Rajasthan is famous for many things, including its rich history, grand palaces, stories of kings and queens, vibrant culture, and delectable cuisine. But how many of you are aware of Rajasthan’s underground library, hidden deep in the Thar Desert? Yes, a hidden library, one of Asia’s largest, with over 900000 books!
Where is this secret library?
The library is located in the Bhadariya village of Pokaran Tehsil in the Jaisalmer district of Rajasthan. This unique treasure trove in the Thar region can seat 4000 people at once, making it one of Asia’s largest libraries.
It is unique in that it is built 16 feet below ground, and because of this, the library stays cool even during hot and humid summers.
History of the library
Harbansh Singh Nirmal, also known as Bhadariya Maharaj, built the library (saint). He was a voracious reader who hailed from Punjab. The library’s collection is made up of books from all over the world. Thousands of books were given to him on various occasions by various people. He began collecting these books in 1998, and funds were then allocated to build a temple for a goddess here.
According to the residents of the village, Maharaj stayed in the library for several years and read almost all the books there. The books present in the library range from science and astronomy to astrology and history. One can also find dictionaries, Atlas and epics inside this treasure trove. This bibliotheca features 562 glass shelves, where all the books are well-preserved and are made available to scholars and learners, who come here from all over the world for research and learning purposes. This place is a bibliophile’s dream come true and must be visited by every book lover. Now, the library is being looked after by the villagers and the temple devotees.
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