Galta Temple, the temple of Sun, is located at a distance of 10 km from Jaipur, the capital city of the state of Rajasthan, India. Jaipur is famous for its architectural excellence which is beautifully illustrated through the multitude of buildings and monuments there-many of them being famous tourist attractions. The holy shrine of Galta Ji is situated on the summit of a small hill, in the midst of luxurious green surroundings which gives a sense of tranquility to the devotees. This temple is also called the Monkey Temple (Galwar Bagh) owing to the large group of friendly and docile monkeys who dwell here. This shrine is embellished with various scenes from the life of Lord Sri Krishna which are etched on the pink walls with a mesmerizing symmetry. This is one of the many shrines which are financially supported by the Birla family. Read on and know more about this beautiful shrine. History
The Galta Ji temple was built around 250 years ago by Diwan Kriparama, a loyal courtier of the-then Raja (king) of Jaipur, Sawai Jai Singh II. According to the ancient scriptures, the famous sage Galav had lived and meditated at this place centuries ago.
Major Attractions
The temple complex, built on pink sandstone looks more like a typical palatial mansion or Haveli of Rajasthan than a shrine. With a large number of pavilions, rounded roofs and brightly painted interiors as well as exteriors which are duly complimented by exquisitely carved pillars, the Galta temple is undoubtedly a visual treat. The paintings at Galta temple illustrate images of Lord Brahma, Vishnu, Ganesha and Parvati along with scenes from various festivals and state occasions. The natural springs and reservoirs (Kunds) are the most sacred features of this shrine. It is believed that taking a dip in these holy pools absolves people of all sins. The temple also had some beautiful mural paintings on its walls but, unfortunately, over the years, many of them were washed away by heavy rains.
There are 3 main Kunds in this shrine of which, the Galta Kund is considered the most sacred. Fed by a spring originating from a rock curve named Gaumukh, the Galta Kund never runs out of water. Kartik Purnima (The Full Moon night usually celebrated in November) is the main festival here when the temple witnesses a huge influx of pilgrims who visit the shrine and take long dips in the sacred pools of water. Makar Sankranti (a harvest festival celebrated on the 14th of January every year) is also an important celebration.
How To Reach Galta Temple