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Kheda district, Gujarat

Galteshwar Mahadev Temple: a 12th-century Shiva shrine where two rivers meet

On a quiet spit of land at the Galati-Mahisagar confluence near Sarnal village stands one of Gujarat's most under-visited stone masterpieces. Built under the Chaulukyas around the 12th century, Galteshwar pairs a living Shivling that draws lakhs of pilgrims with an octagonal dance-hall carved in the rare bhumija idiom. Its shikhara fell in 1908 and stood headless for over a century until the Archaeological Survey of India crowned it again in 2021.

General view of the stone Galteshwar Mahadev Temple in Kheda, Gujarat, showing its carved shikhara and mandapaPhoto: Jaimin Mahendra Patel, via Wikimedia Commons
Built
12th century, Chaulukya era
Deity
Shiva (Galteshwar Mahadev)
Setting
Galati-Mahisagar river confluence
ASI status
Monument of National Importance (N-GJ-144)
TimingsHow to reachAartiDress & rulesBest timeNearbyWhere to stayFAQ

Darshan timings at Galteshwar Mahadev

Darshan timings by season
SeasonOpensDarshanClosesStatus
All year (daily)approx 5:00 AMOpen through the dayapprox 9:00 PMOpen
Festival days (Mahashivratri, Shravan Mondays)Pre-dawnExtended, long queuesLate nightOpen
Verify before you travel. Exact opening and closing hours are not officially published and vary; the widely quoted window is roughly early morning to about 9-10 PM with no entry fee. Treat these as approx and reconfirm locally, especially in the monsoon when the riverbank around the temple can flood.

Read the full Timings & Darshan Hours →

How to reach Galteshwar Mahadev Temple

Galteshwar sits off the main highways on the Mahisagar riverbank, so the last leg is almost always by road from Dakor, Umreth or Anand. A car or auto is the simplest way in; there is no station or airport at the temple itself.

Reaching by rail, road and air
ModePointDistanceNotes
By trainUmreth (branch terminus)approx 7 kmNearest railhead but only slow branch-line trains; most travellers use Anand (approx 51 km) or Nadiad (approx 50 km) on the main Mumbai-Ahmedabad line, then a taxi.
By airVadodara Airportapprox 78 kmClosest airport; Ahmedabad (approx 90 km) is a little further but has far more flights. Hire a cab onward.
By roadDakorapprox 10-15 kmMost pilgrims combine Galteshwar with Dakor's Ranchhodrai temple; autos and taxis run from Dakor and Umreth. State and private buses connect Ahmedabad, Vadodara and Anand to the area.

Read the full How to Reach →

Puja & aarti schedule

  • Morning aarti and abhishek of the Shivlingapprox 7:00 AM
  • Puja continues; quieter darshan windowMidday
  • Evening aartiapprox 7:00 PM
Aarti times are commonly cited as roughly 7 AM and 7 PM but are not officially fixed; they shift on festival days and during Shravan. Confirm on arrival. Abhishek with Mahisagar river water is a common local devotional practice.

Read the full Aarti & Puja Schedule →

Dress code & temple rules

Dress modestly; cover shoulders and knees as at any active Shiva temple

Remove footwear before entering the shrine and mandapa

This is an ASI-protected monument, so do not touch, scratch or climb the carved stonework

Photography of the exterior and carvings is generally fine; ask before shooting inside the sanctum during puja

Keep the riverbank and temple precinct litter-free; avoid single-use plastic

Read the full Dress Code & Temple Rules →

Best time to visit & festivals

October to March gives the most comfortable weather and the fullest river at the confluence. The temple is busiest and most atmospheric on its two annual fairs and during Shravan.

Major festivals
FestivalWhenSignificance
MahashivratriFebruary or March (Phalguna Krishna Chaturdashi)The single biggest day here; large crowds come for night-long Shiva worship and abhishek Peak
Shravan month (Mondays)Roughly July-AugustEvery Monday of the Shravan month draws heavy Shiva-devotee footfall Peak
Janmashtami fairAugust/SeptemberOne of the temple's two traditional annual fairs, tied to nearby Dakor's Krishna devotion
Sharad Purnima fairOctober (Ashvin full moon)The second annual fair; pleasant post-monsoon weather and a full Mahisagar

Read the full Best Time to Visit & Festivals →

Nearby temples & tirths

Dakor Ranchhodrai Temple

Dakor Ranchhodrai Temple

Gujarat's great Krishna pilgrimage town; most visitors pair it with Galteshwar

approx 10-15 km from Galteshwar Mahadev →

Utkanteshwar Mahadev

Another old Shiva shrine on the Mahisagar in the same Kheda-Mahisagar belt

approx 25-30 km from Galteshwar Mahadev →

Read the full Nearby Temples & Tirths →

Where to stay

There is no notable hotel at the temple itself; it is a day-trip stop. The easiest base is Dakor (approx 10-15 km), which has dharamshalas, guesthouses and basic pilgrim lodging built for its Ranchhodrai crowds. For more standard hotels, stay in Anand or Nadiad (both roughly 50 km) on the main rail line, or in Vadodara for a wider range of business and mid-range options within about 80 km. Book ahead around Mahashivratri, the Janmashtami and Sharad Purnima fairs, and on Shravan Mondays.

Read the full Where to Stay →

Frequently asked questions

What are Galteshwar Mahadev Temple timings?
The temple is open daily with free entry, roughly from early morning (about 5 AM) to about 9 PM, with aarti commonly around 7 AM and 7 PM. Hours are not officially published and vary on festival days, so reconfirm locally. These are approx figures.
Where is Galteshwar Mahadev Temple located?
In Sarnal village, Thasra taluka, Kheda district, Gujarat, at the confluence of the Galati and Mahisagar rivers, about 10-15 km from Dakor.
Which is the nearest railway station to Galteshwar Temple?
Umreth branch terminus is nearest at about 7 km, but it only has slow branch-line trains. Most travellers use Anand or Nadiad (both around 50 km) on the main line and take a taxi.
How far is Galteshwar Temple from Dakor?
About 10-15 km. Pilgrims very commonly visit both on the same trip, combining Dakor's Ranchhodrai (Krishna) temple with the Galteshwar Shiva shrine.
Why is Galteshwar Temple famous?
It is a rare 12th-century Chaulukya-era Shiva temple in the bhumija style at a river confluence, protected by the ASI as a Monument of National Importance. Its shikhara collapsed in 1908 and was rebuilt by the ASI in 2021.

Compiled from public sources including Wikipedia: Galteshwar Temple · Kheda District (kheda.nic.in) tourist page · Gujarat Tourism: Galteshwar Mahadev Temple, Kheda · Atlas Obscura: Galteshwar Mahadev Temple. Timings and seasonal closures change; confirm with the temple trust before travelling.