In order to fulfil the promise given by his father, Lord Shri Ram set forth upon fourteen years of exile accompanied by Sita Mata and his brother Lakshmana. As Shri Ram was a devoted worshipper of Lord Shiva, he performed the daily worship of Mahadev with unwavering regularity. During the years of exile, he consecrated Shivalingas at various locations along his path. According to religious scholars, the number of such Shivapindis established by him exceeds 250. Among these sacred installations, the temple established by Shri Ram in the town of Petlad has come to be widely known as the ‘Ramnath Temple’. Devotees firmly believe that the awakened Mahadev enshrined here fulfils the heartfelt wishes of those who seek his blessings.
The town of Petlad itself possesses a long and illustrious history stretching back nearly 1,500 years. Since ancient times, it has remained an important centre of trade and culture.
In Vikram Samvat 1697, the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb visited this town and conferred upon Vasanadas Patidar the title of ‘Patel’, entrusting him with the responsibility of collecting revenue from Gujarat. During the Mughal period, Petlad served as one of Gujarat’s significant military headquarters after Ahmedabad. Aurangzeb’s son, Shahzada Muhammad Azam Shah, administered the affairs of India from this region between Vikram Samvat 1719 and 1748.
At the beginning of the eighteenth century, Pilajirao Gaekwad, the general of Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj, laid the foundations of the Maratha Empire in Gujarat from this very town. Between Vikram Samvat 1778 (1721 CE) and 1788 (1731 CE), he undertook significant development of the city. The ancient temple, constructed in the Hemadpanti architectural style and believed to be nearly 700 years old, 
along with the nearby Ramnath Kund (sacred tank), was restored during the Maratha rule in the eighteenth century. Later, in 1894 CE, during the reign of Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad of Baroda, the sacred tank underwent further repairs and renovation.
According to local legend associated with the temple, while travelling along the path of exile, Shri Ram halted at this very place for a night’s stay. For his daily worship, he established a Shivapinda made of sand. In order to perform the ritual abhishek (sacred libation) of Mahadev, Shri Ram is said to have struck the earth with an arrow, causing the holy river Ganga to emerge from the subterranean realms. 
To contain the sacred waters, he created a reservoir, which came to be known as ‘Ramnath Kund’.
Over time, many ascetics and great sages, desirous of attaining moksha (liberation), resided for long periods at this sacred site. Consequently, numerous samadhi shrines, Shivapindis and temples dedicated to various deities were established within the temple precincts. It is also said that in the nineteenth century, the revered saint Pragji Bhakta, popularly known as Bhagatji Maharaj of the Swaminarayan Sampradaya, resided here for some time and would visit Ramnath Kund daily for his ritual bath.
The Ramnath Mahadev Temple stands in a bustling part of the town. The temple complex is enclosed within fortified boundaries spread across an area of nearly 24,000 square feet. The two-storeyed entrance gateway within the fortification, constructed with wooden pillars and stone walls, resembles the gateway of a small fortress.
On the upper floor of this gateway is the Nagarakhana (a gallery where ceremonial drums are played). Passing through this entrance leads into the temple courtyard. Within the courtyard, seating arrangements have been provided at various places for devotees. Altogether, the complex houses twenty-two temples of varying sizes. Several of these are ancient shrines built in the Hemadpanti style.
Within this same precinct lie the Ramnath Kund and Sita Talav (sacred tank), whose waters never dry owing to seven concealed wells that feed them. A venerable pipal tree with seven distinct trunks, known locally as the ‘Saptashrungi’ tree, also stands within the temple grounds. Devotees visiting the temple traditionally perform pradakshina (ritual circumambulation) around this sacred tree. 
In addition, the premises contain the Vijay Hanuman Temple and a shrine housing symbolic pindis representing the twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva. A separate Yajnamandap with a Yajnakund (sacrificial fire pit) has also been constructed here for the performance of various religious rituals and yajnas.
At the centre of the courtyard stands the Ramnath Mahadev Temple itself. In front of it is a Tulsi Vrindavan (a sacred pedestal where the holy basil plant is worshipped). The temple structure consists of a Mukhamandap (entrance pavilion), Sabhamandap (assembly hall), Antaral (vestibule) and Garbhagriha (sanctum). Mukhamandaps are present on three sides of the temple. In the main front pavilion stands, upon a vajrapitha (stone pedestal), the idol of Nandi carved from black stone and covered with a brass sheath.
The Sabhamandap features a domed ceiling supported by pillars set into the surrounding walls. In the frontal wall of the Antaral, on both sides of the entrance doorway, are Devakoshtas (niches for deities). The doorframes of the Garbhagriha entrance are adorned with vertical ornamental carvings, while the ‘Lalat Bimba’ (lintel panel above the doorway) bears a sculpted image of Lord Ganesha. Above the lintel are the decorative elements of the ‘Chandrashila’ and the ‘Kirtimukha’ motif.
The Shivapinda within the sanctum is clad in a silver covering. In front of it, upon a pedestal near the wall, is a shrine-like niche containing the idol of Parvati Mata. Above the three Mukhamandaps and the roof of the Sabhamandap rise domed shikharas (temple spires), 
each surmounted by an Amalaka and a Kalasha finial. The roof above the Garbhagriha bears a square central shikhara embellished with numerous smaller urushringa (subsidiary miniature spires).
Mahashivaratri is celebrated here as the principal annual festival of the temple. During the Krishna Paksha (dark fortnight) of the month of Shravan, a grand fair lasting fifteen days is held at this sacred site. During this period, hundreds of shops are set up within the temple precincts, giving the entire area the appearance of a lively marketplace. Throughout the festive days, programmes of bhajan (devotional singing), kirtan (musical recitations of devotion) and homa-havan (sacred fire rituals) are organised in the temple.
At present, the administrative management of this temple is under the supervision of the Government of Gujarat. Devotees may take darshan here daily between 6 am and 1 pm and again from 4 pm until 9 pm
