Navtoran Temple

Getting there

• By train

  Neemuch is a broad gauge railway station on the Ajmer to Ratlam route. Khor sits under Jawad census town and Jawad tehsil, in Neemuch district.

Why devotees come here

Navtoran Temple stands in Khor village, between Jawad and Nayagaon, in Neemuch district. Its prime deity is Varaha, the third avatar of Vishnu. The monument is known for its ten decorative arches and is protected as one of national importance.

Navtoran Temple has been declared a monument of national importance under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958. Legend says a king built the temple to mark the marriage of his nine daughters. Accounts differ on the date: one places the temple in the eleventh century, while another calls it an important relic of the 12th century. The Neemuch district government website lists the temple among its tourist places.

The prime deity is Varaha, the third avatar of Vishnu. The plan has a porch, a mahamandapa (large hall), a garbhagriha (inner sanctum) and a pradakshinapath (walkway) around the shrine. The ten arches sit in two rows. The temple is decorated with leaf-shaped borders, makara faces and garlands.

Legend says a tunnel runs beneath the temple to Chittor Fort, and that Maharana Pratap used the tunnel to come and worship the deity. The story is told as legend, not as history. The monument is now in a ruined condition, so visitors see an old site rather than a restored temple.

Tips for your visit

• The monument is in a ruined condition, so expect an old site, not a fully restored temple.
• Look for the leaf-shaped borders, makara faces and garlands that decorate the temple.
• Walk the pradakshinapath, the path that runs around the shrine.

Questions people ask