Galtaji is a Hindu pilgrimage place consisting of several temples built over a natural spring flowing from a narrow crevice, filling a series of kunds (water tanks). This crevice is located among the Aravalli Hills 10 km east of Jaipur, India. The place has been a retreat for Hindu ascetics since the 15th century. The construction of the Galtaji temple complex took place in 1726. The temple took its name from a saint who spent 100 years meditating at this site. Due to the presence of a large number of rhesus macaque monkeys, the site is also called the Monkey Temple.
The Galta Kund is the most sacred one of the seven kunds, and it never goes dry. Due to the belief in the holiness of Galtaji spring, many visit the temple to bathe at the kinds. The temples were built with pinkish sandstones and their corridors were decorated with paintings. Additionally, their designs with round roofs and carved pillars make them look like the palaces in Rajasthan.
The Ram Gopal Temple, dedicated to both Lord Vishnu and Lord Ram, stands out with its elaborate carvings. Another famous temple in the complex is the Hanuman Temple with several monkeys surrounding the structure. It is convenient as the Lord Hanuman led an army of monkeys in the great Hindu Sanskrit poem, the Ramayana.
