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Shamlaji Fair: the Kartik Purnima mela at the Shamlaji temple
Families from the Aravalli villages camping by the river below an old Vishnu temple
The Shamlaji Fair is a pilgrimage fair at the Shamlaji temple of Vishnu in Aravalli district, Gujarat, where the state meets Rajasthan. It builds over about two weeks and peaks on Kartik Purnima, the full moon of Kartik; next peak: 24 November 2026. Its heart is the Adivasi communities of the hills, the Bhil and the Garasia, who come to bathe in the Meshvo river and for darshan.
The peak follows the lunar calendar; the Aravalli collectorate announces the mela arrangements in October.
The legend
Shamlaji was an important Hindu centre by the 6th century, probably home to a sculpture workshop; the Vishnu image in the sanctum is 7th–8th century.
To the Adivasi of the surrounding hills the temple's god is Kaliyo Dev, the Dark Divine. On the Kartik full moon they gather for a large fair.
Customs
Darshan by the Meshvo
Pilgrims come to the temple on the Meshvo river, in a valley of wooded hills; across the river stands the Ranchhodji temple.
Fair stalls
The fair sells silver jewellery, metalware, cloth and household goods.
What happens at the fair
The Shamlaji Melo, also called the Kartik Purnima fair, gathers in the weeks before the full moon of Kartik and peaks on the full moon itself, with the last three days the busiest. The Gujarat government describes it as lasting about two weeks; the Ministry of Tourism says about three, and no fixed opening day is published. More than two lakh (200,000) people come, from across Gujarat and from Rajasthan.
Pilgrims arrive in groups, many on foot, singing devotional songs and carrying religious banners. Besides darshan in the temple, a bath in the Meshvo river is considered essential, and the Nagdhara kund is known for its ritual bath. The fair matters most to the Adivasi communities of the hills, the Bhil and the Garasia, who come in their own dress and jewellery; to the Bhil the god of the temple is Kalio Bavji, the Dark Divine. Many families buy silver ornaments here.
The temple
The Shamlaji temple stands on the Meshvo in the Aravalli hills of Aravalli district, close to the Rajasthan border. Its deity is Vishnu, worshipped as Gadadhar, the bearer of the mace, and as Sakshi Gopal. The present temple was probably begun in the 11th century in the Chaulukya style, while the standing structure dates from the 15th–16th centuries; the Vishnu image in the sanctum is thought to be from the 7th–8th century, and a 6th-century Shiva sculpture stands nearby.
Temple tradition has several origin legends. In one, Brahma performed penance here and Vishnu appeared as Shamlaji; in another, a tribal farmer found the image while ploughing, and Vaishnava devotees built the temple over it. About 2 km away, at Devni Mori, archaeologists excavated a Buddhist monastery and stupa of the 3rd–4th century; the site now lies under the Meshvo reservoir.
Getting there
Shamlaji is just off the national highway between Ahmedabad and Udaipur, about 29 km from Modasa and 20 km from Bhiloda. Gujarat state transport buses run from Himmatnagar and Ahmedabad. The fair is a natural stop on that road rather than a destination for a special journey, and Himmatnagar and Modasa are the nearest larger towns.
The same full moon brings the Vautha Fair, and the day itself is Kartik Purnima across India.
Before you go
A rural pilgrimage in a dry state.
- Dress for a temple — Cover shoulders and knees; the UK Foreign Office asks visitors to respect local dress and customs at religious sites and in rural areas.
- Gujarat is a dry state — Drinking, possessing or transporting alcohol is illegal in Gujarat; the UK Foreign Office warns you could be arrested and held without bail.
- Crowds at the river — The bathing places are busiest on the full moon. Keep valuables close, agree a meeting point and follow police instructions.
- Photograph with permission — For the Adivasi families this is a pilgrimage and a family gathering. Ask before photographing people.
FAQ
When is the Shamlaji Fair?
It peaks on Kartik Purnima, the full moon of Kartik, usually in November. Next peak: 24 November 2026; pilgrims gather over the days before.
In which district is the Shamlaji fair held?
In Aravalli district of Gujarat, at the Shamlaji temple on the Meshvo river near the Rajasthan border.
What is Shamlaji famous for?
For its Vishnu temple, revered as Gadadhar and Sakshi Gopal, with sculpture going back to the 6th–8th centuries, and for the Kartik Purnima fair of the Bhil and Garasia communities.
How long does the Shamlaji Fair last?
About two weeks according to the Gujarat government, with the biggest crowds over the last three days up to the full moon.
Sources (5)
Facts checked: 21 October 2026. Prices and hours are approximate; check locally.