# This 118-Year-Old Temple Beside Dholpur's Royal Palace Still Reflects Its Princely Grandeur > The 118-year-old Radha Vihari Temple, built next to the royal palace in Dholpur, Rajasthan, stands as a testament to Maharaja Rana Ram Singh's religious devotion and princely-era architecture. **Type:** article · **Category:** Rajasthan · **Published:** 2026-09-08 · **Source:** TrendKia **Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/rajasthan/dholpur-ke-rajamahala-ke-pasa-bana-yaha-mndira-aja-bhi-bayan-karata-hai-riyasatakala-ki-bhavyata-29450 · **Language:** English **Tags:** Dholpur, Radha Vihari Temple, Rajasthan Heritage, Maharaja Rana Ram Singh, Princely Era Temple, Sandstone Architecture In Dholpur, Rajasthan, several old buildings and temples still carry memories of the princely era etched into their walls. One such heritage site standing at the district headquarters is the Radha Vihari Temple, known for its 118-year-old legacy and its striking stone carvings. ## Built in 1908 The temple was built on the orders of Maharaja Rana Ram Singh of the Dholpur princely state. Construction was completed in 1908, which makes the temple roughly 118 years old today. It was built using the famous red and white sandstone found in Dholpur, a material that has long defined the region's architecture. Artisans carved the stone finely to create numerous beautiful figures and motifs on the temple walls, adding to its visual appeal. The overall structure clearly reflects the architectural style of the princely era. ## Built close to the royal palace According to historian Arvind Sharma, several historic temples from the princely era still stand at Dholpur's district headquarters, including the temple of Lord Narsingh, the historic Chopra Temple and the Nihaleshwar Temple. Among these, the Radha Vihari Temple holds a special place. Sharma says Maharaja Rana Ram Singh deliberately had this temple built right next to the royal palace, so that he could easily visit it. The Maharaja himself used to come here to have darshan of Lord Krishna and Radha Rani, which reflects how deeply the temple was tied to his personal religious and spiritual devotion. ## Grand idols of Krishna and Radha Inside the temple's sanctum sit striking and grand idols of Lord Krishna and Radha Rani. Devotees who come here do not just offer prayers, they also take time to admire the temple's ancient structure and the fine carvings etched into its stones. Visitors and locals alike often praise its architecture. ## 118 years as a centre of faith and pride The Radha Vihari Temple today forms an important part of Dholpur's historical heritage. For nearly 118 years, it has remained not just a centre of religious faith for people but also a symbol of the city's pride. Its old walls, the beautiful construction using red and white stone, and the art of the princely era together tell the story of Dholpur's rich history. Tourists and devotees who visit the city today still get a glimpse of the grandeur of the princely era through this temple. ## What this means for you This story does not directly affect anyone's finances, but it matters to people interested in Rajasthan's heritage and tourism. - **Across India:** People across the country interested in princely-era history and architecture get to learn about lesser-known heritage sites like Dholpur. This can help boost heritage tourism in the region. - **In Dholpur:** For local residents and devotees, the Radha Vihari Temple is part of both their faith and the city's identity. Anyone visiting Dholpur can head to this 118-year-old temple near the royal palace to see its idols and carvings. - **For history enthusiasts:** Information from historians like Arvind Sharma shows that Dholpur also has other princely-era temples such as the Lord Narsingh temple, Chopra Temple and Nihaleshwar Temple that can be visited together. - **For local authorities:** Preserving and promoting such heritage sites could increase tourism activity in Dholpur, which in turn could benefit local businesses and employment. ## Why this happened This temple was not the result of any accident or dispute, it was built purely out of Maharaja Rana Ram Singh's personal religious devotion, so the reason behind it is clearly known. - **The Maharaja's personal devotion:** Maharaja Rana Ram Singh was himself a devotee of Lord Krishna and Radha Rani and regularly came for darshan, which is why he had this temple built in 1908. - **Proximity to the royal palace:** The temple was deliberately built right next to the royal palace so that the Maharaja could easily visit it to offer prayers. - **A princely-era tradition:** According to historian Arvind Sharma, Dholpur's princely-era rulers built several temples, including the Lord Narsingh temple, Chopra Temple and Nihaleshwar Temple, and this temple is part of that same tradition. - **Use of local stone:** The famous red and white sandstone available in Dholpur at the time was used to give the temple its grand look. ## Questions & Answers ### 1. When was the Radha Vihari Temple built? It was built in 1908 by Maharaja Rana Ram Singh, making it roughly 118 years old today. ### 2. Where is the temple located? The temple is located at the district headquarters of Dholpur, Rajasthan, right next to the royal palace. ### 3. What stone was used to build the temple? The temple was built using the famous red and white sandstone found in Dholpur. ### 4. Which deities' idols are installed in the temple? The temple houses grand idols of Lord Krishna and Radha Rani. ### 5. What was Maharaja Rana Ram Singh's connection to the temple? The Maharaja himself used to visit the temple for darshan of Lord Krishna and Radha Rani, and he had it built. ### 6. What other princely-era temples exist in Dholpur? According to historian Arvind Sharma, the Lord Narsingh temple, the historic Chopra Temple and the Nihaleshwar Temple are also prominent. --- _TrendKia — Har trend, sabse pehle.. Machine-readable view; canonical HTML at the URL above._