Garh Ganesh Temple

Garh Ganesh Temple stands on an Aravalli hillside above Jaipur and is dedicated to Ganesha; it is also called the Lalkothi Ganesh Temple. Reaching it means a climb of about 365 steps, one for each day of the year, and the top gives wide views over the city. The shrine is tied to the founding of Jaipur: Sawai Jai Singh II is said to have dreamt that Ganesha asked to be carried down from the hills and given a temple, and he raised this one in the 18th century, reportedly before the city itself, to seek a blessing on the new capital.

The temple is built of carved pink sandstone in a mix of Rajasthani and Mughal styles, with mythological scenes on its pillars and front. The idol inside is considered self-manifested and is unusual because its trunk curves to the right instead of the left.