Alsigarh: Hidden beauty en route to Nathdwara
Hello all,
Have you made any plans and not fulfilled them for 11 years? Yes, 11 years, and suddenly out of the blue, everything falls into place and Ta-Da… You get your wish!!! This happened to me last Sunday. Before marriage, Nathdwara was our regular haunt, and every year we visited Nathdwara. It was like a family tradition. But as life happens we thought to go after sometime. The only setback was, for a time, became quite a while, and my desire to visit the temple grew bigger and bigger. And that’s how we skipped all things last weekend and decided that no matter what, we were going to Shreenathji.
What can I Say about this place…You feel blessed by just roaming in lanes of the town. Those narrow streets filled with small shops of frames of Shreeji of various sizes and food joints… Kulhad wali chai, Pauva, Khaman, Kulhad wali Rabri, and Masala Kand…I was in heaven of nostalgia. As if the roads have never changed and as if I am the same person. Same young girl, roaming around with her sister, looking for Bandhani dresses and Mojris…And suddenly, their mother calls, “Let’s go; it is time for the darshan,” and we leave all behind, running crazily in those narrow lanes and among the bhid, all the way to the temple for a glimpse of enchanting Shreeji for few minutes. These all feelings were flowing in my soul the entire day…
As soon as you enter the Kamal Chowk, the fantastic fragrance that is unique to this temple only folds around you just like a hug…and now about HIM…His idol speaks volumes…You feel like you are drowning in his immensity… The world consists of only two things, The mesmerizing black idol of seven years old Krishna and you…Nothing matters…The bhid, the chaos, shouting of temple helpers…As if you are in an invisible protective cloak with him. Nothing can touch you, and nothing can harm you as long as you are at his mercy.
This time our visit was unique as it was the first visit of kiddos. Needless to say, they loved each and everything, and they followed all the rituals thoroughly.
And after our pleasant and enlightening morning at Nathdwara, we left for Udaipur. But Sheel has something else in mind. So instead of the hustle and bustle of the city, we went to Alsigarh, a few kilometers ahead of Udaipur.
It is a small village nestled in between the green hillocks. There is one big lake at Alsigarh dam, but the best part is the viewpoint. Mounds and hills all around you are covered with lush green grass and clouds floating over them…the best season to witness this beauty is Monsoon.
To reach Alsigarh, you have to take the turn from Amragadh resort. Please download the offline map as there is no network after some level. You can always ask locals, and they are very willing to help.
The drive to the dam and viewpoint is terrific. If you are a nature lover like us, the scenery is a treat to the eyes, mind, and soul. The landscape is truly captivating and enchanting. You don’t want to blink because, at every turn, there is a change in the scenery in front of you.
To go to the lake, you have to take a left turn from Alsigarh primary health center, while for the dam or viewpoint, you have to go straight. Little more ahead, there is another diversion; you continue on the left side, and right will go to Alsigarh Lavitra waterfall. And when you reach the viewpoint / at the ridge, you can get a panoramic view of Alsigarh lake and the Aravalli mountains. It will take your breath away. We parked our car and walked down to a waterfall along the road. The waterfall was small as there was little rain that week. Nevertheless, the best part was the view from the top.
While returning to Vadodara, we also went to Rishabhdev (Kesariyaji), another pilgrimage of Digambar Jain with the idol of Rishbhdevji. The temple’s architecture is mesmerizing, with detailed minute carvings along the arches, walls, and doors.
Points to keep in mind:
1) Please check the fuel level, as there are no petrol pumps along the way.
2) Please carry enough water and food.
3) Some roads can be harmful in the Monsoon and may be closed. We had planned to visit the Kaleshwar Mahadev temple and waterfall nearby, but the road was closed.
4) The place is relatively clean with no littering, so please try to maintain it that way only.
5) The waterfall which we visited is on the same road downhill. Another more famous Alsigarh Lavitra waterfall is on another route.
Location:
Viewpoints: https://goo.gl/maps/wjMipu569aGBDX3DA
https://goo.gl/maps/tcwr1AJbERASJvCx6
Small waterfall: https://goo.gl/maps/B8U5bpRJTEUxawfd8