Galteshwar Temple Dakor Travel Guide: The Lesser Known UNESCO Site in Kheda District, Gujarat (2024)
The Galteshwar Temple is about sixteen kilometers from Dakor, Kheda District of Gujarat. Distance between Galteshwar Temple and Surat City is about 40 Kms approximately. Tourists and devotees flock to the Galteshwar Temple all through the year. People who like to explore ancient architecture will find this Temple of interest as well, as it has a unique architecture. The Galteshwar Temple is at the confluence of the Galti and the Mahi Rivers.
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The Galteshwar Temple Experience
Experts note that the architecture at Galteshwar is the Bhumija style. Of note are the garbhagriha, the shrine, and the dancing hall, known as the mandapa. The Mandap is octagonal, and the shrine is square. There’s a lot of discussion about the architectural styles at the Temple. The Temple is one of the several that’s under the protection of the Archaeological Survey of India, and it is a Monument of National Importance. All this makes it a must-visit temple in the Gujarat area.
The Mandapa has projecting angles and is in the form of a crucifix. It has eight inner pillars and sixteen outer pillars of different design and structure. The Galteshwar Temple is one of the older ones in India as well, with experts saying that origins date is around the 12th Century.
The walls and the pillars have intricate sculptures and designs all over, and you can only marvel at the beauty and intricacy of the entire structure. The architecture of the Shivling and the Nandi, outside the temple premises, is a unique one as well. The sanctum sanctorum has a Shivling that’s gold. You will need to climb some stairs to reach the praying area.
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You can spend around an hour exploring the Galteshwar Temple and taking in all the visuals that the Temple has to offer. Visiting the Galteshwar Temple is a hasslefree experience, and you will not feel that the Temple is crowded, even though you see a lot of people visit the Temple at all times of the day.
The carvings on the pillars are centuries old and depict various aspects, including life and death and animals. The Galteshwar Temple is a bit small, compared to the other popular ones in the area. We are sure that the sculptures and the drawings will have a fascinating story, but only someone who knows about this will be able to throw some light.
The Galteshwar Temple has lush greenery comprising of trees and plants surrounding it. So, the best time to visit is during the monsoon season, when the surroundings become all the more beautiful to look at.
The authorities are taking good care of the Temple and the surroundings, so it is an excellent experience to visit the Galteshwar Temple.
Galteshwar Temple is in Dakor, and there are only a couple of places nearby that you can visit and enjoy some quality time. For example, there’s a river nearby, and you will see locals spending quality time and taking a dip. If you are not interested in one, you can take a stroll along the riverbed anytime, which is a calming experience in itself.
The water at the river bank is shallow, so even children can enjoy a dip in the water. Also, the river bed has several shops that sell a variety of snacks and beverages that you get on a typical beach, so it becomes the perfect outing for the complete family.
There are some aspects that you need to keep in mind while visiting the Galteshwar Temple and any place of religious importance. To begin with, make sure that you dress appropriately, as it is a place of religious interest. Further, the weather in Gujarat is very harsh, so make sure that you dress and pack for whatever season it is, like sunscreens, sunglasses, hats, etc.
If you are booking a hotel online, make sure that you read the fine print, as the hotels sometimes have rules and regulations that might not be industry-wide. For example, some might not allow unmarried couples to stay in the same room, and others won’t allow pets. Also, you will need to check out the kind of cuisine that the hotels offer, as some hotels don’t offer the cuisine commonly found in cities.
Places To Visit Near Galteshwar Temple
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If you are at Dakor for a weekend, make your way to the Pavagadh Hill Station, which has a Mahakali Temple, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004.
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At Pavagadh, you can also visit Kalika Mata Temple, which has idols of three Goddesses, Kalika Mata, Kali Mata, and Bahucharamata Mata. Therefore, this visit makes perfect sense for the people who would like to know more about the religious locations and locations that are important with respect to Indian mythology.
In Kheda, you can visit Chamapner-Archeological Park, which is about two hours away from Kheda.
The Temple is about two hours from Ahmedabad, so traveling to the place is hassle-free. Ahmedabad connects well with the various cities in Mumbai, Pune, and Delhi.
