Discover Kheda

Kheda lies on rising ground near the confluence of the Vatrak and Shedhi rivers. For orientation, it is worth distinguishing the town of Kheda from other destinations in the district of the same name. Local history and the riverside setting provide the starting point; regional examples add their own themes and places.

Location and Historical Names

In Sanskrit literature, Kheda was called Khetak. It was an important city in the large administrative region of Khetak Ahar, also called Vishyaya or Mandal, which was similar to the present-day district. There is also a tradition that the ancient city already existed at the time of the Mahabharata and was then called Chakravati Nagari. The town’s history thus encompasses both a name recorded in literature and a story of its distant antiquity.

The history of the Khedia Hanuman Temple is also associated with a traditional date: it is said to have existed since Samvat 713 (657 CE). The temple stands on the moderately high Hanuman Tekro on the outskirts of Kheda. The date and the named hill offer different points of reference for placing the temple in the history and landscape of the town.

Other Destinations in Kheda District

Beyond the town itself, Kheda district offers a broader regional context. The Ahmedabad–Dandi Route, also called the Dandi Heritage Route, passes through the district. Kund Vav is in Kapadwanj taluka and can be reached via National Expressway 1 between Ahmedabad and Vadodara, as well as by ST buses from Ahmedabad, Vadodara, and Anand. This information refers to Kund Vav and the district, not to the location of the town of Kheda, which shares the district’s name.

Kund Vav also has a traditional origin story: Dharmisth is said to have decided to build it after Somadat Pandit, from the time of Siddharaja, was said to have been cured of his illness by a water reservoir. The story connects the site with a religious tradition, while the directions also provide practical context for finding your way around the district.

Temples and Architectural History of the Region

The district’s temples also reflect different emphases. The Galteshwar Mahadev Temple in Thasra is a historic site of religious and tourist interest. It lies at the confluence of the Mahisagar and Galti rivers. In Dakor, the present Ranchhodraiji Maharaj Temple was built in 1772 by Shri Gopalrao Jagannath Tambwekar for 100,000 rupees. Landscape setting and architectural history offer distinct ways to understand these regional sites.

The lotus-shaped base and nine domes are distinctive architectural features of the Swaminarayan Temple in Vadtal. Construction began in 1878 in the month of Chaitra and was completed in the month of Kartik in 1881. The temple’s history can therefore also be explored through its design and construction period: the details about the temple in Vadtal differ from the traditional early date associated with the Khedia Hanuman Temple in the town of Kheda.

Discover more destinations: Nadiad, Bhatera.

For the broader travel overview: Kheda.