Situated at about a distance of 10km from Jaipur in the city of Khania-Balaji, the Galtaji temple is a Hindu pilgrimage often visited by the people from all over the country.
There are many temples in this site and one the special attractions of the place is a natural spring that flows downwards from the hill top. The water from this spring fills up many kunds or water tanks which are considered very sacred and the pilgrims visiting the temple take bathe in this pious water. The temple comprises of 7 holy water tanks or kunds out of which the Galta Kund is the most significant of all. The water of this kind is believed to be different from anywhere else which makes it even more fascinating for the visitors to watch.
The temple is often called as the Monkey Temple as you will find many apes roaming about here within the complex. This famous temple of Jaipur is dedicated to Lord Hanuman who is also called the Sun God. This wonderful holy temple of the Hindus is made of pink sandstone and the temple appears more like a palace than a place of worship. As the temple is located on the Aravalli Hills, it offers a fantastic view of the city of Jaipur from the hilltop. The surrounding of the temple also creates a lovely landscape with green vegetations on all sides. You will also find small temples dedicated to Lord Rama and Lord Krishna being established within the complex. The walls of the temple are beautifully painted and decorated with curved pillars and rounded roofs. This holy shrine experiences a lot of crowd every year during the occasion of Makar Sakranti when a large number of devotees visit the temple to take dip in the holy waters of the kund.
History of the Temple
The Galtaji temple was built in the 18th century by Diwan Rao Kriparam who worked as an attendant in the court of Sawai Jai Singh 2.
Getting There
There are two routes by which the visitors can travel to this temple. The first one is quite easier by which you can hire a taxi or auto and directly reach the temple. The other option is to climb up to Galtaji from the western part of Jaipur. On this way the tourists get an amazing view of the Sun temple and the other attractions of Jaipur.
Things to do in and around
Capture some lovely moments with your family on a visit to the temple as the mystical location of the temple tempts for amazing photography. Apart from this, there is a close attraction to this temple named the Sisodia Rani Ka Bagh which is a wonderful palace often visited by the travelers.
Opening/Closing Timings and days
The Galtaji temple of Jaipur remains open from 5am to 9pm for the visitors on all days of the week.
Entry Fee
The temple charges no admission fee from the visitors but you can always donate some amount as per your wish while on a visit to this holy place.
Best Time to Visit
The ideal time to visit the temple would be around dusk when the temple is adorned in golden light and several monkeys are seen playing in the compound of the temple. You also get a panoramic view of Jaipur at this time from the top of the hill. As per the month, mid-January would be a perfect time to plan holidays in Jaipur.