Galta Ji Temple

Galta Ji Temple, commonly known as the Monkey Temple, is an ancient Hindu pilgrimage complex set within a narrow mountain gorge in the Aravalli hills about 10 km from Jaipur city centre. The complex contains a series of temples, pavilions, and sacred kunds (tanks) fed by natural springs that emerge from the hillside, with the water believed to originate from the Ganges. The most sacred of the tanks is the Galta Kund, where devotees take ritual dips, and the water is considered particularly auspicious during Makar Sankranti when thousands of pilgrims visit. The main temples are dedicated to Lord Rama, Lord Hanuman, and the sun god Surya, and the complex dates back several centuries with significant additions by the Kachhwaha rulers of Jaipur. The site is home to large troops of rhesus macaques who roam freely through the temples and are considered sacred. The hilltop Surya temple offers panoramic views of Jaipur city and is particularly atmospheric at sunrise. The pink sandstone architecture of the temples blends into the rocky hillside, giving the complex a distinctive and dramatic character.