Sawariya Seth Mandir is a Krishna temple at Mandphiya village in Chittorgarh district, Rajasthan, on the Chittorgarh to Udaipur highway. Darshan runs in two sessions daily, with a midday break.
This guide covers timings, aarti, distances, the three temples, dress code, festivals and donation reports. However, sources disagree on several figures, so we flag each conflict and name the source.
Key Takeaways
- Darshan runs 5:30 AM to noon and 2:30 PM to 11:00 PM, per the Ministry of Culture’s utsav.gov.in page.
- The temple lies on the Chittorgarh to Udaipur highway, about 40 km from Chittorgarh.
- Distance from Udaipur varies by source, from 60 to 110 km, and most land near 80 to 100 km.
- Darshan is free, and we found no official online booking.
- October to March is the recommended season, and weekday mornings are calmer.
What Is Sawariya Seth Mandir?
Sawariya Seth Mandir, also spelled Sanwaliya or Sanwariya Seth, is dedicated to Krishna as Sanwaliya Seth. The utsav.gov.in page says millions of devotees visit every year.
Vedadhara notes that the idols are black (sanwala), a word meaning dark. NorthIndianPandits adds that the temple opens seven days a week.
Bhakti Bharat, NorthIndianPandits and TempleTimings describe the temple as the second most important Vaishnav site after Nathdwara. That ranking is devotional, not official.
The Shri Sanwaliaji Temple Act, 1992 established the Shri Sanwaliaji Temple Board to run the temple and its endowments. An older trust was registered in 1986, according to India Code.
Sawariya Seth Mandir Timings and Aarti Schedule
Darshan runs from 5:30 AM to noon and from 2:30 PM to 11:00 PM, according to the Ministry of Culture’s utsav.gov.in page. NorthIndianPandits, TempleTimings and TravelTriangle agree.
| Session | Darshan timing |
| Morning | 5:30 AM to 12:00 PM |
| Midday break | 12:00 PM to 2:30 PM |
| Afternoon and evening | 2:30 PM to 11:00 PM |
PlaNexTrip lists 5 AM to 10 PM instead, and Bhakti Bharat gives three different opening times on one page. Therefore, rely on the official timings.
Aarti Schedule
The utsav.gov.in page lists these daily rituals. Other sites add further aartis, but we could not confirm them from an official source.
| Ritual | Time (utsav.gov.in) |
| Mangla Aarti | 5:30 AM |
| Rajbhog | 10:00 to 11:15 AM |
| Afternoon aarti | 2:30 PM |
| Evening aarti | 8:00 to 9:15 PM |
| Bhajan | 9:15 to 11:00 PM |
TempleTimings lists Shringar Aarti at 8:00 AM, Sandhya Aarti at 7:30 PM and Shayan Aarti at 10:30 PM. PlaNexTrip gives Sandhya Aarti at 7:00 PM.
Timings can shift on Ekadashi, Janmashtami, Holi and Purnima, according to NorthIndianPandits. Therefore, call the temple on 01470-242622 or 242922 (numbers from utsav.gov.in) before a festival visit.
The temple also streams darshan live. Utsav.gov.in names the YouTube channel of Shri Sanwaliya Seth Mandir Mandal for live darshan.
Where Is Sanwaliya Seth Mandir Mandfiya?
The temple stands in Mandphiya village (also written Mandfiya, Mandaphiya or Mandafiya) on the Chittorgarh to Udaipur highway, Chittorgarh district, Rajasthan, according to utsav.gov.in.
Bhakti Bharat lists the plus code P99H+63V and coordinates 24.7181556 N, 74.380201 E. Use either in a map app, and confirm the pin before you drive.
| From | Distance | What sources say |
| Chittorgarh city | About 40 km | 34 to 35 km (TheRouteMakers, TravelTriangle) |
| Udaipur | About 80 km | 60 to 70 or 85 to 100 km (NorthIndianPandits), 84 to 90 km (TheRouteMakers), 110 km (TempleTimings) |
| Chittorgarh railway station | About 40 km | utsav.gov.in |
| Dabok Airport, Udaipur | About 60 km | 65 km (Vedadhara) |
| Nathdwara | About 85 km | TempleTimings only |
| Jaipur | About 315 km | NorthIndianPandits only |
| Ahmedabad | About 280 km | NorthIndianPandits only |
Most sources land near 80 to 100 km from Udaipur, so treat that as a planning range. Confirm the live route in a map app.
