Name: Jaisalmer
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Tanot Mata Temple, Jaisalmer Overview

The Tanot Mata Temple situated in the Tanot village of district Jaisalmer is a major attraction for those visiting the Thar Desert in Rajasthan. It is enveloped within numerous legends that are sure to instil awe and curiosity towards its sacred power and purity. The heritage site is preserved and maintained by the Border Security Force (BSF) of India since the Indo-Pakistan war in 1971. She is believed to be an apparition of the Hinglaj Mata Goddess.

The Indian army has its share of stories about Tanot Mahal. The local deity Tanot aka Awad Mata helped the Indian soldiers who were at the edge of annihilation. Despite the shelling of 3000 bombs from the Pakistan border, not one exploded in the vicinity of the temple. The unexploded bombs are till date treasured in the Tanot Museum within the temple premises. After the war, the temple was handed over to the Border Security Force of India who continues to manage the Temple. Indian army built a Vijay Sthamba within the temple premises, and every year on December 16 a celebration takes place to commemorate the victory of India over Pakistan.

There are places which hold so much of elegance but are rarely visited because of the locations they are put up in. Tanot Mata temple is one such hidden gem that lies in the Jaisalmer district of Rajasthan, very close to Indias border with Pakistan. It is famous for its portrayal in the popular Bollywood movie Border based on the Indo-Pakistan war of 1971. The temple stood tall despite the heavy bombings all around it which is a resemblance of its spiritual ethos and powers. This temple has an aura to make people feel the presence of some holy deity which has protected Tanot till the date.

Attractions

After visiting the temple, one can take a round of the museum established in the same area which holds public exhibitions of the arms used during Indo-Pak Wars of 1965 and 1971. The bombs kept here hold a great significance as they were used in the war to destroy native Tanot Villages but none of them worked.
One can not miss the camel ride of Thar Desert after visiting the temple.

History

This temple has a major association with the Longewala War of 1965 when the Pakistani Army dropped around 3000 bombs targeting the temple but not even one exploded.The Pakistani Force was stupefied and after the war, the Pakistani General actually inquired about the incident and on knowing the power of the temple that apparently protected the area he asked to see this place. This request was granted and the Pakistani General actually went to the temple and paid his respects and acknowledged the supernatural happening. After the war, the temple management was handed over to Border Security Force (BSF) of India on their request.

Timings and Entry

The temple is open from 6AM to 8PM throughout the week.
There is no entry fee to visit the temple.

Best Time to Visit

Best Time to visit the Tanot Mata Temple is from November to January because of the pleasant weather.

Places to Visit around Tanot Mata Temple

Jaisalmer War Museum: Out of five top war museums, Jaisalmer's war museum has become a tourist destination. It was dedicated to the Nation by Lieutenant General Ashok Singh and displays war exhibits which include vehicles and equipment captured during the course of operations in 1965 and 1971. The war museum at Jaisalmer has become the country's 1st to have light and sound show stating bravery and tales of the soldiers of India and Pakistan.
Jaisalmer Fort: The fort was built in 1156 by Rawal Jaiswal who was the founder of Jaisalmer city. It is a 250-foot tall fort, which is protected by 30 feet long walls. The fort constitutes 99 bastions and one can see the fusion of Islamic and Rajput architecture. There are 4 gateways to reach this fort i.e. Ganesh Pol, Akshya Pol, Suraj Pol, and Hawa Pol. Jaisalmer Fort is situated on Trikuta Hill and had been the scene of many battles. The main attractions inside the fort are Raj Mahal (Royal palace), Jain temples and the Laxminath temple. The fort is made as per the actual Rajasthan standards and features a city against a red-and-yellow background.
Desert National Park: Desert National Park is a beautiful place which was declared as a National park in 1980. It is one of the largest national parks in India with a total area of the National park is about 3162 km2. The desert is a harsh place to sustain life and thus most of the fauna and flora live on the edge. Nevertheless, this place attracts a large hoard of migratory birds due to its close proximity to Bharatpur. The great Indian Bustard is a magnificent bird and can be easily seen here.
Bada Bagh: Bada Bagh, which literally means 'Big Garden', is located on the Ramgarh road. It was commissioned by Maharawal Jait Singh in the early 16th century and completed by his son Lunakaran after his death. All the cenotaphs here have a beautifully carved ceiling and elegant equestrian statues of rulers. The location of the garden is such that it offers incredible sunset vistas to tourists.
Salim Singh ki Haveli: This 300 years old haveli is a famous tourist destination and has 35 balconies. This haveli is structured in the posture of a dancing peacock. This mansion was not created with the help of cement and mortar- the stones are connected with strong iron rods. The entrance of the mansion is guarded by two huge elephants carved from stone. This haveli is also called as Jahaz Mahal and the walls and balconies are all covered with imperial paintings.
Vyas Chhatri: Vyas Chhatri is also referred to in the city as Sunset Point as it gives you a wonderful view of picturesque Jaisalmer at sundown. The Sunset point over Sooli Dongri is famous among tourists. Vyas Chhatri as the name suggests is dedicated to sage Vyaas, the writer of the epic Mahabharata.

Few other places to visit around are Sam Sand Dunes, Maharaja's Palace, Khaba Fort, The Thar Heritage Museum and Nath Mahal ki Haveli.

How To Reach Tanot Mata Temple

One can reach Tanot Mata Temple from Air, Railway and Road. It is located at a distance of 120 km from the city of Jaisalmer.

By Air: Nearest Airport to the city of Jaisalmer is Jodhpur Airport from where can hire a cab to Jaisalmer which will take around 4 hours. From Jaisalmer, one can hire a private taxi to reach Tanot Mata Temple which will take approximately 2 hours.
By Railway: Jaisalmer Railway Station is located 123.1 km away from Tanot Mata Temple. One can reach Jaisalmer through Railways and can further take a cab to cover the distance of 2 hours.
By Road: The best way to reach Tanot Mata temple is by road from Jaisalmer. It is located at a distance of 120 km from Jaisalmer and takes around 1 hour and 52 minutes to reach.

Rajputana Cabs is a 1995 started taxi firm which offers the facility pick and drop from Airport, Railway Stations along with city tours. Fairs are as listed below: