Home › Districts › Kheda
✦ DISTRICT TRAVEL GUIDEKheda
Fertile fields & freedom history.
Kheda is one of Gujarat's 33 districts — explore its destinations, culture, food, heritage, wildlife and hidden gems in this complete travel guide.
About Kheda
Kheda lies in the fertile Charotar of central Gujarat — a land of temples, writers and freedom-fighters. Its spiritual magnet is Dakor, where the Ranchhodrai temple draws millions of Krishna devotees to the shores of the sacred Gomti lake, especially on the great Sharad Poonam full-moon night.
Nadiad — the district’s literary capital and seat of the Santram Maharaj — gave Gujarat some of its finest writers, while the 1918 Kheda Satyagraha lit an early flame of India’s freedom struggle. Add Mahudi’s Jain temple, ancient Galteshwar and carved stepwells, and Kheda brims with heritage.
Kheda sits in the Charotar, the fertile and unusually prosperous belt of central Gujarat whose farming families have sent generations abroad and sent the money home — a pattern written into the villages as donated schools, hospitals and gateway arches standing beside carved old havelis. The district’s history runs deep in another sense too: the Kheda satyagraha of 1918 was among Gandhi’s earliest mass campaigns.
For visitors the highlights are Dakor’s Ranchhodrai temple, one of Gujarat’s great Vaishnav pilgrimages, and the water architecture at Kapadvanj and Mahudha, where the Kundvav, the carved torans and the spiral Bhammariyo Kuvo make a rewarding heritage day. Nadiad’s Santram Mandir anchors the district town. Everything lies within ninety minutes of both Ahmedabad and Vadodara; October to March is the comfortable window.
Fast Facts
Why Visit Kheda?
Pilgrimage, literature and freedom history.
Dakor Pilgrimage
Krishna's Ranchhodrai temple
Santram Mandir
Nadiad's beloved seat of faith
Mahudi Jain Temple
The Ghantakarna shrine
Ancient Galteshwar
A 12th-century riverside gem
Stepwells & Havelis
Carved vavs and old mansions
Kheda Satyagraha
An early freedom milestone
Literary Nadiad
Cradle of Gujarati writers
Charotar Villages
Prosperous green countryside
Top Places to Visit
Temples, stepwells and heritage towns.
PILGRIMAGE
Dakor Ranchhodrai Temple
A great Krishna temple by Gomti lake
TEMPLE
Nadiad Santram Mandir
The revered seat of Santram Maharaj
ANCIENT
Galteshwar Temple
A 12th-century riverside Shiva shrine
STEPWELL
Bhammariyo Kuvo
Mahemdavad’s helical step-well
HERITAGE
Kheda Satyagraha Memorial
Site of Gandhi’s 1918 farmer revolt
HERITAGE
Vaso Wooden Havelis
Exquisitely carved wooden mansions
OLD TOWN
Kapadvanj
Ancient torans and a carved stepwell
TOWN
Dharmaj
A prosperous NRI Charotar town
LAKE
Gomti Lake, Dakor
The sacred tank beside Dakor
HISTORIC
Roza Rozi, Mahemdavad
Old tombs near Mahemdavad
COUNTRYSIDE
Charotar Villages
Lush dairy & farming country
Hidden Gems
Quiet corners only locals know.
Famous Temples & Spiritual Places
A Krishna shrine, a Swaminarayan dham & more.
Nature & Wildlife
Sacred lakes and fertile Charotar plains.
Also: the Vatrak & Shedhi riverbanks · mango & banana orchards · birdrich village ponds.
Local Food Guide
Temple-town treats and dairy sweets.
Culture & Festivals
Great fairs and a literary legacy.
FESTIVAL
Vadtal Utsav
Vadtal is one of Swaminarayan tradition’s holiest seats — a lotus-shaped temple where festivals like Annakut and Patotsav fill the courtyards with colour, song and towering food offerings.
FAIR
Santram Mela
The Santram Mandir in Nadiad is the beating heart of a devoted following — its annual fair and daily free kitchen draw crowds to honour the saint Santram Maharaj.
LITERARY
Nadiad Writers
Nadiad earned the name “city of the learned” — birthplace of Govardhanram Tripathi, author of the great Gujarati novel Saraswatichandra, and a cradle of the language’s modern literature.
HISTORY
Kheda Satyagraha
In 1918, the peasants of Kheda refused to pay a crushing tax after their crops failed — a Gandhi-led satyagraha that forged Sardar Patel as a leader and helped shape India’s freedom struggle.
Living culture: the great Dakor Sharad Poonam mela · Vadtal & Santram festivals · Nadiad’s literary heritage · the legacy of the Kheda Satyagraha.
Shopping & Local Products
Temple sweets and Charotar crafts.
Dakor Gota & Sweets
Famous temple-town treats
Mahudi Sukhdi
Ghee-jaggery Jain prasad
Charotar Dairy
Shrikhand, ghee & milk sweets
Religious Souvenirs
Idols, malas & puja items
Wood & Brass Craft
Vaso-style carved work
Nadiad Textiles
Local handloom & embroidery
Best Time to Visit
Mild winters for pilgrimage & heritage.
Oct – Mar
Oct (Sharad)
Apr – Jun
How to Reach Kheda
Right on the Ahmedabad–Vadodara line.
By Air
Ahmedabad Airport (~50 km) is the nearest gateway to the district.
By Train
Nadiad Junction is a major stop on the Mumbai–Ahmedabad line.
By Road
NH-48 runs through; easy buses & taxis to Dakor and the towns.
Sample Itineraries
From a temple circuit to a heritage loop.
Dakor Darshan
Dakor Ranchhodrai temple Gomti lake aarti Famous Dakor gota
Temple Circuit
Day 1 — Dakor & Galteshwar Day 2 — Nadiad Santram & Mahudi Vadtal Swaminarayan
Charotar Heritage
Dakor & Vadtal Mahudi & Galteshwar Mahemdavad stepwell Vaso & Kapadvanj
Faith Trail
Dakor Krishna temple Santram Mandir Mahudi Jain shrine
History & Letters
Kheda Satyagraha sites Literary Nadiad Vaso wooden havelis
Water Heritage
Bhammariyo Kuvo Kapadvanj stepwell Roza Rozi tombs
Photography Spots
Temples, stepwells and lakeside light.
Travel Tips
Make the most of your Kheda trip.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything to plan your Kheda visit.
What is Dakor famous for?
The Ranchhodrai temple of Krishna by Gomti lake — a major pilgrimage, busiest on Sharad Poonam.
What is Santram Mandir?
Nadiad's revered temple and seat of the Santram Maharaj saint tradition.
What is special about Mahudi?
The Ghantakarna Mahavir Jain temple, famed for its sukhdi prasad.
Is Galteshwar worth seeing?
Yes — a beautiful 12th-century Shiva temple on the Mahisagar river, off the usual trail.
How do I reach Kheda?
Nadiad Junction is on the Mumbai–Ahmedabad rail line; Ahmedabad airport is ~50 km away.
When should I visit?
October to March is ideal; Sharad Poonam (Oct) is the great Dakor festival.
Related Destinations
More of Central Gujarat to discover.
WHERE TO STAY
Find your stay in Gujarat
Compare live prices across the big booking sites and reserve in a few taps. Booking happens securely on the partner's site — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Book directly on our partner sites — tap a provider to see live Gujarat hotels & prices:
SHOP THE REGION
Bring home Gujarat — & travel essentials
Hand-picked crafts and trip gear, available on Amazon.