Galteshwar Mahadev Temple Sarnal,Kheda,Gujarat

The Galteshwar is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva, located at Sarnal village near Dakor in Kheda district, Gujarat, India. The 12th century temple is unique in its style and of its period because it is built in central Indian Malwa style, bhumija, without influence of Paramara architecture and with influence of Gujarati Chaulukya architecture. It has a square garbhagriha (shrine proper) as well as octagonal mandapa (dancing hall).

This temple is situated at the confluence of Galata or Galti and Mahi rivers near Sarnal village. The temple gets its name from the Galata River.

The temple is associated with Galav, the Rishi from Puranas and a devoted king Chandrahas from Hindu mythology.

Hasmukh Sankalia has identified it with the Chalukya architecture based on its circular shrine proper, crucifix-form dancing hall and the ornamentation. Madhusudan Dhaky disputed it and mentioned the Gujarati architectural influence in shikhara and moldings and decorations on its basement and wall proper. Dhaky opines that the temple may have been constructed by someone who did not have first-hand information of the bhumija style of Malwa and rather depended on the Gujarat texts which treats bhumija style in Gujarati architecture. Aparajtaprccha is one such 12th century Gujarati text based on the Malwa text Samarangana Sutradhara. So the temple must have been constructed in the 12th century. The moldings, decorations, and the sculptures resemble the Kumarapala Temple at Somnath and other shrines built in 12th century during the reign of the Chaulukya ruler Kumarapala.

The temple is the Monument of National Importance (N-GJ-144) protected by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

The shikhara as well as the mandapa of the temple collapsed in 1908. The restoration of shikhara was completed by ASI in September 2021.

Galteshwar Mahadev Temple
About 16 km from Dakor is a Shiva temple of the Solanki era, situated on the alluring sangam (confluence) of the rivers Mahi and Galati where it is said lived Galav Muni Chandrahaas of Puranic fame. At present the lovely rocky bank of Mahi and the beautiful old Shiva temple on it has one spring of the River Galati constantly sprinkling water on the Shiva linga. Rich in art and architecture, it has a unique eight-sided hall. The walls have carved figures of Gods, gandharvas, humans, rishis, horse riders, elepant riders, chariots, doli (palanquins) and the events of a human life, from birth to death, are all depicted in these carvings.