Popular Ganesh Temple in Maharashtra that You Can Visit This Ganesh Chaturthi

He is the God of wisdom and intellect, he is the Vighnaharta - remover of all obstacles, we pray to him before the start of any auspicious occasion, he is Lord Ganesh. The Elephant God or Ganapati Bappa or Bappa, as the fondly called in Maharashtra is the most loved Gods. In Maharashtra, people celebrate the God with great fanfare during Ganesh Chaturthi, a 10-day annual festival. During this festival, many people of all religion and faith bring idols of Lord Ganesh to their home, and then immerse it in the sea after a few days. 

Here are some of the most popular Ganesh temples that you can visit this Ganesh Chaturthi

Siddhivinayak Temple, Mumbai 

Known as one of the richest temples in Maharashtra, Siddhivinayak Temple is located in Prabhadevi in Mumbai. Built in 1801, as a small place of worship for the locals, today, the temple stands as a towering structure in the heart of the city.  

The temple is frequented by renowned politicians, Bollywood stars and more to seek the blessings of the lord as he is believed to be the destroyer of all hurdles. If you are planning to visit this Ganesh temple in Maharashtra, be ready to stand in queue for a few hours, especially on Tuesday as thousands of devotees come here to offer their prayers. 

Ganapatipule Mandir, Ratnagiri 

Probably the most scenic temple in Maharashtra, Ganapatipule Mandir is located on the beach, and is surrounded by majestic hills. It is considered an important place of worship in the state, and the temple attracts many devotees and tourists throughout the year.  

The red and white structure with green hills on the background and blue sea all around looks picturesque. It is believed that the temple is more than 400 years old, and it holds a great importance in the culture and traditions of the locals. After offering your prayers, you can spend some peaceful time on the Ganpatipule beach and relax with your family. 

Ashtavinayak Temples 

Ashtavinayak Temples are a group of eight important Ganesh temples that are located in different parts of Maharashtra. It is a well-known pilgrimage, and plays an important role in Maharashtrian culture, heritage, history, etc.  

Each of the eight shrines have their own legend, and going on an Ashtavinayak spiritual tour could be an humbling experience. The eight Ashtavinayak temples are: 

•     Moreshwar Temple, Moregaon
•     Ballaleshwar Temple, Pali
•     Chintamani Temple, Theur
•     Vighneshwar Temple, Ozar
•     Siddhivinayak Temple, Siddhatek
•     Vardavinayak Temple, Mahad
•     Girijatmaj Temple, Lenyadri
•     Mahaganapati Temple, Ranjangaon 

Dagadusheth Halwai Ganapati Temple, Pune 

This temple dedicated to Lord Ganesh is a beautiful 100-year-old temple, and one of the main tourist attractions in the city. Everyday thousands of devotees from different parts of the state come here to offer their prayers, and seek blessings of the Lord. The best time to visit this temple is during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival. 

Although the temple gets crowded it is best to see the glory and grandeur of the temple. The festive vibe and the spiritual aura that fills the air, adds more charm to the temple.

Padmalaya Ganesh Temple, Erandol 

This is one of the unique Ganesh temples in Maharashtra as it has two idols of Lord Ganesh. One has a trunk facing to the left and the other to the right. Also, there is a pond near the temple, which is believed to be earlier brimming with many lotus flowers. This is why the temple got its name as Padmalaya, which means the house of lotus. Another highlight of this temple is the huge bells that weigh more than 400 kilograms. 

Shree Navshya Ganapati Mandir, Nashik 

Shree Navshya Ganapati Mandir is a majestic structure that was built in the 18th Century and is located on the banks of River Godavari in Nashik. It is a general belief among devotees that this is the place where Lord Ganesh answers the prayers and it attracts thousands of visitors every day.  

If you are on an Ashtavinayak Darshan or yet to see all the Ashtavinayak temples, here you can see the replica of all the eight idols.  

Ganesh Chaturthi in Maharashtra is one of the most popular festivals and it is celebrated on a grand scale. So, with the festival just around the corner, you can visit one of these temples to seek the Lord’s blessings. Ganapati Bappa Morya!