Rajasthan is a rich land that is rich with heritage and history. When it comes to structures, temples, palaces and monuments you will find so much to explore in Rajasthan. And similarly Jaisalmer in Rajasthan is one such location that holds so much of importance. It is one of the most popular tourist destinations and the history of the land further makes it exciting to explore. If you are visiting Jaisalmer then one of the must visit spots is the Tanot Mata Mandir. The Tanot Mata Temple is a revered shrine of local deity Tanot Mata. She holds a lot of importance and according to beliefs the Goddess is really powerful as well.
There are multiple historical as well as mythological events associated with this temple. And all of that further makes this temple an important location to visit. Furthermore the temple is located in a very close proximity with the Indo Pakistan border. And that too makes this one of the famous sightseeing sites in Rajasthan as well. So when you visit Jaisalmer this temple is one such temple that you simply cannot miss out on. A rich legacy that is associated with the temple and the belief that the devotees have on the Goddess here is worth exploring. Keep on reading this article as here I will mention everything about the Tanot Mata Temple that you need to know. This will be a helpful read for you if you are planning a visit to the Tanot Mata Mandir in Rajasthan.
Tanot Mata Mandir
Location: Tanot Road, near India Pakistan border, Jaisalmer, Rajasthan
Timings: 6 am to 8 pm on all days. The Aarti timings at the Tanot Mata Temple are from 6 pm to 7 pm in the evening on all days.
Entry fee: There is no entry fee
How to reach Tanot Mata Mandir
By air
If you are travelling by air then the Jodhpur Airport is the nearest major airport. From there the Tanot Mata Temple is located at a distance of 389 km. It would take you around 6 hours and 15 minutes to reach the temple from the airport. The most convenient way to cover this distance is to take a cab and then you can reach the temple very easily.
By train
The nearest railway station to reach Tanot Mata Mandir is the Jaisalmer Railway Station. You will get trains from major cities and towns to reach Jaisalmer Railway Station. Jaisalmer to Tanot Mata Mandir distance is 123 km and you can easily reach there in about 1 hour and 42 minutes. From the railway station the most convenient option to reach the temple would be to take a cab. You can easily find cabs outside the railway station or else you can also hire a car as well to reach the temple from the railway station.
By road
It would be convenient to reach the temple from Jaisalmer by road. You can find buses to reach here as well. Also if you are travelling from nearby cities and towns then you can take buses to reach Jaisalmer first. And from there you can again travel to reach the Tanot Mata Mandir. You can furthermore take cabs or hire a car as well from Jaisalmer to reach the temple. The distance from Jaisalmer to reach the temple is about 122 km. It would take you around 1 hour and 30 minutes to reach the temple conveniently from Jaisalmer. You can further take your own vehicle as well from any location to reach the Tanot Mata Temple also.
Best time to visit
You can visit this temple any time of the year as it is open all throughout the year. However, according to the weather, the ideal time to visit here would be between the months of November to January. This is the best time when it would be ideal to visit Rajasthan because the weather would be at check. And when the weather remains a check it would be more convenient to carry on any sorts of tourist activities. Further you will also be able to explore the whole location well if the temperature here remains at check. Furthermore one of the reasons to visit the location during the winter times would be the beautiful view of the location. If you visit here during winter you would get to enjoy the breathtaking view of the deserts as well as the surrounding areas.
However do not visit here during the summers though. This region experiences very harsh summers and therefore it would get very tough to visit here. During summers the temperature here sometimes even goes up to 40 degrees which would be unbearable. You would not be able to stay outdoors during this time. And it would not be recommended to stay out in the sun during the summer season. So plan your visit accordingly.
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Overview of Tanot Mata Mandir
Located in the Jaisalmer district of Rajasthan the Tanot Mata Mandir is an important site of pilgrimage. Also currently the location is one of the popular tourist places in Rajasthan as well. People from all over the world visit here to offer their prayers to Tanot Mata. Tanot Mata is a local deity in this region and is an important deity for the devotees here. The devotees further believe that the Goddess here is super powerful and also holds supernatural power as well. In the gorgeous yellow city of Rajasthan, the Tanot Mata Mandir is a much revered shrine. And not just within Rajasthan the temple is popular even beyond that. This is a 12th century temple which was built by a Bhati Rajput ruler.
