Aryan religious practices. This tradition is still found among India’s tribal population and more among the Bhils. They believe that goddess Earth manifests herself through nature and the banyan tree is its best form of representation. The tree is said to be possessed by Shalabhanjika, the goddess of trees. The seeds of the tree make up for beads and are worn by the tribals in honour of the mother goddess and Lord Shiva. The banyan is often depicted as the Kalpavriksha by the tribals of India. The tree has a Ganesh idol anointed in saffron and worshipped daily by the locals.


¤ Abdullah Pir Tomb

Banswara, like many other places in Rajasthan, was also influenced by Muslim rule. Apart from the Muslim festivals of Id and Muharram celebrated here, Urs forms an annual occurrence. Abdullah Pir tomb here is an important shrine for the Bohra Muslims who were originally Hindus but later became Musta’li Ismaili Muslims. The Urs is a commemoration of the death anniversary of Abdullah Pir. Muslims in Banswara follow an absolute preacher, the Da’i Mutlaq, and are chiefly traders. The shrine of Abdullah Pir is visited by Muslim devotees from various parts of the country as well as abroad. Set amidst beautifully laid out gardens, the shrine with a domed roof is a solid white marbled structure with four entrances.


¤ Dailab Lake

Dailab Lake is again one of those numerous lakes found in the desert state of Rajasthan. Covered with beautiful lotus flowers round the year the lake has a beautiful structure named Badal Mahal (Palace of Clouds). This magnificient palace previously the resort of its erstwhile rulers is now an important tourist spot. It is one of the most frequented site of the town apart from its temple complex.


¤ Temples of Madareshwar

Banswara has a number of ancient Hindu and Jain temples, and In the past was known as Lodi Kashi or the city of temples. The temple of Madareshwar is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is built inside a small cave. An interesting feature of this temple is the presence of a small shrine of a Muslim saint only 10 steps away from the cave, making it an important place of worship for both Hindus and Muslims. Other temples in the city include the Vaneshwar Mahadeo Temple, Laxmi Narain Temple and the DwarikadhishTemple. Kalyani Dham and Padoli Rathore are other spiritual centres near the town and are well known for spiritual development and yoga.