The Khodiyar Mandir in Rajpara sits on the Bhavnagar Rajkot highway, beside the calm waters of Tataliya Lake. The temple is not old in the sense of the ancient stone temples of Tamil Nadu. But the devotion here is old. The goddess is Maa Khodiyar, a form of Adi Shakti. She is the Kuldevi of the Gohil Rajput dynasty. The story goes that Maharaja Wakhatsinhji Gohil, the ruler of Bhavnagar, was a devoted follower. The goddess appeared to him in Sihor. She asked him to walk towards Rajpara without looking back. He walked. But he doubted. He looked back. The goddess stopped. She stayed at Rajpara. The temple was built.
She is a warrior goddess, born into the Charan caste, blessed by Lord Shiva and Nagdev. She is one of seven sisters. Her birth was not through pregnancy. It was divine. She walked on water. She rode a crocodile. She limped because of an injury. The name Khodiyar comes from the limp, Kodi in Gujarati. The temple is not just a religious site. It is a testament to the faith of a dynasty and the power of a goddess who protects her devotees.
Daily Darshan and Aarti Timings for 2026
The temple opens at 5:00 AM every day. The morning aarti is at 5:30 AM from Monday to Saturday. On Sundays and on Purnima, the full moon day, the morning aarti is at 5:00 AM. The morning darshan runs from 5:00 AM to 10:00 PM. The temple is open all day. There is no afternoon break.
The evening aarti is at 7:00 PM every day. The temple closes at 10:00 PM.
The temple is open every day of the week. Tuesdays and Sundays are the most crowded. Purnima, the full moon day, is also very crowded. On these days, the queue can be long. Arrive early.
The Legend and the Birth Story
The story begins in Roishala village. A Charan warrior named Mamadiya Gadhvi and his wife had no children. They suffered disrespect. Mamadiya prayed to Lord Shiva. He decided to sacrifice his life. Lord Shiva appeared. He took Mamadiya to Nag Loka. Nag Devta blessed his wife with seven daughters and one son, without pregnancy. One of the daughters was Janbai. She became Maa Khodiyar.
Her brother Mehrak was bitten by a snake. Janbai traveled underwater to Nag Loka to bring back the nectar of life, Ami. While returning, she hurt her leg. She came back riding a crocodile, walking with a limp. Kodi in Gujarati means limp. Khodiyar means the one who limps. She is a goddess who heals, but she carries her own scar. That is the power of the story.
Architecture and Features
The temple is on the edge of Tataliya Lake. The complex includes a ropeway that takes devotees to a shrine on top of a small hill. The main temple is at the base. The sanctum is simple. The idol of Maa Khodiyar is decorated with clothes and jewelry. The atmosphere is devotional.
The temple trust has built modern facilities. A dharamshala with large halls and AC and non AC rooms is available. A bhojanalaya serves free meals. The annashetra can feed up to 3,000 people at a time. A hospital with doctors and an ambulance is also on the premises.
Prasad and Offerings
The main prasad is lapsi, a sweet dish made from broken wheat. The temple is famous for it. Devotees offer it to the goddess and receive it as blessing. The taste is simple. The devotion is deep.
Also Read : Kundrathur Murugan Temple Timings 2026: Darshan, Pooja Schedule & Guide
How to Reach the Temple
By road, the temple is on the Bhavnagar Rajkot highway. From Bhavnagar city, the temple is about 18 kilometers. The drive takes about thirty minutes. Buses and taxis are available.
By train, the nearest station is Khodiyar Mandir Railway Station, about 2.8 kilometers from the temple. The station is on the Bhavnagar Dhola railway route. From the station, take an auto. The ride takes about ten minutes.
By air, the nearest airport is Bhavnagar Airport, about 22 kilometers from the temple. From the airport, take a taxi. The drive takes about forty minutes.
Best Time to Visit
The best months are October through March. The weather in Bhavnagar is pleasant. The heat of summer is absent. The best days are weekdays, Monday through Thursday. Weekends are crowded. The best time of day is early morning, between 5:00 AM and 7:00 AM. The morning aarti is over. The crowd is light. The lake is still.
The Navratri festival is the biggest celebration at the temple. The temple is packed. The garba is played. The atmosphere is festive. The crowd is massive. If you want a peaceful darshan, avoid Navratri. If you want to experience the temple at its most vibrant, come during Navratri, but be prepared for the crowd.
Nearby Attractions
Sihor is about 7 kilometers from the temple. The town has Brahma Kund, a 12th century stepwell, and the Vijay Vilas Palace. Palitana, with its famous Jain temples on Shatrunjaya Hill, is about 39 kilometers away. The climb is steep. The temples are beautiful. Bhavnagar city, 18 kilometers away, has Bortalav Lake, Nilambag Palace, Victoria Park, and Gandhi Smruti.
A Final Word for First Time Visitors
The Khodiyar Mandir in Rajpara is not a quiet temple. The crowd is loud. The queue is long. The sun is hot. But the goddess is not in the sanctum. She is in the story. She is the daughter born without a womb. She is the sister who walked into the underworld to save her brother. She is the goddess who limps. That limp is not a weakness. It is the mark of her sacrifice. Come for the darshan. Stay for the story. The story is the real prasad.