Jaipur. Kiradu Temple, located in the desert of Barmer district of Rajasthan, is known for its mystery and unique style. This is not an ordinary temple, but a group of five temples, out of which the main temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and the remaining four to Mahadev. The special thing is that despite being in North India, it is built in South Indian style. Seeing the beauty of Kiradu temple, it is also called Khajuraho of Rajasthan. Every wall, pillar and ceiling is filled with carvings, reflecting the art and hard work of these temples that are thousands of years old. The principal temple of this group is the Someshwara Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, while the other four temples are built for Lord Vishnu. Many statues have been broken over time, but the grandeur and mystery of the temple still remains intact. Local people believe that there is a curse of a saint behind this temple.
It is said that many years ago a saint came to Kiradu with his disciples and after staying for some time, set out to tour the country. His disciple suddenly fell ill, but the villagers refused to help. Only one potter served him. When the sage came back and saw the condition of the disciples, his anger was at an all time high. He cursed the entire area that where there was lack of humanity, the people there would also turn to stone. The sage also warned the potter to leave the village before evening and never look back. But Kumharin looked back and she too turned into stone. Since then it is said that whoever stays in the Kiradu temple after dusk turns to stone.
Even today, Kiradu Temple serves as a religious site as well as a historical and mystical experience. In the morning the entire complex is lively and bustling with activity, but as evening approaches, people start moving out early. No one likes to stay in the temple after evening, and this mystery and story is still alive among the locals and travelers.
