Ghela River Ghat

Ghela River Ghat is a stepped riverfront on the Ghela River in Gadhada, Botad District, Gujarat. Located adjacent to the historic Shri Swaminarayan Mandir (Gopinathji Mandir), the ghat is a prominent pilgrimage site for followers of the Swaminarayan Sampraday. It is known as the place where Bhagwan Swaminarayan regularly bathed during his long residence in Gadhada and remains a serene spot for religious rituals and sightseeing.

Visitors can expect a simple stepped ghat leading down to the shallow waters of the Ghela River, with open river views, stone steps and platforms used for bathing and prayer. The setting is calm and semi-urban, surrounded by temple complexes and residential areas of Gadhada. Pilgrims perform ritual bathing and prayers, while other visitors can walk along the riverbank, observe daily religious activities, and photograph the river and nearby temple architecture.

The ghat is historically associated with Bhagwan Swaminarayan (1781-1830), who resided in Gadhada for over 25 years and made it the centre of his spiritual activities. He regularly bathed in the Ghela River at this ghat, and the site is preserved as part of the heritage associated with his life and teachings in Gadhada.

The ghat holds religious significance for the Swaminarayan Sampraday as a sacred bathing place. Pilgrims visiting the Gadhada temples consider a dip or ritual ablution at the Ghela River Ghat auspicious. It remains an active site for daily prayers, ritual bathing and religious gatherings, especially during festivals and pilgrimage visits.