Kheda: Temples, Traditions and Special Places

In Kheda district, you can explore a wide variety of places: historic and religious temples, stories passed down through generations, architectural details and distinctive waterscapes. Galteshwar Mahadev brings together a religious site and the confluence of two rivers; Dakor and Nadiad each have their own temple traditions. Vadtal offers a tangible history of construction, while Gopaldas Haveli in Vaso and the Hot Water Pools in Lusundra offer different points of interest. If you are planning a trip to Kheda, you can first decide whether temple history, architecture or water destinations should be your main focus.

Temples and Religious Traditions

The Galteshwar Mahadev Temple in Thasra is a historic place of tourist and religious significance. It lies at the confluence of the Mahisagar and Galti rivers. Here, a religious attraction meets a distinct landscape feature: the meeting of two rivers. If you would like to experience a temple and river scenery together, Galteshwar Mahadev offers a fitting focus.

The Santram Temple stands in the center of Nadiad; Nadiad railway station is the nearest station to the temple. Santram Maharaj came to Nadiad in 1872, lived there for 15 years and attained samadhi on the full moon day in 1887.

The present Ranchhodraiji Maharaj Temple in Dakor was built in 1772 by Shri Gopalrao Jagannath Tambwekar for 100,000 rupees. Naukavihar is also among Dakor’s tourist attractions. A religious tradition tells that the Lord visits his wife every Friday; a procession is said to pass from the main temple through Dakor’s lanes to bring the couple together. Friday and the procession route are part of this tradition.

Building History, Water Destinations and Regional Orientation

The Swaminarayan Temple in Vadtal combines a clear building history with distinctive architectural details. Construction began in the month of Chaitra in 1878 and was completed in the month of Kartik in 1881. Its architecture includes a lotus-shaped base and nine domes. Those interested in a temple’s building history will find both a timeline and striking design details in Vadtal.

Kund Vav is in Kapadwanj taluka, Kheda district. According to tradition, Dharmisth decided to build it after Somadat Pandit, a contemporary of Siddharaja, was said to have been cured of his illness by a water tank. The site is accessible via National Expressway 1 between Ahmedabad and Vadodara, as well as by ST buses from Ahmedabad, Vadodara and Anand.

The Ahmedabad-Dandi route, also known as the Dandi heritage route, also passes through Kheda district.

Gopaldas Haveli in Vaso is a 250-year-old mansion with woodwork throughout its rooms. Frescoes made with natural colors, which were highly valued in the past, are also associated with the haveli.

The Hot Water Pools in Lusundra, in Kathlal taluka, offer a different kind of attraction: they are a special type of warm-water pool. The Somnath Mahadev Temple is located by the Hot Water Pools, with a lake beside the temple. There is also a pool of hot and cold water in front of the temple. Lusundra thus offers a focus on water alongside the building histories and religious traditions of the temples in Dakor, Nadiad and Vadtal.

Discover more destinations: Bhatera, Nadiad, Kheda, Sabarkatha, Navsari, Kutch, Jamnagar, Surendranagar.

For the broader travel overview: Gujarat.