Top Tourist Attractions in Mahendragarh
Mahendragarh is a city and a municipal committee in the Haryana state of India’s Mahendragarh district. It is located 100 kilometres north of Gurgaon and is part of the National Capital Region. Mahendragarh is known for its historical and religious significance. Narnaul is home to 14 significant historical sites, three of which are protected by the Central Archeology Department and eleven by the Haryana State Archeology Department.
Best Places to Visit in Mahendragarh
- Sahukar Gumbad (Chor Gumbad), Mahendragarh
- Jal Mahal, Mahendragarh
- Chhatta Rai Bal Mukand Dass (Birbal Ka Chhatta), Mahendragarh
- Mandir Chamunda Devi, Mahendragarh
- Modawala Mandir, Mahendragarh
- Dhosi Hill, Mahendragarh
- Bagot, Mahendragarh
- Bamanwas, Mahendragarh
- Kamania, Mahendragarh
- Kanti, Mahendragarh
- Mahasar, Mahendragarh
- Mandola, Mahendragarh
- Sehlong, Mahendragarh
An Afghan ruler named Jamal Khan built the historic monument on a bluff in the city’s northwestern outskirts as his own tombstone. Although it was built as a memorial, because it is located outside of the city, thieves began using it as a safe haven, which resulted in the name chor dome being given to it in the end. It is a large circular dome with a spherical roof that has been raised to a very high level. It appears to be two-story from the outside, but the upper floor is only the verandah, which has 20 doors. After leaving the western side of the monument, there is one gate in each of the three remaining directions.
Jal Mahal, Mahendragarh
Jal Mahal is located in the city’s south, away from the population. It was built in 1591 by Shah Kuli Khan. According to legend, Shah Kuli Khan captured Hemu during the Second Battle of Panipat. In the same feat, Akbar was pleased and gave Shah Kuli Khan the fiefdom of Narnaul. The Jal Mahal was built on a sprawling 11-acre plot of land. It is located in the middle of a large pond, but there is a bridge that leads to the monument. This beautiful temple in the shape of a small palace in the middle of the vast lake was built with lime and stone. The pond was filled with soil in 400-year increments. The district administration began removing soil from the Jalmahal pond in 1993, and the soil has now been removed.
Chhatta Rai Bal MukandDass (Birbal Ka Chhatta)Mahendragarh
Divya Rai Mukund Das of Narnaul built this historic monument during the reign of Shah Jahan among the densest population of Narnaul. This is the largest Mughal historical monument in Narnaul. It is possible to see the clearance of water from the inside of the building, the arrangement of fountains, and the clearance of light and water in the underground floor. This five-story building’s structure is square, with a large square in the centre. The massive stone pillars, the Darbar Hall, and the massive verandas, stairs, and umbrellas of the building are all one-of-a-kind examples of architectural art. However, most of the hive has been roofed over, and the monument is in disrepair.
This monument is said to be linked to the tunnel via Delhi, Jaipur, Mahendergarh, and Loosi. According to a citizen, a procession was in place a long time ago to see a tunnel but did not return. Birbal is said to have visited here during Akbar’s reign, so this structure is known as Birbal’s hive.
Mahendragarh District has a plethora of temples. Narnaul town, like Pushkar, can be called the town of temples after visiting all of its temples. Two of these temples are particularly significant both historically and religiously. Their contact information is as follows:
Mandir Chamunda Devi, Mahendragarh
The area’s ruler, Raja Naun Karan, is said to be a Chamunda Devi devotee. He built a temple to the Devi at the foot of a hill. This temple is located in the city’s heart. Following the fall of Raja Naun Karan’s regime, this area fell under the control of the Mughals. On the Chamunda Devi temple, they constructed Jama Masjid, the largest masjid in Narnaul. Following independence, the people of this town began digging and discovered the temple in a shattered state. This temple is now one of the most important in the town, and a large fair is held on the occasion of Ram Naumi.
Modawala Mandir, Mahendragarh
The Lord Shiva temple is located near the New Bus Stand on the Narnaul-Rewari road. This is the only temple in the area where every Hindu family member comes to worship Lord Shiva and other Hindu deities. On the occasion of Raksha Bandan, a large fair is held here.
