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Maharashtra is the land dotted with a number of Ganesha temples. With culture and religion steeped into its veins, each of these places of worship holds a significant place in the local history. This God of wisdom is worshipped before starting any new work as he removes all the obstacles in the part of a devotee. If you want to know which are the famous Ganpati temples in Maharashtra, read on! You will get to see ancient idols, majestic Ganpati mandirs, and learn about legends that each the place carries.

1. Ashtavinayak Temples  

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Any list of popular Ganpati temples in Maharashtra cannot be complete without mentioning the 8 significant Ganesha temples. Ashtavinayak Temples that are well-known for the pilgrimage play a major role in religion, culture, history, and heritage of Maharashtra. With every shrine carrying its own legend, going on the Ashtavinayak tour is an interesting and humbling experience. When you plan the Ashtavinayak darshan, make sure to start your trip with Moreshwar temple in Morgaon. Here is the list that you can follow -

- Moreshwar Temple, Morgaon

- Siddhivinayak Temple, Siddhatek

- Ballaleshwar Temple, Pali

- Varadavinayak Temple, Mahad

- Chintamani Temple, Theur

- Girijatmaj Temple, Lenyadri

- Vighneshwar Temple, Ozar

- Mahaganapati Temple, Ranjangaon

2. Manache Ganpati in Pune

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Manache Ganpati, the 5 deities that are considered to be the protectors of Pune, has become the identity of the city. The history of each Ganesha shrine dates back to hundreds of years and attracts thousands of devotees throughout the year. The city of Pune also holds a historical importance when it comes to Lord Ganpati. This is the place where Celebrations of Ganesh festival first started by independence activist Bal Gangadhar Tilak. Here are these most revered shrines that you must visit -

- Kasba Ganpati, Kasba Peth

- Tambdi Jogeshwari, Appa Balwant Chowk

- Guruji Talim, Lakshmi Road

- Tulshibaug Ganpati, Tulshibaug

- Kesariwada Ganpati, Narayan Peth

3. Ganpatipule Mandir

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Located on the seashore, surrounded by hills, Ganpatipule Mandir in Ratnagiri district is an important place of worship. The red and white structure with a backdrop of green hills looks picturesque. Said to have been 400-year-old, this Ganpati temple is easily accessible by public transport. You can spend some time on the Ganapatipule beach after offering your prayers at the temple.

Address - Ganpatipule, Ratnagiri district, Maharashtra

4. Dagadusheth Halwai Ganapati Temple

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Dagadusheth Halwai Ganapati is established in a beautiful 100-year-old temple in Pune. It is also one of the main tourist attractions in Pune as thousands of devotees from different parts of the country come here to seek blessings of Lord Ganesha. Visit this Ganpati mandir during the Ganesh festival to witness its glory and grandeur.

Address - Ganpati Bhavan, 250, Budhwar Peth, Pune, Maharashtra

5. Siddhivinayak Temple

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Known as one of the richest temples in Mumbai, Siddhivinayak Temple is one of the must-visit Vinayaka temples in Maharashtra. Built in 1801 as a small place of worship, today, Siddhivinayak stands as a towering structure in the heart of Mumbai. It is frequently visited by Bollywood stars and politicians as Lord Ganpati is believed to be the true destroyer of hurdles.

Address - Khed Galli, Prabhadevi, Mumbai, Maharashtra

6. Shree Ganesh Mandir, Aadasa 

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Located around 35 kilometers from Nagpur in a tiny village of Aadasa, this religious place is popularly known as Adasa Ganpati Temple. It is one of the Ashtavinayak temples of Vidarbha. With constant efforts, the barren hills around the temple have been transformed into a green land over the years. The huge statue of Lord Ganesha in the stone temple holds a special place in the heart of devotees.

Address - Saoner- Kalmeshwar Road, Aadasa, Nagpur, Maharashtra

7. Dashabhuj Ganesh Temple, Hedvi

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A beautifully carved statue of Lord Ganpati from the pure white marble marks the temple in Hedvi. This idol has 10 arms each holding a weapon and other symbolic things. As such an idol is rare, this temple has become famous. A short car ride will take you to the temple which is nestled amongst the rows of mango trees.

Address - Muslondi, Maharashtra

9. Siddhivinayak Mahaganapati Temple

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The Siddhivinayaka Mahaganapati Temple is established in Titwala in Thane district near Mumbai. With an ancient legend surrounding the formation of this temple, it attracts numerous devotees every year. Many believe that worshipping the Lord Ganesha here helps in fixing or saving the marriage. With a small pond nearby, the temple looks majestic from afar.

Address - Titwala, Maharashtra 421605

9. Shree Navshya Ganpati Mandir

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A majestic 18th-century temple nestled on the banks of Godavari River is known as Shree Navshya Ganpati Mandir. It is believed that this Ganpati Mandir is the place where Lord Ganesha answers to prayers. If you are yet to go for the Ashtavinayak darshan, you will get to see replicas of all the eight idols here.

Address - Navshya Ganapati Parisar, Peshwe Colony, Anandvalli, Nashik, Maharashtra

10. Padmalaya Ganesh Temple

Padmalaya Ganesh Temple is a unique place as it has two Ganpati idols. One has a trunk turning to the right and other one has it turning to left. There is a pond beside the temple which is said to be full of lotus flowers in the ancient times. That is why the temple is known as Padmalaya - the house of lotus. The old stone temple has a huge bell that weighs more than 400 kilograms. As it is only 30 kilometers from Jalgaon, you can reach the site in half an hour.

Address - Padmalaya, Mhaswad, Erandol, Maharashtra

If you know other Ganesha temples that are popular in your region, do let us know in the comment section below!