These statues of Radha Gopal have traveled abroad

Actually, traveling abroad is not a big deal today. But, in the beginning of the 19th century, only a select few people used to travel abroad. Maharaja Sawai Madho Singh of the princely state of Jaipur had traveled to England. During this journey, he also took his favorite deity Radha-Gopal ji with him. On returning from there, a grand temple was built for him.

This temple is in Jainivas garden behind the temple of the deity Govind Devji of Jaipur. Here two temples are built opposite each other. One is of Mother Ganga and the other is of Radha-Gopal ji. Madho Singh ji first built the temple of Ganga Mata here in 1914 and about four years later built the temple of Radha Gopal ji.

The idols of Radha Gopal ji located here are the same idols which Maharaja Madho Singh had taken with him to England. Maharaja Madho Singh was called to England for the coronation of Edward VII. When Madho Singh ji went there, he also took his favorite deity Radha Gopal ji with him. After a twenty-five day sea voyage, he reached England and during this time he hired a newly built ship named Olympia. If historians are to be believed, Madho Singh had built these temples with his personal income. Out of these, Rs 35,444 were spent on the temple of Ganga Mata, mentioned on an inscription here. It is said that Maharaja Sawai Madho Singh used to drink Ganga water as soon as he woke up in the morning and then had darshan of Radha Gopal Ji. There is a separate route from Rajmahal City Palace to these temples. Regular devotees of Govind Devji definitely visit these two temples to bow their heads.

If historians are to be believed, Madho Singh had built these temples with his personal income. Out of these, Rs 35,444 were spent on the temple of Ganga Mata, mentioned on an inscription here. It is said that Maharaja Sawai Madho Singh used to drink Ganga water first thing in the morning and then had darshan of Radha Gopal Ji. There is a separate route from Rajmahal City Palace to these temples. Regular devotees of Govind Devji definitely visit both these temples to bow their heads.