Galdhara Khodiyar Mata Temple is situated near Dhari town in Amreli district of Gujarat, at the foothills of the Gir forest in the Saurashtra region. The temple stands on the serene banks of the Shetrunji River, close to the famous Khodiyar Dam and the scenic Galdhara waterfall. Surrounded by rocky hills, dense greenery and flowing waters, the temple is considered one of the most beautiful and spiritually significant shrines dedicated to Goddess Khodiyar in Gujarat.
According to long-standing local tradition, Galdhara Khodiyar Mata Temple is nearly 1,600 years old, making it one of the oldest shrines dedicated to Goddess Khodiyar. While the present temple structure has undergone several renovations over the centuries, the sacred site itself has been revered for many centuries and continues to be regarded as one of the most ancient centres of Khodiyar Mata worship in Saurashtra.
The presiding deity is Shri Khodiyar Mata, a powerful form of Adi Shakti who is worshipped as the divine protector, fulfiller of devotees’ prayers and remover of obstacles. She is especially revered as the Kuldevi (family deity) of many communities including the Charans, Rajputs, Bharwads, Patidars and Kolis. Khodiyar Mata is traditionally depicted riding a crocodile (Makara), symbolising her mastery over the forces of nature and her power to protect devotees from danger and evil.
The temple follows the traditional Saurashtra style of temple architecture. It consists of a sanctum (Garbhagriha), an assembly hall (Mandapa) and a beautifully built Shikhara above the sanctum. The idol of Khodiyar Mata is richly decorated with colourful garments, jewellery and flower garlands. The temple complex has spacious courtyards, prayer halls and facilities for the thousands of pilgrims who visit throughout the year. The natural surroundings of the Shetrunji River, rocky cliffs and lush vegetation add greatly to the spiritual atmosphere of the shrine.
Galdhara is regarded as one of the most sacred centres of Khodiyar Mata worship in Gujarat. For centuries, devotees from across Saurashtra have visited this temple seeking the blessings of the Goddess for health, prosperity, courage and protection.
The temple is closely associated with the Chudasama rulers of Junagadh, who considered Khodiyar Mata their guardian deity. Over the centuries, local rulers, devotees and charitable trusts have renovated and expanded the temple while carefully preserving its ancient sanctity. Today, Galdhara remains one of the most important pilgrimage destinations dedicated to Khodiyar Mata in Gujarat.
The most widely accepted traditional legend connected with Galdhara is associated with the famous Chudasama king Ra Navaghana.
According to tradition, Prince Navaghana was born through the divine grace of Khodiyar Mata after his parents sincerely prayed to the Goddess. As he grew into a brave ruler, Khodiyar Mata continued to guide and protect him. During one of his journeys through the Gir region, Navaghana halted near the banks of the Shetrunji River at Galdhara to rest and water his horse.
At that sacred spot, Khodiyar Mata manifested before the king in her divine form. She blessed Navaghana and assured him that she would remain his eternal protector. The Goddess declared that she would accompany him in every righteous battle and safeguard his kingdom whenever he fought for justice and dharma.
From then onwards, it is believed that before every important battle, Khodiyar Mata appeared upon the king’s spear in the form of a small sparrow. Seeing this divine sign, Navaghana gained confidence that the Goddess herself was leading him to victory. With her blessings, he successfully defeated many enemies, including the ruler of Sindh, and rescued his sister Jahal, who had been taken captive.
After blessing King Navaghana, Khodiyar Mata chose to remain permanently at Galdhara on the banks of the Shetrunji River so that all devotees could seek her grace. The place where she manifested became the sacred shrine now known as Galdhara Khodiyar Mata Temple. Devotees believe that sincere prayers offered here are answered, especially those seeking protection, courage, good health and fulfilment of heartfelt wishes. This sacred tradition has been preserved through generations and remains the principal Sthalapurana associated with the temple.
The temple celebrates Khodiyar Jayanti as its most important festival, drawing thousands of devotees from across Gujarat. Chaitra Navratri and Sharad Navratri are also observed with special pujas and devotional programmes. Large numbers of devotees visit the temple on Purnima days and other auspicious occasions to seek the blessings of Khodiyar Mata.
