A grand modern shrine
At Kagvad, between Rajkot and Jetpur, rises one of Gujarat’s grandest modern temples — Khodaldham, a vast and richly carved shrine to Khodiyar Mata, the crocodile-riding warrior goddess. Inaugurated in 2017, it was built as the great spiritual and community seat of the Leuva Patidar (Patel) community, and its scale is staggering: a huge pink-sandstone temple covered in intricate carving, set within an immense complex of gardens, halls and facilities able to host enormous gatherings.
The main shrine enshrines Khodiyar Mata alongside an array of deities. The temple has rapidly become one of the most-visited pilgrimage centres in Saurashtra, especially on festival days when vast crowds gather.
Combining traditional temple craft with modern ambition, Khodaldham is both a place of fervent devotion and a striking symbol of community pride.
The Khodaldham temple at Kagvad.
A community vision, opened in 2017
Intricate carving at Khodaldham.
The Leuva Patidar community plans a grand seat.
A vast carved sandstone temple rises at Kagvad.
Khodaldham is inaugurated to enormous crowds.
A leading modern pilgrimage centre.
Reasons to make the time
Vast temple
Khodaldham is among the largest temples built in Gujarat in modern times, on a scale that reads as civic as much as religious.
Intricate carving
The pink sandstone is worked with intricate carving throughout, in the traditional manner rather than in modern finishes.
Khodiyar Mata
Khodiyar Mata, shown riding a crocodile, is the presiding deity and kuldevi to a great many Saurashtra families.
Community seat
It was built as the community seat of the Leuva Patidars, funded by community subscription over years.
Huge gatherings
Festival crowds run into the lakhs, and the complex was designed from the outset to hold them.
Near Rajkot
It sits on the Rajkot-Jetpur road, so it is an easy stop rather than a special expedition.
What to look for inside
THE TEMPLEKhodaldham
The main temple, inaugurated in 2017 and among Gujarat's grandest modern shrines.
THE CARVINGStonework
The sandstone carving, worked in traditional idiom across the whole building.
How to spend an hour or two
Take darshan
Take darshan of Khodiyar Mata, the presiding deity and the reason the temple was built here.
Admire the carving
Look closely at the sandstone carving, which is traditional work executed at very large scale.
Walk the complex
Walk the gardens and halls of the complex, which are as much a part of the plan as the temple.
Sense the scale
Note how the site is engineered for crowds — the circulation only makes sense at festival scale.
Time a festival
Come at a festival if you want the full experience, and expect very large numbers.
Pair with Gondal
Combine it with Rajkot, Jetpur's dyeing works and Gondal, all on the same route.
Detailed temple stonework.
Carved sandstone on a grand scale
Khodaldham is a vast modern temple in traditional idiom: a huge pink-sandstone shrine, its walls and shikharas densely carved with figures and ornament, set on a high plinth within an immense complex of gardens, assembly halls and pilgrim facilities.
Designed to host gatherings of hundreds of thousands, it marries the craft of traditional Indian temple architecture with the scale and ambition of a major modern community institution — among the largest such temples built in recent Gujarat.
This is one of many places worth seeing here — the full guide to Rajkot has the rest.
Vast carved sandstone temple
High plinth & shikharas
Immense gathering complex
Khodiyar Mata sanctum
When to go
November to February is the best season across Saurashtra and the easiest for darshan.
The monsoon greens the countryside around Kagvad and the complex stays comfortable.
April to June is hot; the marble and sandstone underfoot get punishing by midday.
⏰ Visit in the cooler months; expect enormous crowds on Khodiyar festival days. Combine with Gondal.
Timings & entry
- Open daily for darshan
- Vast crowds on festival days
- Remove footwear; dress modestly
- Allow 1–2 hours
- No entry fee for darshan
- Cloakrooms and facilities on site
- Be patient in festival crowds
- Photography norms vary — ask
Getting there
By Air
Rajkot airport is nearest.
By Rail
Rajkot/Jetpur are the nearest railheads.
By Road
At Kagvad, between Rajkot and Jetpur.
At the temple
STONE & SCALE
A grand modern shrine
What to shoot
The vast carved temple.
Detail
Intricate sandstone work.
Best light
Golden hour on the stone.
Be discreet
Respect worship and rules.
Know before you go
More to see close by
FOODRajkot Chowk
Legendary farsan, penda & chikki
HERITAGEKaba Gandhi no Delo
Gandhi’s childhood home, now a museum
Ranchhodji Temple
A beloved Krishna shrine
Gondal
A jewel of princely Saurashtra — Gondal, the old Jadeja capital of grand palaces, a famous…
INSTITUTIONRashtriya Shala
Gandhi’s centre for crafts & education
CITYRace Course
Rajkot’s central grounds, gardens & events
Where to eat near Khodaldham Kagvad
THALIKathiawadi Thali
Rotla, kadhi, shaak and ghee-rich fare.
GANTHIYAGanthiya & fafda
Saurashtra's fried snacks.
PRASADTemple bhojan
Free seva meals at the shrines.
Penda & seva
Rajkot's penda; free annadan at shrines.
Khodaldham Kagvad FAQ
What is Khodaldham?
A vast modern temple to Khodiyar Mata at Kagvad, near Rajkot.
Who built it?
It is the spiritual and community seat of the Leuva Patidar (Patel) community.
When did it open?
It was inaugurated in 2017.
Who is the deity?
Khodiyar Mata, the crocodile-riding warrior goddess of Saurashtra.
Is there an entry fee?
No, darshan is free.
Where is it?
At Kagvad, between Rajkot and Jetpur.
When is it busiest?
On Khodiyar festival days, which draw vast crowds.
What's nearby?
Gondal and the Khambhalida caves.
Related places across Gujarat
WILDLIFEJessore Sanctuary
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Gulf Mudflats
◐ Golden hour · the flats
The White Rann
◐ Full moon · blue hour
6Eastern Gir Trails
Quiet forest roads far from the tourist gates
Bortalav Lake
Bhavnagar’s beloved old lake — Bortalav (Gangajaliya Talav), a serene urban water with a lakeside temple,…
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Published 2 July 2026 · Updated 24 August 2026