Galtaji is an ancient Hindu pilgrimage site in the town of Khania-Balaji, about 10 km away from Jaipur, in Rajasthan. The site consists of a series of temples built into a narrow crevice in the ring of hills that surround Jaipur. A natural spring emerges high on the hill and flows downward, filling a series of sacred kunds (water tanks) in which pilgrims bathe.
Among these kunds, the ‘Galta Kund’, is the holiest one and is believed to never get dry. A spring of pure water flows from the ‘Gaumukh’, a rock shaped like a cow’s head, into the tanks.
A spectacular structure, this magnificent Galtaji temple is built in pink sandstone, amidst low hills, and is structured to look more like a palace or ‘haveli’ than a traditional temple. Located inside the City Palace, the walls of this temple are beautifully adorned with carvings and paintings that make this place worth visiting.
Legend
It is believed that, Saint Galav spent all his life here and performed his ‘tapasya’ for 100 years. Pleased with his penance, the Gods appeared before him and blessed his place of worship with abundant water. To honour this great ‘rishi’, a temple was built here and it was named after him. Taking a dip in the natural springs of Galtaji is considered very auspicious and is said to cleanse a person of his sins. Many devotees gather here from various cities during Makar Sakranti to take bath in this kund for removing their sins.
Built within a mountain pass within the Aravalli Hills, Galtaji has been a retreat for Hindu ascetics belonging to vaishnavite Ramanandi sect, since the early 16th century.
The temple features a number of pavilions with rounded roofs, carved pillars, and painted walls. The complex is set around a natural spring and the waterfalls that create two tiered pools, the upper and lower pool, used for bathing by pilgrims.
There is another temple in the complex, the temple of Balaji. Built on the highest peak in the town of Galta is Sun Temple, dedicated to Surya, the Sun God in Hinduism and was built in the 18th century.
The temple complex of Ramgopalji temple is colloquially known as Monkey temple (Galwar Bagh) in travel literature, due to the large tribe of monkeys who live here in the temples, which have been largely abandoned and only partially restored.
This Hindu temple is dedicated to lord Vishnu. It is known for its architectural beauty and the idol of the temple is one of a kind. The legend says that the lord Krishna appeared before Goswami Tulsidas in the form of lord Rama. So in the idol one can see the image of both lord Ram and Krishna. It is believed that that some part of Ram Charit Manas i.e. Ramayana was written in this temple by Goswami Tulsidas.
The image of Brahma, Vishnu, Parvati and Ganesha are also made on the walls of this temple. There are pictures in the temple which shows state occasions and festival celebrations, polo match of Maharajas and Rasleela of Lord Krishna and gopis.
Every year in mid January on ‘makar sakranti’ a large crowd of visitors come here to take a dip in the holy kund and in the month of sravan (this month is dedicated to lord Shiva) in mid July or august where many pilgrimages comes with their kavads and stay in the galtaji for one night and in morning fill up the holy water in the kavads (urn) and start their journey to the lord Shiva temple of their choices.
Source:
https://www.jaipur.org.uk/temples/galataji.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galtaji
http://www.galta.org/galta-ji-temple/galta-temple-jewel-of-jaipur
http://amerjaipur.in/Amer-monuments-description.php?mid=14&name=Galtaji%20the%20monkey%20temple