Takhteshwar Temple

Getting there

• By air

  Bhavnagar Airport is about 3.5 km from the town and is reasonably well connected to major cities of India.

• By train

  Bhavnagar Terminus (BVC) is well connected by rail with Ahmedabad, Surat, Mumbai and other important cities.

• By road

  Within Bhavnagar city the temple can be easily reached by taxi, auto-rickshaw or private vehicle. State buses connect Bhavnagar with Rajkot (4 hours), Ahmedabad (5 hours), Vadodara (6 hours) and Palitana (2 hours).

Why devotees come here

Takhteshwar Temple is a Shiva temple on a quiet hilltop in Bhavnagar, Gujarat. It rises above the city and is one of its most recognisable landmarks. The whole temple is built in marble, in the Gujarati style.

The temple is dedicated to Shiva. Bhavnagar lies along the Gulf of Khambhat on Gujarat's eastern coast. The temple is known as much for its quiet setting as for its religious meaning, and its hilltop position makes it one of the most recognisable landmarks in Bhavnagar. Devotees climb the marble stairs from the foot of the hill to reach the main courtyard.

The temple was believed to have been commissioned in 1893 by Maharaja Takhtsinhji. He was a Gohil Rajput chief who became Maharaja of Bhavnagar after his father, Jaswantsinhji, died in 1870.

The temple is built entirely in marble, in the Gujarati style. Inside, a main hall with 18 ornate pillars stands before the sanctum, which houses an idol of Shiva.

Tips for your visit

• In the evening the hilltop becomes a gathering place, where people come to enjoy the breeze and watch the skyline change colour.
• Velavadar Blackbuck National Park, one of Gujarat's most remarkable wildlife destinations, is about an hour's drive from Bhavnagar city.

Questions people ask