Galpadar

Galpadar is a village in Gandhidham Tehsil of Kutch District of Gujarat State of India. It is located at a distance of about 3 km from Gandhidham, 11 km from Anjar and 51 km from Bhuj.

About the history of Galpadar it is one of the 18 villages founded by Kutch Gurjar Kshatriyas community also known as Mistris. These Mistris first moved into Saurashtra in early 7th century and later a major group entered Kutch in 12th Century & established themselves at Dhaneti. Later from 12th century onwards they moved between Anjar and Bhuj and founded the villages eighteen villages including Galpadar.

The village & old infrastructure, temples, Well, the huge pond named Meghasar Talav, community halls around the villages have been built and developed by this community in late 18th century. Some of these Mistris made it big during early days of railways construction by British during 1860-1930 and established themselves as Railway contractors and later as coal mine owners in Jharia. However, majority of old houses of Mistris with unique architect were destroyed in the earthquake of 26 January 2001.

Bhagvan Ram Temple, Shiva Temple, Ramdev Pir Temple & Hanumanji Temple were all built by the Mistris of Kutch, the founders of the village. Other temples in village are Parmar family dada Sonal Ma Temple Kuldevi of Virda family Samaj, famous Nagabava Temple, Kuldevi & Dada - Surapura Temples, Revachi Mata temple, Ksehtarpal Dada Mandir, Vachhra Dada temple. There is also Dargah of Gebansha Pir. In 2011, the migrant Oriya people have built temple of Jagannath in village. Jain temple of 23rd Tirthankar, Shri Parshvanath Swami is located in Galpadar and it is approximately 120 years old. It is established by the ancestors of Vora family and still managed by the successors of the same family. Vora Families Kuddevi Shri Dudhad Maataji Temple and Kshetrapal Dada Temple is also located in Galpadar.

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