A brief history of this temple states that there was a khet (agricultural land) and a man ploughing the land noticed the Shiv ling while ploughing. During his sleep, he heard a voice telling him that he is Lord Shiva and that a temple should be built here for the benefit of the people. As a result, this temple was constructed and is now a place of worship. The people of the area believe that if Lord Shiva is worshipped or named by heart, he will fulfil all of their wishes.
Dhosi Hill, Mahendragarh
The hill is located about eight kilometres west of Narnaul town, near the villages Thana and Kultajpur. This hill has gained national notoriety because it is believed that Chavan Rishi practised penance here for many years. The ruins of a hill fortress, most likely built by King Naunkaran of Bikaner, are strewn across the top of this hill. The hill is adorned with a temple dedicated to Chavan Rishi. On the occasion of SomavatiAmavas, a large fair is held in memory of Chavan Rishi. Chavan, who was born in the Bbirgu dynasty, is credited with founding the Bhargava community. Haryana’s Bhargavas are also known as Dhosar. Hemu, the celebrated warrior-general, was a Dhosar (Brahman).
This location is considered most sacred and is known as Tirtha. On the hill, there is a Shiva temple, a tank, and a well. The water from the tank and well is as sacred as the Ganga and the Yamuna. People come from all over the world to see the image of Chavan Rishi. People consider themselves lucky and free of past sins after taking a bath in the tank. There are separate ghats for men and women in this tank for bathing. A devotee must ascend the 457 stairs of the Dhosi hill via the village of Thana. People also ascend the Dhosi hill via the village of Kultajpur via Khura (plain stairs) and bathe in the Shiva Kund2.
Along with the stairway, there is a 5-6 foot long wall. With the help of this wall, one can easily climb the hill. Other religious sites of interest on Dhosi hill include PanchTirathi and Suraj Kund. On top of the hill, there are two temples, one about 250 years old and the other about 100 years old. The idols of Chavan Rishi, Sukanya, Krishna, and Radha are installed in the main temple. In addition, an asht dhatu idol of Lord Vishnu is lying in the SheshShayya posture. There is still a ghufa (cave) near the temple where the Rishi is said to have performed tapsya.
The Rishi is said to have taken a special type of herb known as Chavan Prash. This herb, it is widely assumed, is very common here on the hill. Rishi’s body remained healthy for a longer period of time as a result of his consistent use of this herb. It is believed that a medicine known as Chavan Prash has become very common and popular throughout the country as a result of his name.
Bagot, Mahendragarh
It is a very important religious site and is located 25 kilometres from Mahendragarh. Here is a well-known Shiva temple. On the eve of Shiva-Ratri in the month of Sawan, a large fair is held. A large number of people travel long distances to worship Lord Shiva’s idol. They walk from Hardwar to Bagot on foot the entire way back. They do not place these kawars on the ground because it is believed that doing so will impure the sacred water contained within. When they arrive in Bagot, they sprinkle Ganga water on Shiva’s stone idol and worship him throughout the day by singing hymns and bhajans in his eulogy.
Bamanwas, Mahendragarh
The village is located 25 kilometres south-west of Narnaul on the Haryana-Rajasthan border. It is best known for the temple of Baba Rameshwar Dass. This temple was built on the land of the village Bamanwas, with the main wall of the temple forming the border of the Rajasthan village TibbaBasai. Baba Rameshwar Dass built the massive temple. This temple has been under construction since 1963 and has been completed on a regular basis. As a result, it has become one of the most important temples in the region. The temple has a large hall with beautifully decorated walls and marble flooring that can accommodate thousands of devotees at once. Beautiful marble idols of gods and goddesses have been installed in the hall and various rooms surrounding it.
