Merta City, in Nagaur district, is known as the City of Meera. It is the birthplace of Meera Bai, the 16th-century princess and devotional poet whose songs to Krishna are still sung across north India. The town is small, with a population of about 40,000 at the 2001 census, and it reads as a pilgrimage stop rather than a sightseeing circuit.
The two places that matter are the Charbhuja Nath temple, also called the Meera Bai temple, built by Rao Duda in the town centre, and the old fort complex that now holds the Meera Smarak memorial, a small museum and a research institute. A shrine to Nagnechiya Mata, the clan goddess of the Rathores, stands inside the fort grounds.
Merta is easy to reach but has limited accommodation, so most visitors treat it as a half-day or day trip from Ajmer, Pushkar or Jodhpur, or break the journey here between Jodhpur and Ajmer. Come for the devotion and history of Meera, not for palaces or markets, and allow half a day.
The annual Meera Mahotsav, a devotional festival, is listed by Rajasthan Tourism in the monsoon month of Shravan and is linked to Merta in published guides; dates move each year, so confirm before planning around it.
Before you plan
Merta City at a glance
- Best months
- November to FebruaryNovember to February; March and October are workable. April to June is very hot and July to August is humid with heavy rain.
- Ideal trip length
- Half a day to a dayHalf a day to a day; stay overnight only if you want to attend the Meera Mahotsav
- Airport
- Jodhpur AirportJodhpur Airport (JDH), roughly 100-110 km away by road; about 2 hours depending on traffic
- Railway station
- Merta Road JunctionMerta Road Junction (MTD), about 14-15 km from the town; Merta City also has its own station on a branch line
- Getting around
- The sights are close togetherThe sights are close together; autos and e-rickshaws cover the town, and a car and driver is best for the Nagaur and Pushkar sides
- Daily budget
- Roughly ₹1,000-₹2,500 per person per…Roughly ₹1,000-₹2,500 per person per day excluding the hotel, since entry is mostly free and local meals are inexpensive
- Senior comfort
- Easy to moderate: short walksEasy to moderate: short walks, but temple floors are stone, fort paths uneven, and summer heat is severe
- Language
- Hindi and Marwari locallyHindi and Marwari locally; limited English
Prices, opening hours and weather change. Recheck live details before booking.
Best time to visit Merta City: January, February, November, December. Month-by-month weather →
How many days do you have?
Merta City itinerary
One good day
1 day in Merta City
Arrive in the morning and start at the Charbhuja Nath temple, taking time for the murals and the small Meera shrine. Walk or drive to the Merta Fort complex for the Meera Smarak, the museum, the Nagnechiya Mata shrine and the white marble clock tower outside the gates. Have lunch in the town and rest. In the afternoon, return to the temple for the evening atmosphere or visit the lake-side area, then drive on to Ajmer, Pushkar or Jodhpur.
Day-by-day plan →Two days
2 days in Merta City
Spend the morning at Charbhuja Nath temple and the afternoon at Merta Fort and the Meera Smarak, with a rest in between. Walk the market lanes in the evening, where lac bangles are sold.
Day-by-day plan →Three unhurried days
3 days in Merta City
Arrive and settle in; visit the Charbhuja Nath temple in the late afternoon.
Day-by-day plan →
