Galtaji Temple Jaipur: Timings, History & Sacred Kunds

Galtaji Temple Jaipur: Timings, History & Seven Sacred Kunds

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Written by: Shalini Mishra

Last Updated:March 16, 2026

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Do you know the Monkey Temple in Jaipur? This is the Galta Ji temple and one of the most interesting places to visit in Rajasthan.

The temple is located between beautiful hills, and is located 10 kilometres outside of Jaipur city, and is home to hundreds of monkeys playing.

This is not just a place where one can find animals; it’s a spiritual site with many old stories.

The temple complex is a cluster of multiple temples, with Galta Ji being the main one. This is built within a narrow crevice of a mountain pass in the Aravali hills.

There are multiple sacred tanks that are locally known as Kunds and used by pilgrims for bathing, and hence washing away their sins.

These kunds are filled by the means of a natural spring that is discovered on hills and makes its way downward, filling every seven sacred kunds.

It holds great importance as believed to have never dried up till now. Let me tell you more about it.

The Amazing Story of Galta Ji Temple: Why it’s special in the Hindu religion

The name of the Galta Ji temple is in honour of a renowned saint, Rishi Galav. The sage arrived a long time ago in these hills and spent more than 100 years in meditation.

He struggled on his spiritual way, and the lord blessed him with some magical power, a spring of water that does not run dry even in the desert city, that is completely hot and dry.

The water seems very sacred. Human beings assume that it arose by the river Ganga. It’s believed to purify all your sins when you take a bath in this water, and become a holy spirit.

This is the reason why they make people come here and take a bath in the holy dip, which is called the Sacred kunds of Galta ji.

There is a special festival held once a year known as Kartik Purnima. At night, devotees believe that the three most important deities, Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu, and Lord Shiva, actually visit the temple.

Thousands of people come to take a bath in holy water in this festival as they think it blesses them from these gods.

There are many monkeys here, and for Hindus, it makes the temple more special. Monkeys are seen as sacred animals as their connection to the Lord Hanuman temple, Jaipur, a very essential deity in Hinduism, who is revered for his devotion and powers.

The Story of Rishi Galav: The Saint Who Meditated Here

Who Was Saint Galav?

Before we can know much better about the temple, we have to know about the saint after whom the temple is named. Rishi Galav emerges in the Mahabharat, one of India’s most popular ancient books. He was one of the other great saints called Mahrishi Vishwamitra.
At the time of Galava leaving his guru (teacher) with his graduation, he wanted to bestow a special gift upon him to show his appreciation and gratitude to him. This ceremony is known as Guru Dakshina. But something he would demand, and which appeared impossible, was required by his guru: he would have 800 white horses, he would have one black ear upon each horse!

The Impossible Task

So, Galav did not have any money or power. He was only an ordinary sage. But he tried his best. He offered a divine bird called Garuda for help. The bird took him to a king called Yayati.
The king did not have 800 horses to give him, but he had a pretty and intelligent daughter called Madhvi. The king was ready to help. Galav arranged the marriage of Madhvi to four different kings, and every king had 200 horses as a gift for marrying her. In count, he received 800 horses.
He came back to his guru with the horses and fulfilled his task. The story teaches us that if you work hard, stay honest and never give up, the impossible things become possible.
The dedication of Sage was so strong that the place where he meditated became holy. The place is now the Galta Ji temple.

A Special Place at Galta Ji: The Sun Temple

What Is the Sun Temple?

On arriving at the top of the hills at Galta, you will reach a special temple, called Surya Mandir, or the Sun Temple.

It is built literally on the top of the eastern hill, which is understandable because the sun is rising in the east.

This temple was built during the reign of Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II at Jaipur, and he was the one who founded the city of Jaipur.

The Sun God (Surya) of Hinduism is one who is important. He is an embodiment of light, vitality and life.

A Beautiful Walk Up

The Sun Temple is just a 15-20 minutes walk. It is an easy stroll in the natural hills. What is even better is the fact that upon reaching the top, one gets magnificent views of the entire pink city of Jaipur below.

The morning is indeed beautiful and is an experience in itself. You can see the sunrise, which is really beautiful, if you rise early in the morning.

The Sun Temple is launched in the direction of the sunrise and terminated in the sunset; it is not surprising that this temple is the temple of the sun! The traditions and the family of priests have preserved this temple over the centuries.

Timing To Visit Galtaji Temple

The best time to visit and the Aarti schedule.

The temple is accessible every single day of the year:

Opens: 5:00-5:30 AM (early Morning)
Closes: 7:00-9:00 PM (evening)
Prayer times (known as “Aarti”): 5:30 AM, 12:30 PM and 7:00 PM.

The best Time Period for Aarti

Early Morning (5:30-8:00 AM) Spiritual experience, photography, pilgrims 5:30 AM
Mid-Morning to Afternoon (8:00 AM-3:00 PM) General sightseeing 12:30 PM
Late Afternoon (4:00 PM-7:00 PM) Sunset photography, sunset views, couples 7:00 PM

The best Month to visit the temple

The month of February-March and the time of October-December is the perfect time to visit this temple, as the weather is good during this time.

Summers become extremely hot and uncomfortable, so visitors should avoid planning a trip during this season.

During Makar Sankranti in January, many tourists and pilgrims visit the Galta Ji Temple to take a holy dip in the sacred kund water.

It is good to visit the temple in the evening if you wish to experience the amazing scene of monkeys flocking towards the temple tank for a bath.

