Ashtavinayaka- The 8 Most Important Ganesh Temples of Maharashtra

Ashtavinayaka means eight Ganeshas refers to a pilgrimage to the 8 Ganesha temples in Maharashtra state. The Ashtavinayaka yatra covers the eight ancient holy temples of Lord Ganesha, situated in Ahmednagar,Raigad and around Pune district.

Moreshwar Temple, Morgaon

Shri Mayureshwar Mandir is located in Morgaon, about 80 kilometres from Pune city. The temple is the starting and ending point of a pilgrimage of eight revered Ganesha temples called Ashtavinayaka.

Siddhivinayak Temple, Siddhatek

Siddhivinayak Temple of Siddhatek is one of the Ashtavinayaka and the only Ashtavinayaka shrine in Ahmednagar district. The temple is located on the northern bank of the river Bhima on a hillock, surrounded by thick foliage of Babul trees.

Ballaleshwar Temple, Pali

Ballaleshwar temple is one of the eight temples of Lord Ganesha and the only incarnation of Ganesha that is known by his devotee’s name. Ballaleshwar Pali temple is situated between fort Sarasgad and the river Amba,at a distance of 30 km from Karjat in the Raigad district.

Varadavinayak Temple, Mahad

Varadvinayak Temple is located in Mahad village situated in Khalapur taluka near Karjat. The idol of this temple is known as Varada Vinayak and temple premises are on one side of a beautiful pond.

Chintamani Temple, Theur

The Chintamani Ganesh Temple of Theur is one of the larger and more famous of the Ashtavinayaka Ganesha temples. Like other Ashtavinyaka icon, central icon of Ganesha is considered self-manifested, located near the confluence of river Bhima and the conjoint river Mula-Mutha.

Girijatmaj Temple, Lenyadri

The Girijatmaja Vinayak temple at Lenayadri is located at Lekhan hills, at a distance of about 160 km from Pune. Lenyadri cave 7 is dedicated to the god Ganesha, one of the Ashtavinayak shrines in Maharashtra.

Vighnahar Temple, Ozar

Vighnahar Ganapati Temple is located about 85 km from Pune on the banks of Kukadi River. The Vigneshwara Temple Ganesha form worshipped here is called Vigneshwara, one of the eight revered shrines of Ganesha in Maharashtra.

Mahaganapati Temple, Ranjangaon

Ranjangaon Ganpati Temple celebrating eight instances of legends related to Ganesha. The idol of these lord Ganesh is also named as Mahotkat, located at Rajangaon 21 km before Shirur and 50 km from Pune.