Ashtavinayak Temples

The Ashtavinayak Temples represent one of Hinduism’s most celebrated pilgrimage circuits, comprising eight ancient, self-manifested (Swayambhu) shrines of Lord Ganesha located across the Pune, Raigad, and Ahmednagar districts of Maharashtra. Celebrated in ancient Puranic texts and patronized extensively during the Peshwa era, each shrine enshrines a distinct form of Ganpati with unique stone morphology and trunk orientation.

According to traditional Shastra pilgrimage rules, the Ashtavinayak Yatra follows a specific sequence—beginning at Mayureshwar in Morgaon and revisiting Morgaon upon completing the eighth shrine to fulfill the yatra. Explore our comprehensive guides below covering temple histories, darshan timings, road route plans, and pilgrim tips for all eight shrines.

SequenceTemple NameVillage & DistrictNotable Feature
1st ShrineMayureshwar (Moreshwar)Morgaon, PuneStarting & concluding point of the Yatra
2nd ShrineSiddhivinayakSiddhatek, AhmednagarOnly shrine with a right-tilted trunk
3rd ShrineBallaleshwarPali, RaigadOnly Ganpati named after a devotee (Ballal)
4th ShrineVaradavinayakMahad, RaigadHouses the continuously burning Nandadeep
5th ShrineChintamaniTheur, PuneLocated at the confluence of three rivers
6th ShrineGirijatmajLenyadri, PuneRock-cut Buddhist-era cave shrine (307 steps)
7th ShrineVighnahar (Vigneshwara)Ozar, PuneKnown for its golden dome and Kukadi riverfront
8th ShrineMahaganpatiRanjangaon, PuneInvoked by Lord Shiva before slaying Tripurasura