The History and Legend of Galta Ji Temple

How Old Is This Temple?

However, people have been offering prayers at the Galta Ji temple as a revered place for at least 500 years; the latest temple structure was made around 300 years ago. Many temples were designed by a man named Diwan Rao Kriparam, who was Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II’s minister.
Some historians think that there may have been an earlier Shiva temple here, but 1400 years old, and all that remains of it are a few cave temples made by cutting the rocks.

The Beautiful Pink Buildings

The complete temple is designed from pink sandstone, the same stone used to develop multiple buildings in Jaipur.

The temple complex looks more like a fancy palace than a typical temple. It involves:

Beautiful domed ceilings (round ceilings above)
Fancy carved stone pillars with intricate designs
Multiple courtyards (open areas covered by buildings)
Colourful paintings on the walls show tales from Hindu mythology
Arched gates that show the effects of Mughal architecture

A Very Important Religious Centre

This temple is also special because it is the centre of one of the Hindu traditions, which is the Ramanandi sect. It is a tradition that focuses on the worship of Lord Rama, and it has the teaching that everybody is equal in the eyes of God and that you do not have to be wealthy and have a good family to reach God. Payohari Krishnadas, a great saint, arrived some 600 years ago and started this sect at Galta. Northern India was covered by the movement starting at this point.
The temple is also headed by a leader known as an Acharya, and there has been a continuous succession of 17 distinct Acharyas (leaders) since the inception of the temple to the current times. That is quite something when you get to consider it–600 years of the same spiritual leadership!

The Magic of the Sacred Water

The most fascinating part of Galta ji is the seven sacred water kunds, which are supplied by underground natural springs. The most essential one is Galta kund jaipur, with water flowing out through a stone opening shaped like a cow’s head.
What is the exciting part? It never runs dry, even during the hottest and driest months. People made these tanks hundreds of years ago from stone. It represents how talented the builders were with water management and architecturing.
Another narration is that Tulsidas, a famous sage who wrote the sacred Hindu book Ramcharitmanas, may have written a few parts of it here while practising. It includes the literary significance of the place.

Places to visit near Galtaji Temple, Jaipur

1. Krishna Temple: As this is an important location for the Vaishnavite people, the temple in Galta ji is a must-visit.

The devotion here goes on similar lines to ISKCON learnings. The temple is even known as the Shri Gyan Gopal Ji temple.

2. Surya temple: Situated on the top of a rocky path on the highest point of the Galta ji temple, it is a lesser-known and least visited one.

Seeking blessings here and the best views of sunsets from the top.

3. Balaji temple: More than a shrine, the Balaji temple inside the Galta ji temple is in the same alley as the Krishna and Ram temple.

The complex gives a sense of calm and leaves a visitor amazed.

4. Sitaram Ji Temple: This is devoted to Lord Ram, surrounded by monkeys, and no visit can ignore their presence.

The Sitaram temple premise has few shrines on the outside, along with a small Hanuman temple.

5. Sisodia Rani ka Bagh: Visit the Sisodia Rani ka Bagh, which is located close to the Galta Ji temple complex.

When visiting this, you will know how to make magnificence for the love of your life. Come back with stories of the love of Radha-Krishna and also the love of Maharaja, who developed the garden for his beloved queen.

How to Reach Galtaji Temple, Jaipur

Because of its location outside the city, it’s good to go by road from the city. One may rent a taxi, a cab, an auto-rickshaw or an e-rickshaw to get to the temple.

If someone intends to travel by bus, there are options for both state-run buses and deluxe buses.

You can also opt for a private cab from a car rental company to reach the temple in a convenient way.

Nearest Railway Station: The closest railway station to Galta Ji Temple is Bais Godam Railway Station. The temple is found one kilometre from the station.
Nearest Airport: Jaipur International Airport is the closest airport to Galta Ji Temple. You can hire a cab from the airport to reach the temple.

What to carry and how to use

Pack These Things

Comfortable walking shoes.
Water bottle to stay hydrated.
Sunscreen and a hat.
Light, loose clothing that covers your shoulders and knees.
Phone or camera

Respectful Behavior

Remove shoes before entering the temple shrine.
Keep shoulders and knees covered.
Do not point your feet at deities or sacred water.
Don’t click pictures of praying or pandits without their permission.
Keep quiet in the temple.
Beware of monkeys; they are cunning and can steal your things.

Stay Safe With the Monkeys

Keep your bag and food safe.
Do not stare directly into the face of monkeys.
Do not try to fight with or scare them.
Continue tracking the mountains.

Conclusion

The monkey temple, also known as Galta Ji temple, is one of those sites that you will know even after leaving.

It’s not just a tourist attraction, but an actual living temple in which people have been offering prayers for more than hundreds of years.

This destination is perfect for visitors who love Hindu traditions, scenic beauty, wildlife, history, and peaceful spiritual experiences.

When you visit the place, you are not only in a building. You are entering into living history, into a spiritual custom that is older than most of the nations.

You are having something that modern life can rarely give: slow, down-to-earth spirituality.

Early in the morning, bring water, be respectful, monkeys, and have the calm of this temple. You would not regret it.

Shalini Mishra

A storyteller at heart and a devotee by soul, Shalini writes Vedic and Spiritual content for 99Pandit to bring the magic of Indian festivals to life. Integrating the auspicious Vrat Kathas with practical puja rituals, the content helps the readers to connect deeply with the divine. My research information about Vedic astrology and shastra helps the devotees to celebrate their faith with accuracy.

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