An ancient pilgrimage spot where the great saint Galav is believed to have spent his life and did his meditation. Galta is situated 10 km from Jaipur on Jaipur-Agra highway near Sisodia Rani Ka Bagh. It is known maily for its temples, pavilions, natural springs and holy 'kunds' (natural spring and water tanks). The famous temples of the place include the triple-storied temple of Balaji, which appeals to the aesthetic sense of the visitors and is built in pink stone. Its magnificent structure looks more like a palatial mansion or Haveli. Situated amidst the low hills, is the Temple of Galtaji, which is also in pink stone and has a huge complex. According to legends, the area around the Galtaji Temple once reeled under the problem of water scarcity. It was then that a sage named Galva meditated for a period of 100 years to appease the gods. As a result, the gods blessed the region with a stream of water that ended the water problem. As a mark of tribute to the sage, the people of the area constructed a temple.There are a god number of temples located in close proximity to the Galtaji Temple in Jaipur Rajasthan. They include the Sita Ram Temple, Balaji Temple and the Krishna Temple. There are seven tanks in all, the holiest being the Galta Kund, which is believed never to become dry. Gaumukh feeds these tanks, which is a spring originating from a rock shaped like a cow's head, hence, the name. Yet another notable temple that is worth visiting at Galta is the 18th century Surya Temple dedicated to the Sun God, which is situated on top of the highest peak here. It was built b by Diwan Rao Kriparam, a courtier of Sawai Jai Singh II. |
