Ganapati Bappa is one of the most revered deities among the people of Maharashtra. He is a god who is believed to bestow success, good health, prosperity, and happiness, among many other things. People throng to Ganapati temples to...
Ganapati Bappa is one of the most revered deities among the people of Maharashtra. He is a god who is believed to bestow success, good health, prosperity, and happiness, among many other things. People throng to Ganapati temples to seek blessings, and the state has some of the most famous Ganesha temples in India. If you too want to go on a trail of your favourite Bappa, here is a list of the Ganapathi temples you should visit.
Siddhivinayak Temple in Mumbai
This is one of the most prominent and popular temples in Mumbai and Maharashtra. It is a 2-century-old temple and has a lot of historical significance and brilliant architecture. Located at Prabhadevi in Mumbai, many devotees throng to this temple daily from all parts of India. The temple was built in 1801, and the beautiful idol is made from a single black stone. The unique feature of this idol is that the trunk is on the right, unlike the usual left seen in other places. Siddhivinayak is popular for granting the wishes of devotees. Wishes that need to be fulfilled are whispered into the ears of the silver mouse present in the inner sanctum.
Dashbhuja Ganapati Temple in Hedvi
This is a temple that is located close to Guhaghar’s Velneshwar beach. It is a beautiful temple, has a calm and serene atmosphere, and is surrounded by lush greenery. The idol in this temple has ten arms and is called Dashabhuja. There is also a small statue of Goddess Lakshmi sitting on his lap. The idol is made of marble, and it is said that the Peshwas donated money to construct this temple. The temple surroundings have a spiritual energy that the devotees can feel, which is called Jagrut Devasthan. Plan your visit properly, as the temple is closed at noon and shuts early in the evening.
Ganapati Mandir in Redi
This is a temple situated in Redi, which is a small village in Maharasthra’s Sindhudurg district. The village was originally called Redipattanam and has many cashew and coconut trees. It has many manganese mines, and folklore says that the Ganpati idol was found in one of the mines in 1976. The idol has two arms, or Dwibhuja, while all other statues have four arms, or Chaturbhuja. As per locals, a truck driver had a dream that a Ganesha idol was buried. He went to that location, dug out the idol, and built a beautiful temple at Redi.
Ganapati Temple in Sangli
Sangli is known as the Turmeric City of India because of the large trading and production of turmeric. It is also known for sugar factories and the beautiful Ganapti temple. The temple is located on the Krishna river banks and was built in 1843 by Thorle Chimanrao Patwardhan. The temple is beautifully built using black stone from the Jyotiba hills. The idol is made of copper, and the entrance doors are made of natural wood. The idol is placed in such a way that it is visible from all parts of the temple. Apart from this temple, you can also visit many other sightseeing places like Dandoba Hills, Sangli Fort, Sagareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary, and more.
Ganpatipule in Ratnagiri
It is another famous Ganpati temple and a sacred pilgrimage place in Maharashtra. The idol was naturally found and is called Swayambhu. The temple is 400 years old, and the statue is west-facing and so it is called Paschim Dwar Devta. The temple is at the base of a hill along the coastline, and hence devotees take a Pradakshina around the hill instead of just circling the temple. While visiting this temple, you can also enjoy other places like Ganpatipule Beach, the Lighthouse, and Jaigad Fort.
Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati Mandir in Pune
It is one of the most prominent Pune temples, and the statue is famous worldwide. It is pictured in various religious books and also adorns many homes in Maharashtra. The statue of Ganpati has an aura that is both beautiful and benevolent. The temple was built by Halwai Dagdusheth Gadve in 1893. He was an ally of Lokmanya Tilak, and seeing the devotion of Gadve to build a temple gave him the idea of celebrating God as a festival. The idol is placed so that people can get a look at the statue even from the street outside. Ganeshosav is a grand affair in this temple, and the entire temple is beautifully decorated and is a must-visit place when on a Ganpati temple trail.
Maha Ganpati Temple, Wai
Wai is a temple town in Maharashtra and is called Dakshin Kashi as it has many temples on every street of the city. But the most prominent among them is the Maha Ganpati temple, located on the Krishna River banks. The temple is old and was built in 1691 by Ganpatrao Bhikaji Raste. Because of the size of the idol, which is 8 feet wide and 10 feet tall, it is called Dholya Ganpati. Despite its huge size, the idol gives you a positive and happy feeling when you look at it. It is said that the idol and the Nandi statue were carved from a single black rock and are an architectural marvel.
Navyasha Ganpati, Nashik
The Anandvalli Shree Navshya Ganpati Mandir in Nashik is a temple that has a rich history of over 300 years. Located on the Godavari river banks, it is a Jagrut Devasthan, meaning the idol was found naturally on the ground. Due to this, there is positive energy and a strong spiritual presence of the Lord. It is thought that the god here is powerful and fulfils the wishes of the devotees. So the temple is called Navshya Ganpati, derived from the Marathi word Navas, meaning desire or wish in the form of a prayer. Built-in 1774, the temple was constructed when the Peshwa family of Raghoba and Anandibai were blessed with a son.
Apart from the above, there are many Ganpati temples in Maharashtra that are worth visiting. Some of them include Ganesh Temple in Tekdi, Padmalaya Temple in Jalgaon, and more.
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