The Garh Ganesh temple was established by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II in the 18th century during the formation of Jaipur. The temple was built on the eastern side of the city, which is considered auspicious according to Vastu Shastra.
Right at the heart of the Pink City, we can spot glimpses of the Aravalli range at a distance. Among these ranges are two hills topped with two forts – on one lies Nahargarh Fort, and on the other is Garh Ganesh.
In Hindi, ‘Garh’ means ‘fort,’ and Jaipur has two of them: Jaigarh and Nahargarh. While Garh Ganesh is not a fort, it resembles a fort-like structure, and the name suggests ‘Fort of Lord Ganesh’.
History of Garh Ganesh temple
Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II established the city of Jaipur in 1727, shifting his former capital from Amer to Jaipur. In the process, he also re-established several places that had been ruined due to Mughal invasions.
Locals suggest that before the establishment of the Garh Ganesh mandir, this site was a sacred place that had existed since an unknown period. The Mughals invaded, destroyed, and looted the premises, which was rich in expensive clothes, jewels, and gemstones.
Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II rebuilt the temple from its ruins and brought it back to life. He reconstructed the shrine and placed the idol of Lord Ganesh. He then performed an Ashwamedha Yagya on the way to the temple premises, laying the foundation for his new city. The auspicious event marked the importance of the land and the temple that had been there since ancient times.
Maharaja had brought pandits from Gujarat to establish the temple ritualistically, and it became an integral part of the foundation. He ensured that the idol was placed in such a manner that he could use binoculars from Chandra Mahal (at his residence in Jaipur City Palace) to wake up every morning and see Garh Ganesh ji.
Why is the Garh Ganesh mandir famous?
Two years back, an astrologer mentioned that visiting the Garh Ganesh temple consecutively for seven Wednesdays can make wishes come true. Her Instagram video went viral, and the crowd here on Wednesdays hasn’t stopped ever since! But that’s not the main reason why devotees come here.
Ganesh ji is the Elephant God, whose head was replaced by that of an elephant to save His life after Lord Shiva had separated His human head from His body. Hindus depict Lord Ganesh with an elephant head, trunk, and ears, while the rest of Him represents a pot-bellied human form.
Garh Ganesh mandir is the only temple where Lord Ganesh is present in his child avatar or Purushakriti. The idol represents Ganesh Vigra Purushakriti, which is without the elephant head or trunk. It is one of the fascinating reasons that make this temple famous, and devotees flock in from all over Rajasthan and beyond.
Best time to visit Garh Ganesh in Jaipur
The three most prominent days to visit the Garh Ganesh temple are:
- Ganesh Chaturthi for auspicious Ganpati Puja celebrations on Bhadrapad Shukla Paksha
- First Wednesday after Diwali for Annakoot
- Last Wednesday of Paush Maas for celebrating Paush Bade
Trekkers and devotees love to visit here during the monsoon, as the greenery is unparalleled. Moreover, the route overlooks Gaitor Ki Chhatriyan and Nahargarh Fort, creating a magical experience for a beginner at trek.
Garh Ganesh timing
- In the morning, the Garh Ganesh mandir opens at 7:30 am and remains open till 12 pm
- In the evening, Garh Ganesh mandir opens at 4 pm and remains open till 8:30 pm
During festivities, like Ganesh Chaturthi, the temple opens earlier and can stay open all day. It is, however, recommended to visit during the hours when the temple remains open on most days.
Garh Ganesh trek
Unlike Nahargarh and Jaigarh forts, no vehicle can take you to the top of the hill. The only way to reach the Garh Ganesh Mandir is by trekking. Luckily, this is one of the beginner-friendly treks that a person of any age can easily climb.
To begin your journey, you must reach Gaitor Ki Chhatriyan. It is easily accessible via e-rickshaw from Pink City or on taxi apps like Uber and Ola.
Once you reach Gaitor, you will feel like it is a valley snuck in between the hill with Nahargarh Fort on one side and Garh Ganesh on the other.
As you move right, you will find a staircase that leads you to the temple. 365 stairs were built over the course of 365 days. It took one year to create this route, with one slab of stairs being made each day.
As you climb about 200 stairs, there is another route to the left that leads to the temple. If the stairs feel too steep or there’s a large crowd, you can take this route instead. The route spirals up as you incline with each step and is well-constructed. There are also benches on the way to allow devotees to rest.
Interestingly, on this route, you can find a large tree with a frame dedicated to Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II. It is the same place where the king had performed the Ashwamegha Yagya, and it commemorates the establishment of Jaipur.
Both at the foothills and on your way up, you will find tiny stalls selling sweets like Laddoo and garlands of marigolds. Devotees buy these for Garh Ganesh ji to honor him and offer prasad.
Trekking down
It is easier to trek down the staircase as the decline is smoother than the incline. There is a divider that separates the incoming crowd from the outgoing.
As you take around 30 steps down, on your left, you will find a tiny tea spot. There are some chairs to sit and have a warm bowl of Maggi that fits right during a winter morning.
As you continue your descent, you will see the beautiful city of Jaipur on one end and the umbrella-like structures of Gaitor on the other.
Monsoons are definitely the best time to visit, as the area is filled with lush greenery, making Gaitor look like it is tucked amidst a forest!
Things to keep in mind
- Dress modestly for allowance inside the temple
- Avoid coming here if you have knee problems
- Avoid visiting on Wednesday if you don’t want to cut the crowd
- To experience one of the best sunrises in Jaipur, start your trek by 5 am
- Wear sturdy shoes if you trek during the monsoons
- Photography is not allowed and is a punishable offence inside temple premises
- Beware of monkeys on the way and safeguard your belongings
Frequently asked questions
1. How many stairs are there in Garh Ganesh?
There are 365 stairs to reach the Garh Ganesh mandir.
2. How long is the Garh Ganesh Trek?
It takes around 1-2 hours if there is no queue. If there is a queue, it can be longer.
3. How to reach Garh Ganesh?
Garh Ganesh trek begins from Gaitor Ki Chhatriyan and are easily locatable on Google Maps. The address is 309B, Mangala Rd, Bada Akhada, Krishna Nagar, Brahampuri, Jaipur, Rajasthan 302002.
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