{"id":125826,"date":"2025-05-06T07:08:29","date_gmt":"2025-05-06T05:08:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/magikindia.com\/?p=125826"},"modified":"2025-05-06T07:29:44","modified_gmt":"2025-05-06T05:29:44","slug":"lohargal-the-sun-temple-of-shekhawati","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/magikindia.com\/en\/lohargal-the-sun-temple-of-shekhawati\/","title":{"rendered":"Lohargal, the sun temple of Shekhawati"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Lohargal, located 30 km from Nawalgarh,<\/a> is one of the major pilgrimage sites in the Shekhawati<\/a> region (Rajasthan). Nestled in the heart of the Aravalli Mountains, among century-old banyan and mango trees, the village is home to a temple dedicated to Surya and a sacred pool that attracts large crowds of pilgrims; it is said that the Pandavas of the Mahabharata came to bathe there to atone for their sins.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"Lohargal\"
The mountainous landscapes of Lohargal<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The road leading to Lohargal crosses the undulating landscapes of the Aravalli Mountains.<\/strong> The last few kilometers are punctuated by several temples of varying ages, such as the one dedicated to Parshuram (the sixth avatar of Lord Vishnu), who, according to popular belief, spent many years in Lohargal meditating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Lohargal\"
The road to Lohargal passes through centuries-old banyan trees<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A short walk from this temple, the “Chetan Das Ka Baori,” one of the largest stepwells in Rajasthan<\/a>, <\/strong>stretches 40 meters in length. Comprising seven floors and 108 steps, it was reportedly built by the local Thakur, at the request of a holy man named Chetan Das, 500 years ago. The architecture is remarkable, but the site is poorly maintained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Chetan Das Ka Baori, the stepwell of Lohargal<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Arriving at the gates of the village, several houses with delicate frescoes,<\/strong> although wedged between two businesses, remind us that Lohargal must have been, at one time, as flourishing as Nawalgarh or the other flagship towns of Shekhawati.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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One of the beautifully decorated havelis of Lohargal<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Lohargal\"
Another mansion <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The last few meters to the Surya temple are done on foot through the village’s alleyways lined with souvenir shops and especially vendors of “achaar,” the Indian condiment<\/strong>. It’s the culinary specialty here. Since the main plantation in Lohargal is the mango tree (there are thousands of them all around), the green mango achaar is the most famous condiment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Lohargal is surrounded by mango trees which are used to make “achaars”, Indian condiments.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Lohargal\"
Achaar seller in Lohargal<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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The sacred kund of Lohargal<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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\"Lohargal\"
The sacred pool of Lohargal crowded with pilgrims<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

After a short walk, we arrive at the sacred pool (kund). <\/strong>During special ceremonies, it is crowded with pilgrims. This is the case in the month of Shravan (August) or during Kartik Amavasya (November), which marks the beginning of the wedding season. <\/a>This is also where the faithful come to pay homage to their deceased when they cannot afford to travel to Varanasi <\/a>or Haridwar.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Pandavas temple<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

To understand why this place is so popular, we must look at an episode from the epic Mahabharata. <\/strong>After the bloody Battle of Kurukshetra, during which the Pandavas were forced to kill their half-brothers (Kauravas), they were consumed by remorse. On the advice of Lord Krishna<\/a>, they set out to visit all the pilgrimage sites that could absolve their sins. During their wanderings, they came across the Surya Kund. When the Pandavas dived into the sacred pool to perform their ablutions, their weapons automatically dissolved in the water, signifying their forgiveness. From then on, the place was named “Lohargal,” which literally means “the place where iron melts.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Lohargal\"
Pilgrims taking a holy bath<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In memory of this story, a temple dedicated to the Pandavas stands just before the Kund. <\/strong>Life-size statues depict the five brothers and their common wife Draupadi. \u200b\u200bLord Krishna is placed in the middle. Hindu devotees customarily offer them saris and shawls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Lohargal\"
The pool seen from the top of the Surya temple<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Surya temple, the sun god
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The Lohargal Sun Temple is located at the foot of the Aravalli Mountains.<\/strong> It overlooks the sacred pond. Although it has been repainted numerous times (orange on my last visit) and is flanked by unattractive posters of the various gurus of the place, fragments of frescoes can be seen on its left side, proof that it was built as a small haveli.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Surya temple<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Before entering the main sanctuary, we discover other temples in the backyard;<\/strong> one dedicated to the monkey god Hanuman and the other to Ganga Mata. Between the two nestles a small pond that feeds the Surya Kund. During the monsoon, a huge waterfall cascades down the cliff into this body of water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Lohargal\"
Hanuman temple<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

According to legend, the Sun Temple at Lohargal was built by King Suryabhan after his daughter’s disability was miraculously cured by bathing her in the sacred water of the kund.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ganga Mata and Ganesha temples<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

We end the visit with the holy of holies, the temple dedicated to Surya accompanied by his two wives Chaya (shadow) and Suvarchala (luminosity). Some texts add a third wife, Samjana (understanding).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Lohargal\"
The temple of Surya with his two wives and other deities<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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24 Kos Parikrama<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Every year, on the day after the Rakhi festival and until Amavasya (the new moon), a parikrama (circumambulation) of 24 kos* (about 70-73 km) is performed for seven days in the Aravalli mountains around Lohargal. <\/strong>The pilgrimage begins with a “Snan,” a bath in the holy water of the Surya Kund of Logargal, and ends in the same way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

*The “kos” is an ancient Indian unit of distance. It represents a distance of approximately 3 kilometers.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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