How to Reach Sawariya Seth Mandir from Udaipur and Chittorgarh
By road, drive on the Chittorgarh to Udaipur highway. NorthIndianPandits says state and private buses run regularly, and TravelTriangle says buses and taxis serve both cities.
The nearest main railway station is Chittorgarh, about 40 km away, according to utsav.gov.in. From there, take a taxi or auto-rickshaw, as NorthIndianPandits suggests.
Maharana Pratap Airport at Dabok, Udaipur, is about 60 km away, according to utsav.gov.in. NorthIndianPandits suggests a taxi or cab from the airport.
TempleTimings says parking is free for two-wheelers and charged for four-wheelers. PlaNexTrip says parking has security. We could not verify parking rates.
Allow extra time if your route starts in Udaipur. NorthIndianPandits gives 1 to 1.5 hours, while TempleTimings gives 2.5 to 3 hours, so plan for the longer estimate.
The Three Sanwaliya Seth Temples: Mandphiya, Bhadsoda and Chhapar
Utsav.gov.in describes three idols found in 1840 and installed at three sites. Vedadhara says the sites lie within 5 km of each other.
| Site | Role (utsav.gov.in) |
| Bhadsauda-Bagund border | Prakatya Sthal, where the idols were found |
| Bhadsauda village | The oldest temple |
| Mandafiya village | Sanwaliya ji Dham Temple |
Spellings of the third site vary between sources. Vedadhara names it Chapar, while NorthIndianPandits writes Chhapar (Bagund village). Therefore, check the spelling on road signs and in your map app.
Most guides, including this one, focus on the Mandphiya temple. Therefore, tell your driver which of the three you want.
History and Legend of Sawariya Seth Mandir
According to local residents quoted by utsav.gov.in, three idols were found during an excavation in 1840 on the border of Bhadsauda-Bagund village. A shepherd had dreamed of them.
Vedadhara adds that a road was being built from Udaipur to Chittorgarh at the time. A Babul tree at Chapar was cut, and the idols lay beneath it.
Sources name the dreamer differently. Utsav.gov.in says Bholanath Gurjar, while Vedadhara and NorthIndianPandits say Bholaram Gurjar. Vedadhara says four idols were found and one was broken.
Per Vedadhara, the idols reportedly belonged to Sant Dayaram’s followers, hidden during Aurangzeb’s invasion. NorthIndianPandits says Saint Dayaram buried them in the Mughal era. We could not verify either account.
Both sources also link the idols to Meera Bai, the 16th-century saint-poet, who is said to have worshipped them as Girdhar Gopal. Treat this as legend.
Vedadhara also gives a folk story linking the name to Sudama’s visit to Dwarka. We left out the full tale, since it is a devotional account.
Donations and the Business Partner Belief
Vedadhara and NorthIndianPandits say many devotees treat Sanwaliya Seth as a business partner and donate a share of their earnings. Media reports often cite this belief alongside large donation figures.
Aaj Tak reported that the April 2026 count came to about ₹41.67 crore. Donation boxes gave about ₹33.21 crore, and the offering room and online gifts gave about ₹8.46 crore.
Counting began on 16 April, a Chaturdashi, and ran in seven phases under camera watch. The report also lists 660.5 g of gold and 84.62 kg of silver.
For comparison, ETV Bharat reported ₹19.45 crore plus over 95 kg of gold and silver after a count that ended on 7 September 2024. That count ran in five phases.
Bhakti Bharat says the donation box opens on the Chaturdashi of Krishna Paksha each month, and Mahaprasad follows the next evening, on Amavasya.
These are media reports, not temple accounts. Counting periods differ, so compare figures only when they cover the same length of time.
Dress Code, Photography and Visitor Rules
NorthIndianPandits and TempleTimings give these visitor rules. We could not confirm them from an official temple notice, so follow staff instructions on the day.
- Men: long trousers, or a dhoti or pyjama with kurta. Avoid shorts.
- Women: saree, salwar kameez or churidar, with a dupatta covering the shoulders and knees.
- Footwear: leave shoes at the designated stand near the gate.
- Offerings: devotees are asked not to bring outside offerings, and prasad is sold at the counter inside.