Another thing that further makes the Tanot Mata Temple an important site is its close proximity with the Indo Pakistan border. Tanot Mata Mandir to border distance is about 20 km. The temple is located on the border and is one of the important symbols of nationalism as well. During the wars between Pakistan and India the temple was attacked by the Pakistani army multiple times. But nothing happened to this temple. In fact, even after severe bombing on the temple, nothing could touch the temple here. Because of all of that at present the Tanot Mata Mandir is a designated and protected monument under the Archeological Survey of India as well.
The temple is located near the border and is very close in proximity from the battle site of Longewala. And beyond the Tanot Mata Temple one cannot go and visit the border unless they have permissions and all the necessary documents. To visit beyond the temple you will require permission in advance from the District and Military Authorities. The area here is surrounded by miles of sand mountains and sand dunes. Also in general the location has a very high average wind speed also. Due to its strategic position, location, climate, history attached and the mythological relevance the temple is an important site to visit in Jaisalmer. So whenever you are visiting there make sure you do not miss out on visiting the Tanot Mata Temple.
History of Tanot Mata Mandir
Once upon a time there was a man named Mamadi Charan who did not have any child. One day he travelled on foot to Hinglaj Mata almost 7 times. He showed his devotion to the goddess in order to attain a child. One night Hinglaj Maa therefore appeared in his dream. She asked him whether he wants a son or a daughter. To that Charan said that she should herself take birth at his house. Later by the blessings of Hinglaj Mata, seven daughters and one son were born at his house. One of them was Aavad Mata who later became Tanot Mata.
Here the daughter of Charan is worshipped as Tanot Mata. According to beliefs she is the predecessor of Karni Mata. And like many other Goddesses of this area she also was born in Charan caste. Later she lived her life as a warrior sage. According to the oldest Charan literature, the Goddess here is an incarnation of Hinglaj Mata. Also the people worship her as the divine Goddess of War.
The construction of this temple however goes back a long time. A Bhati Rajput Ruler Tanu Rao installed the reigning deity here in 828 AD. From the time of its installation this has become a revered temple in the area. Also the Bhati Rajputs along with the general people of Jaisalmer had been worshipping the Goddess for generations.
What’s more?
During the Indo Pakistan War of 1965 the Pakistan Army had attacked Tanot. And there is a Tanot Mata Mandir bomb story related to this temple as well. According to locals here about 3000 bombs were fired towards the Tanot Mata Mandir. But due to some supernatural power none of the bombs hit the temple. They either did not explode at all or missed their target. Later when the Pakistani General got to know about this incident he insisted on witnessing this location. And soon the Indian government granted the order and the Pakistani General visited this temple to offer his prayers here. After the war of 1965 the BSF (Border Security Force) took over the responsibility and the management of this temple.
However during the later Indo Pakistan War of 1971 also a similar incident happened. This time the attacking tanks got stuck into the sand. And later the Indian Air Force destroyed them. After the war of 1971 ended the Indian Army built a Vijay Stambha or a Victor Tower inside the temple complex. This was done to commemorate the victory of the Battle of Longewala.
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Architecture of Tanot Mata Mandir
The architecture of the Tanot Mata Temple is again something that grabs all attention. The architecture of the temple is stunning and you will be able to notice the finest craftsmanship of the local artisans as well. It is a two storeyed structure along with a central dome which is the crown of this temple. The walls of the temple are colourful and have paintings and carvings done on it. Here you will also find a spacious courtyard as well. The courtyard is the location where the devotees can offer their prayer to the Goddess around the temple.
Wrapping Up!
The Tanot Mata Temple is a symbol of nationalism that stands as a symbol of the strength of the people here who survived the war. Further the supernatural power of the Goddess here that the devotees believe in makes this temple an important site to visit. So let me know if this article on the Tanot Mata Mandir is helpful for you in knowing everything about this important temple in Rajasthan.
