Tourist Attractions in Maharashtra’s Most Famous Ganesh Temples

Bhagwan Ganesha is one of the most popular deities in India. Especially in Maharashtra, people pray Bhagwan Ganesha will full devotion and love. The ten-day festival from Ganesh Chaturthi to Anant Chaturdashi in the Bhadrapada month of the Hindu calendar is celebrated joyfully.

Ashtavinayakas is also one of the Most Famous Ganesh Temples. People book tours to Ashtavinayaka temples for two or three days from Pune.

Some of the Ganesha temples are in beautiful locations offering superb natural beauty and serene surroundings.

This article gives information on the best Ashtavinayak Ganpati Temples in Maharashtra, also tourist attractions.

Moreshwar Temple, Moregaon

Moreshwar Ganesh Temple is located 17 kilometers from Pune at Morgaon. It is also called Mayureshwar. This Temple is the first in the sequence of the famous ashtavinayak tour packages from Mumbai, a religious trip to the 8 most significant Ganesha temples in the Maharashtra state.

It is an ancient temple that gained more popularity during the Peshwa regime. Peshwas were devotees of Bhagwan Ganesha, and their patronage flourished in the Temple. Made with black stone, the Temple has four gates on four sides. There is a 50 feet tall boundary wall around the Temple.

The deity is considered self-created. Riddhi and Siddhi are there on both sides of Bhagwan. The entrance of the Temple contains a 6 feet mouse, the vehicle of Ganesha.

Thousands of devotees begin their ashtavinayak yatra from Pune, and the first Temple of the tour is Moreshwar Temple.

Maha Ganapati Temple, Ranjangaon

The Ranjangaon Ganpati temple is called Mahaganpati. It is located in Shirur Taluka, about 50 kilometers from Pune. This Temple is very close to the highway, and the main gate or Mahadwar of the Temple can be seen from there.

The idol at Ranjangaon is the most impressive representation of Bhagwan Ganesha among the Ashtavinayaka temples. It is said that the idol has 10 trunks and 20 hands.

Ashtavinayak Darshan tour covers all these temples in two or three days, depending on the tour program.

Siddhivinayak Temple, Siddhatek

The Shree Siddhivinayak Temple at Siddhatek is a temple dedicated to Bhagwan Ganesha. The Temple is one of the Ashtavinayaka, the eighth Most Famous Ganesh Temple in Maharashtra. The Siddhivinayak Temple is the second Temple in the sequence of the Shastrokt Ashtavinayak Yatra.

The Temple is around a kilometer away from the village. Located on the banks of river Bhima, this Temple is around 200 kilometers from Pune in the Karjat Taluka of Ahmednagar district. The Temple stands on a hillock, surrounded by Babul trees.

The Siddhivinayak (Ganesha) is capable of granting Siddhi or spiritual powers. It is believed that Bhagwan Vishnu acquired siddhi on the mountain, and therefore, the Temple got its name.

Many people book ashtavinayak yatra from thane because they find it convenient, especially people from Mumbai.

Ballaleshwar Temple, Pali

Shri Ballaleshwar Pali Ganpati temple is also one of the Ashtavinayakas, the Most Famous Ganesh Temples. It is located in the village of Pali at a distance of 30 km from Karjat in the Raigad district. It is located between fort Sarasgad and the river Amba.

It is believed that Ballaleshwar Ganesha fulfills the wishes of the devotees.

There are two Girbhagriha in the Temple. The inner one is quite big, and it is 15 feet high. The outer one is 12 feet high. The Idol of Vinayaka is sitting on a stone throne. It faces east, and the trunk is turned left. There are diamonds in the eyes and the navel of the idol. The background is silver, where there are idols of Riddhi and Siddhi.

Varad Vinayak Temple, Mahad

Varad Vinayak Ganpati, or Mahad Ganpati Temple, is among the Ashtavinayak, the Most Famous Ganesh Temples. It is located in Mahad, a small town in Khalapur taluka near Karjat and Khopoli of Raigad District, Maharastra, India.

The main idol at the VaradVinayak Mahad Ganpati Temple is considered self-created or Swyambhu.

The design of this Temple is very simple. There is a dome of 25 feet in height with golden shikhara and Kalash. The Temple is 8 feet long and 8 feet wide.

There is a Gomukha on the north side of the Temple. Holy water flows from that. There is also a pond on the premises.

Chintamani Temple, Theur

The Chintamani Temple of Theur is dedicated to Bhagwan Ganesha. This Temple is one of the 8 Ganpati temples in Maharashtra, known as Ashtavinayaka temples, located around 30 kilometers from Pune in the Haveli Taluka of the Pune district. It is near the confluence of river Bhima and the conjoint rivers Mula and Mutha.

The idol of Bhagwan Ganesha is self-emanated or swayambhu. It is facing east, and the idol’s trunk is turned left.

Peshwa Madhavrao and his wife Ramabai were devotees of Chintamani Theur. Madhavrao spent his last days in the Temple, and Ramabai performed Sati on the funeral pyre.

Girijatmaj Temple, Lenyadri

Girijatmaj Ashtavinayak Temple is the only Temple of the Ashtavinayak that is on a mountain. The Temple is built in the locale of a Buddhist Cave. Bhagwan Ganesha is in the form of an infant.

The Temple is carved out of a single stone hill, and devotees need to climb 300 steps to get Darshan of Bhagwan Ganesha.

This cave is very cool in every weather, and these temples/caves are very clean. Outside the caves, cool water falls from the mountain. The Temple features a wide hall with no supporting pillars. The Temple’s main hall is 53 feet long, 51 feet wide, and 7 feet in height.

Vighnahar Temple, Ozar

The Vighnahar Ganpati Temple or Vigneshwara Temple of Ozar is a Ganesha temple. It is one of the eight most Most Famous Ganesh Temples in Maharashtra. The Temple is popular for its Golden Kalash and its Deepmala.

The Ganesha form in this Temple is considered the ‘Remover of obstacles’ or Vighnaharta.

It is situated on the banks of the Kukadi River, about 85 km from Pune city, off the Pune – Nashik highway. The Temple was constructed in the era of the Peshwas in 1785. The structure follows the rules of Vastushastra.

Ashtavinayak Darshan Online Booking is convenient because all these temples are crowded during festivals and special occasions.

Suggested read: Ganesh Mantra