- Prasad: TheRouteMakers says it usually includes laddoos and traditional sweets.
Photography rules differ. NorthIndianPandits says photography is not permitted in the temple grounds, while TheRouteMakers says it is generally restricted inside the sanctum. Follow the signs and staff.
Darshan is free, according to NorthIndianPandits, TheRouteMakers and PlaNexTrip. NorthIndianPandits adds that voluntary donations go into the hundis, so carry only what you wish to give.
TempleTimings says there is no online booking, and darshan is walk-in on a first-come basis. We found no official booking page, so be careful with agents who sell darshan slots.
Facilities and Stay Near the Temple
NorthIndianPandits lists free meals, accommodation, drinking water, restrooms and shoe storage. We could not confirm the terms, so ask the temple office about stays and meal timings.
Utsav.gov.in names Yashoda Vihar Dharmashala in Mandphiya, and TheRouteMakers mentions dharamshalas and budget hotels nearby. No source we read lists hotel names or prices.
Best Time to Visit Sawariya Seth Mandir
NorthIndianPandits recommends October to March, and weekday mornings just after 5:30 AM. TheRouteMakers expects heavy crowds during Janmashtami, Ekadashi and weekends.
Therefore, a weekday morning in winter looks calmest. That is our advice, based on those two sources, not an official recommendation.
Festivals at the Temple
| Festival | What sources say |
| Janmashtami | Special midnight darshan (NorthIndianPandits) |
| Jal Jhulni Ekadashi | Fasting, processions and extended darshan (NorthIndianPandits) |
| Devjhulani Ekadashi | A three-day fair each year (Bhakti Bharat) |
| Annakoot | Large food offering shared as prasad, the day after Diwali (NorthIndianPandits) |
| Holi | Festive attire and devotional songs (NorthIndianPandits) |
| Ekadashi and Purnima | Large gatherings with special aarti (NorthIndianPandits) |
Janmashtami fell on 4 September 2026, according to Outlook India. TempleTimings gives 16 August 2026, which conflicts, so we use the Outlook date. Check the Panchang for next year.
For Krishna-themed Holi trips elsewhere, see our guide to Mathura and Vrindavan Holi and our overview of the Holi festival.
Bhakti Bharat also lists Maha Shivratri among the festivals marked here. For other places that mark it, see places to celebrate Maha Shivratri.
Day-Trip Plan From Udaipur
This plan is our advice, built from the figures above. Dates and timings change, so confirm them with the temple first.
| Step | What to do |
| Early morning | Leave Udaipur early, since darshan opens at 5:30 AM |
| Drive | Allow 1.5 to 3 hours each way, depending on the source and route |
| At the temple | Leave shoes at the stand, dress modestly and join the darshan queue |
| Midday | The temple closes from 12:00 to 2:30 PM, so plan a meal or rest |
| Afternoon | Visit Chittorgarh, about 40 km away, before heading back |
| Return | Leave before dark if you prefer to avoid night driving |
TempleTimings also says pilgrims from Udaipur can combine the temple with Nathdwara in one day trip. That adds a long drive, so start at dawn.
Places to Combine With Sawariya Seth Mandir
PlaNexTrip lists Chittorgarh Fort, Menal Waterfall, Ratan Singh Palace and Gapernath Mahadev Temple as nearby attractions. TempleTimings puts Chittorgarh Fort about 40 km from the temple.
Chittorgarh Fort is part of the Hill Forts of Rajasthan UNESCO listing. For other listed sites, read our guide to UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India.
If you want another temple-focused itinerary, see our guide to famous temples in Indore. We could not verify distances to the other nearby stops.
Details We Could Not Verify
Some figures lack an official or current source. We flagged each one in this guide, so you can confirm it before you travel.
- Distance from Udaipur, which sources give as 60 to 110 km.
- Aarti times other than those on utsav.gov.in.
- The postal PIN code, which sources give as 312 001, 312 021 and 312 024.
- Parking charges and the stay and meal arrangements.
- The exact photography rule.
- The number of idols found, three or four.
- Festival dates for the coming year.
Final Thoughts on Sawariya Seth Mandir
Sawariya Seth Mandir works well as a day trip from Udaipur or Chittorgarh. Start early, dress modestly and plan around the midday break.
Confirm aarti times, parking and festival crowds with the temple before you go. We will update this guide when official details change.
