Nathdwara Painting and Pichwai Painting at Rajsamand District Known for 14th Century Shrinathji Temple

Nathdwara is a town on the Aravalli Range, on the banks of the Banas River, famous for Nathdwara Paintings and the 14th-century Shrinathji Temple. The town is situated in Rajsamand District, Rajasthan state, India.

Nathdwara Srinathji (Lord Krishna as a child) Painting
A Nathdwara Srinathji Painting.

Nathdwara Painting is a form of painting art that originated at Nathdwara. There are different sub-styles, and the most famous among them is Pichhwai paintings. Pichhwai painting is a form of cloth painting. Pichhwai paintings are usually hung behind the Hindu god Shrinathji. (‘pich’ means back, and ‘wais’ means hanging).

This painting was derived from the Mewar school of painting, another Local style. To avoid oppression from Aurangzeb (the Mughal emperor), the image of Shrinathji (Lord Krishna as a child) was installed in 1670 by priests from Mathura. After that, a new style of Shrinathji paintings evolved, called Pichhwai paintings.

The deity at the Shrinathji Temple is that of Shrinathji, an incarnation of Lord Krishna, as a seven-year-old child. This deity was worshiped initially near Mathura, the birthplace of Lord Krishna. The deity was shifted to the Shrinathji temple in 1672. This is a famous Vaishnavite shrine in India and is considered revered predominantly by Rajasthani and Gujarati people. The town is also known as Shrinathji town because of the deity at Shrinathji temple.

How Do I Go to Nathdwara?

Nathdwara is located in the Rajsamand district. The town is situated at a distance of around 48 kilometers North-East of Udaipur, City of Lakes and Palaces.