In this guide
If Rajasthan's forts express power, its temples express devotion — and its stepwells and havelis express the everyday genius of a desert society. From the eighth to the nineteenth centuries, builders in Rajasthan created some of the most refined architecture in India: carved marble interiors so delicate they seem woven, stepwells that descend in dizzying geometric patterns, and merchant mansions painted inside and out. This guide surveys the main monuments that RAS asks about.
The Maha-Maru style
From the eighth century onward, western India developed a distinctive temple style, sometimes called Maha-Maru (great Maru, i.e., Marwar) or Maru-Gurjara. Its features include a Nagara (north Indian) tower, richly carved exterior walls, elaborate ceilings and a high plinth. The style evolved from Pratihara-era temples into the ornate Jain temples of Dilwara and Ranakpur.
Early temples (8th–12th centuries)
| Temple group | District | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Osian | Jodhpur | Eighth–eleventh century Harihara, Surya, Sachiya Mata and Mahavira temples; among the earliest temple groups in western India |
| Abhaneri | Dausa | Harshat Mata temple and the Chand Baori stepwell (c. eighth–ninth century) |
| Kiradu | Barmer | Eleventh–twelfth century temples, especially the Someshwar temple; richly sculpted; often called the "Khajuraho of Rajasthan" |
| Baroli | Chittorgarh (near Rawatbhata) | Group of early temples, including the Ghateshwar temple, with fine sculpture |
| Nagda | Udaipur | The Sas-Bahu temples |
| Eklingji | Udaipur (Kailashpuri) | Shiva temple of the Mewar rulers' tutelary deity |
The great Jain temples
Rajasthan's Jain merchant communities and ministers sponsored some of the finest temples in India.
Dilwara, Mount Abu
| Temple | Built | Patron |
|---|---|---|
| Vimal Vasahi (dedicated to Adinatha) | 1031 | Vimal Shah, minister of the Chalukya (Solanki) king Bhima I |
| Luna Vasahi (Neminatha) | 1230 | Brothers Vastupala and Tejapala, ministers of the Vaghela rulers |
The white marble interiors — domes, pillars, ceilings — are carved with astonishing delicacy. The exteriors are deliberately plain.
Ranakpur
- Built from 1439, in Rana Kumbha's reign, by the merchant Dharna Shah; the architect is traditionally named as Depaka.
- Dedicated to Adinatha; a chaumukha (four-faced) temple.
- Famous for its 1,444 pillars, each carved differently.
Other important temples
- Brahma temple, Pushkar — one of very few temples dedicated to Brahma in India.
- Karni Mata temple, Deshnoke (Bikaner) — famous for its sacred rats.
- Shrinathji, Nathdwara — Vaishnava temple of the Pushtimarg tradition, associated with Pichhwai painting.
- Salasar Balaji, Khatu Shyamji, Kaila Devi — major pilgrimage centres.
- Dargah of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, Ajmer — one of India's most important Sufi shrines.
Stepwells (baoris)
In a dry land, water architecture mattered as much as temples. Stepwells gave access to groundwater through flights of steps, and often served as cool meeting places.
| Stepwell | Place | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Chand Baori | Abhaneri (Dausa) | Deep, symmetrical flights of thousands of steps; built by Raja Chanda of the Nikumbha dynasty (c. 8th–9th century) |
| Raniji ki Baori | Bundi | Built in 1699 by Rani Nathavati; richly carved |
| Panna Meena ka Kund | Near Amber | A small, geometric stepwell |
| Toorji ka Jhalra | Jodhpur | Eighteenth-century stepwell, restored |
Chhatris (cenotaphs)
Rajput rulers were commemorated by chhatris — domed pavilions over cremation sites. Notable groups include Gaitore (Jaipur), Jaswant Thada (Jodhpur, marble memorial), Bada Bagh (Jaisalmer), Devi Kund (Bikaner) and Ahar (Udaipur).
Havelis
Havelis are large mansions built around courtyards, especially by merchant families.
- Jaisalmer — Patwon ki Haveli (a group of five havelis), Nathmal ki Haveli, Salim Singh ki Haveli — famous for carved yellow sandstone facades and jharokhas.
- Shekhawati (Jhunjhunu, Sikar, Churu) — known as an "open-air art gallery" for the frescoes painted on haveli walls by Marwari merchants in the eighteenth to early twentieth centuries. Towns such as Nawalgarh, Mandawa, Fatehpur and Ramgarh are famous for them. The paintings show gods, legends, local life and even trains and motor cars.
Key features to remember
| Feature | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Jharokha | Projecting enclosed balcony |
| Jaali | Carved stone lattice screen |
| Chhatri | Domed pavilion |
| Toran | Ornamental gateway |
| Mandapa | Pillared hall of a temple |
| Shikhara | Temple tower |
Practice
Prelims-style:
- Who built the Vimal Vasahi temple, and when?
- Which temple is famous for its 1,444 pillars?
- Which temple group in Barmer is called the "Khajuraho of Rajasthan"?
- Who built Raniji ki Baori in Bundi?
- Which region is called an open-air art gallery for its painted havelis?
Mains-style (50 words): What are the main features of the Dilwara temples?
Mains-style (100 words): Discuss the importance of stepwells in Rajasthan's architecture and society.
A note on dates and numbers. Exam patterns, vacancies and schedules change from year to year. Always confirm the current details in the latest notification on the Rajasthan Public Service Commission website .
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