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Tanot Mata Temple
Tanot Devi · Border Shrine · Rajasthan
॥ ॐ दुं दुर्गायै नमः ॥
The Tanot Mata Temple stands in the Thar desert near the India–Pakistan border west of Jaisalmer, a goddess shrine that became a national legend during the wars of 1965 and 1971. Bombs are said to have rained around it without exploding, and the temple has ever since been cared for by the soldiers of the Border Security Force, who hold the Mother as their protector.
The goddess of the desert frontier
Tanot Mata is revered as a form of Hinglaj Mata, the great goddess of the borderlands, and her shrine in the remote sands of the Thar is ancient, traced in local telling to the Bhati rulers of the 9th century. The temple sits in stark desert country, the last village before the frontier, far from any town.
The miracle of the unexploded bombs
During the 1965 war and again in 1971, the area around Tanot was heavily shelled, yet the temple stood unharmed — and many shells and bombs that fell on its grounds, by the accounts of soldiers, failed to explode. Some of these are displayed in a small museum at the shrine. The events made Tanot a place of faith for the armed forces, and the Border Security Force has maintained and guarded the temple ever since.
A temple kept by soldiers
Unusually, the worship at Tanot is conducted with the involvement of BSF personnel, who treat the goddess as the guardian of the border. The annual Tanot fair draws pilgrims across the desert, and the nearby Longewala battlefield, scene of a famous 1971 stand, is part of the same landscape of war and faith.
How to reach Tanot
- By road: Tanot is about 120 km west of Jaisalmer, deep in the Thar desert near the border; a permit may be needed for the frontier zone.
- By train: Jaisalmer is the nearest railhead.
- By air: Jaisalmer and Jodhpur are the nearest airports.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the Tanot Mata Temple famous?
During the 1965 and 1971 wars the area was heavily shelled, yet the temple stood unharmed and many bombs that fell on its grounds failed to explode — a story that made it a place of faith, cared for by the Border Security Force.
Who is Tanot Mata?
Tanot Mata is revered as a form of Hinglaj Mata, the great goddess of the borderlands, in an ancient desert shrine traced to the Bhati rulers of the 9th century.
Who manages the temple?
The Border Security Force has maintained and guarded the temple since the wars, and its personnel are involved in the worship, holding the goddess as protector of the border.
Can the unexploded bombs be seen?
Yes — some of the shells and bombs that fell without exploding are displayed in a small museum at the temple.
How do I reach Tanot?
Tanot is about 120 km west of Jaisalmer in the Thar desert near the border; a permit may be needed. Jaisalmer is the nearest railhead and airport.
What is the Longewala connection?
The nearby Longewala battlefield, scene of a famous 1971 stand against advancing tanks, lies in the same border landscape and is often visited together with Tanot.
॥ जय माता दी ॥ • Bhaktiras.net Temple Guide
| Deity | Tanot Mata (a form of Hinglaj Mata) |
| Famous for | Surviving the 1965 and 1971 wars unharmed; unexploded bombs |
| Managed by | Border Security Force (BSF) |
| Setting | Thar desert, near the India–Pakistan border |
| Nearby | Longewala battlefield |
| Main Festival | Tanot fair |