Galtaji Temple

Galtaji, often called the Monkey Temple, is a Hindu pilgrimage site tucked into a narrow cleft in the hills about 10 km east of central Jaipur. A natural spring trickles down the rock and fills a series of sacred tanks, or kunds, where pilgrims come to bathe. The site has been a retreat for ascetics of the Ramanandi tradition since the 15th century and is regarded as an important seat of that Vaishnava order.

The buildings are what make Galta so photogenic. Pink sandstone temples and pavilions with curved roofs, carved pillars and faded painted walls step down the gorge on either side of the water, giving the whole place the look of a small palace. The largest and best known tank is Galta Kund, which devotees believe never runs dry. A shrine to the saint Nabha Das is also part of the complex.

On the ridge above stands the Surya Mandir, a temple to the sun god built by Diwan Rao Kriparam, an official at the court of Sawai Jai Singh II. The walk up gives wide views back over Jaipur and is especially attractive near sunset. Galta is also home to large troops of rhesus macaques, which have featured in wildlife documentaries.

Remember that this is an active place of worship. Dress modestly, remove shoes where asked and respect people bathing. The monkeys are wild: do not carry food in the open, keep bags closed and avoid eye contact or feeding them. Allow one and a half to two hours, more if you climb to the Sun Temple. The paths are stepped and uneven, so wear sensible shoes. Thousands of pilgrims come on Makar Sankranti in January to bathe, which makes it crowded but atmospheric.

The temple of Ramgopalji within the complex is the one usually meant by the name Monkey Temple. The monkeys are an essential part of the scene, and they have been filmed for National Geographic's Rebel Monkeys series.

Galta lies outside the main tourist circuit, so most visitors take a taxi or auto-rickshaw from the old city. It makes a good half-day outing combined with an afternoon in the old city bazaars.