Shri Siddhivinayak Temple

One of the most beautiful temples situated in Mumbai, the Siddhivinayak temple is a standing testament of beauty and architecture. This ancient temple was constructed in 1801 and is dedicated to the elephant-head deity of Hinduism, ‘Lord Ganesh’. This venerated temple in Mumbai was constructed by Deubai Patil and Laxman Vithu.

The shrine was reconstructed for accommodating more devotees after considering the opinions of many religious experts. Every day, over 25,000 devotees flock the temple to offer their prayers and seek the blessings of Lord Ganesh. Tuesday is considered to be the most important day for ‘puja’ and ‘darshan’ at this temple. Bollywood celebrities too, come to visit this divine place of worship to seek blessings before the launch of their new films or otherwise. When one visits this place, one cannot help but admire the temple’s ancient style of architecture and its many features. An elegant masterpiece with a unique design, the Siddhivinayak Temple is a hot-spot for tourists who visit Mumbai.

Things To Do

• ‘Phool Gali’ is a street filled with various stalls that leads towards Siddhivinayak Temple. The shopkeepers on this street sell fresh flowers, sweets, coconuts and many other ‘Puja’ accessories which one can buy on their way to the temple for offering to the Lord.
• As Tuesday is considered to be a special day for Lord Ganesh devotees, ‘Aartis’ are performed inside the temple which is flocked by devout worshippers.
• During ‘Sankashti Chaturthi’ and ‘Angaraki’, a large number of devotees gather to attend the special events held within this temple.

Architecture

The Siddhivinayak Temple is designed exquisitely and truly is one of the most magnificent shrines in Mumbai. The idol of Lord Ganesh is sculpted from a single black stone, which is about 2½ feet tall. The trunk of the Ganesh idol is tilted towards its right and the figure is represented with 4 hands. On both sides of the idol, figures of ‘Goddess Riddhi’ and ‘Goddess Siddhi’ are mounted. The temple encompasses a small hall or ‘mandapam’ where Lord Ganesh is placed. The ‘Gabhara’ is an octagonal shelter, which is about ten feet wide that covers the idol of Lord Ganesh. The roof inside the Gabhara is gold plated and enhances the beauty of the idol. One can observe intricate designs and 8 different images of Lord Ganesh that are carved perfectly on the wooden doors of the temple. The temple complex covers an area of 2550 sq. meters.

Nearby Places

The Shivaji Park Beach situated in Dadar and is a must-see for any tourist. The Worli Sea-Link is situated very close to the temple and is a perfect place for a peaceful stroll. One can also visit the ‘Jewel of India’, which is a renowned restaurant and the Nehru Centre, where many exhibitions are held.

How To Reach

By Road
From Worli or Tardeo, one can travel by road to Prabhadevi locality, where the Siddhivinayak Temple is situated. One can hire taxis or auto-rickshaws to reach here easily. Many buses are also available that would take you to the temple.

By Rail
Dadar is the nearest railway station to Siddhivinayak Temple. One can board local trains from Lower Parel, Mahalaxmi and Elphinstone Road to reach the holy temple.

The Siddhivinayak Temple was built in 1801 in Mumbai and is one of the most well-known ancient temples devoted to Lord Ganesh. A large number of people visit this temple to offer their prayers on Tuesday. Anyone who visits this sacred temple will surely admire its divine architecture and magnificent Lord Ganesh structure.