There is a beautiful Shiva temple on the right side of the main temple, within the premises of which a huge stone image of Nandi (length of about 25 feet; height of about IS feet; and width of about 20 feet) has been installed. A unique Shiv Linga with a height of about 10 feet is installed in this temple, along with other images of Lord Shiva. Preachings from the Gita, the Ramayana, and other religious epics are written on the temple’s walls. The painted idols on the walls and marble are one-of-a-kind. The idol of Lord Hanuman at the temple’s main entrance is so massive (approximately 40 feet tall) that it is unlikely to be matched in Northern India.
Baba Rameshwar Dass is revered by the people of Haryana and Rajasthan. Devotees from all over India (primarily from Calcutta, Bombay, Ahemdabad, Delhi, and Hyderabad, among other cities) come to see the image of Baba, and it is thanks to their assistance that this massive temple could be built. The Baba arrived in this location in early 1963, and construction on this temple began. The people of Bamanwas donated the land for the Baba’s temple. Following that, utilities such as electricity, water supply, and roads were installed. Both the Haryana and Rajasthan governments have built metalled roads up to this temple in their respective areas. Haryana Roadways also provides bus service from Narnaul bus stand to the temple.
Baba Rameshwar Dass had relocated several times prior to the construction of this temple. In the beginning, he lived with his Guru, Shri Nand Brahmehari, at Shiv Kund, which is located on the ridge of Dhosi. After his Guru’s death, he built a temple in the village of Bighopur in the Narnaul Sub-Division and lived there.
Following that, the Baba came to this location (Bamanwas) and had this temple built. On the occasion of Ram Navmi, a large fair is held each year, with lakhs of devotees from all over the country attending. The temple’s most unusual feature is that no cash donations are accepted.
Kamania, Mahendragarh
This is a small town. It is located 10 kilometres from Narnaul. It has a special religious significance because of the Ram Mandir. Every year, the Shiv Ratri fair is held here.
Kanti, Mahendragarh
This village gave birth to two great saints, Baba Narsingh Dass and Baba Ganesh Dass. It is said that Raja Hari Singh of Nabha had no children. By the grace of Baba Narsingh Dass, the Raja was blessed with a son and a daughter. Tika Singh, the saint who later became the ruler of Nabha, named his son Tikla. Raja Hari Singh constructed a temple for this Baba at the bottom of the hill, complete with a smadh of marble stone and a single tank for the benefit of the villagers. Both the temple and the tank are worth seeing, and the temple has a small rest area. The people of this area worship Baba, and on Basant Panchami, a large fair is held at the Baba’s smadh.
The other saint, Baba Ganesh Dass, was also well-known, and on Sankranti, a large fair is held near his samadh. Baba Narsingh Dass’s Samadh was one of the most important temples in the former Nabha State.
Mahasar, Mahendragarh
Jawala Devi fair is held in March-April, during which devotees and others worship the goddess Jawala. According to legend, devotees make wine offerings to the goddess’s image. In addition, people come to the temple to perform the mundan ceremony for their babies. Every newly married couple in the area is required to go there and bow their heads before the goddess in order to have a happy and prosperous married life.
Mandola, Mahendragarh
This location is religiously significant due to the saint, Baba Kesria. The saint is highly revered by the people of the area. Every year on the first of September, a fair is held in his honour. It is said that a visit to this location will cure a person of a snake bite.
Sehlong, Mahendragarh
The location has religious significance. In January and February, a mela (fair) is held in memory of KhimagDevta. According to popular belief, lighting a jot at the shrine cures anyone suffering from leprosy.
Best Time to Visit Mahendragarh
The best times of year to visit Mahendragarh for hot-weather activities, according to the beach/pool score, are the entire month of April and from late September to late October.
How to Reach Mahendragarh
By Air
Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi is the closest international airport, located 130 kilometres from Narnaul City.
By Rail
Narnaul Railway Station is part of a well-connected railway network. Some of the trains that stop at this station are the Udaipur City, Chetak Express, Mumbai Chandigarh Superfast Express, Chandigarh Bandra Superfast Express, and Delhi S.Rohilla. Rewari (58 miles), Ringas (123 km), and Jaipur are the closest railway stations (163 km).
By Bus
The district headquarters at Narnaul is connected by road to other important towns in Rajasthan, Punjab, and Delhi.