pune

Located close to Shani Wada Fort, it is a must-visit if you want to experience architectural splendor & seek some divine intervention. The deity of Lord Ganesha was incepted by Shri Dagdusheth Halwai and his wife Lakshmibai way back. The Ganapati festival is celebrated not only in Pune but throughout Maharashtra. The temple is very popular in Maharashtra & visited by thousands of pilgrims throughout the year.

Devotees of the temple include celebrities and Chief Ministers of Maharashtra, who also visit during the Ganeshotsav festival. Idol is so beautifully embedded, with gold ornaments that you can't take your eyes off & the interior walls & ceiling are made up of gold & silver is very elegant and reflect ancient tradition. 

The Darshan Museum is a biographical museum dedicated to the Life and teaching of Sadhu Vaswani, the modern Sindhi spiritual leader. A visit to this museum can be a transforming experience in many ways. Undoubtedly a gem amongst Pune's attractions. Their sound and light show takes you on the best immersive experience. It gives you a world-class hi-tech experience with excellent acoustics, fabulous decor and lighting, 3D holographic screens, and life-like mannequins. The place is so peaceful that it's a must-to-visit attraction for all visitors & moreover entry is free. 

Devotees who embark on the Ashtavinayak Yatra make their fifth halt to pray to Lord Ganesha at the Chintamani Ashtavinayak Temple in Theur at the confluence of 3 rivers the Mula river, the Mutha river, and the Bhima river. The archway of the temple faces north & Peshwa had built a concrete road from the main gate up to the Mula-Mutha river & there is a small temple of Lord Shankar in the courtyard of the temple. Keep you away from your worries. The temple is in a peaceful and calm area, not overcrowded

Girijatmaj Vinayak Temple of Lenyadri, one of the Ashtavinayak Temples of Maharashtra, is the sixth Lord Ganesh Temple to be visited on the Ashta Vinayaka Mandir Pilgrimage. Girijatmaj Ashta Vinayaka Temple is the only temple of the Ashtavinayaka located on a mountain & reached after climbing 307 steps. Girija is another name for Goddess Parvati & Atamaj means ‘Son’ & out of 18 Buddhist caves located at the mountain, Girijatmaj Vinayak Temple is the 8th cave & these caves are also known as Ganesh Gufa. Ganesh Jayanti & Ganesha Chaturthi is celebrated full of enthusiasm with cultural programs & bullock cart racing. 

The Lord Ganesha here is called Shri Vighneshwar Vinayak, & temple faces east, surrounded by a thick stone wall. One can walk on the wall. This idol, facing the east, has its trunk towards the left & is located just off the Pune-Nashik Highway in the town of Azhar on the banks of river Kukadi, close to the Yedagaon dam built on it. It is enclosed on all sides by high stone walls, & its pinnacle is of gold. Ozarcha Shri Vigneshwara is said to be one of the Ashta Vinayak shrines of lord Ganesha. This temple has features such as a spacious courtyard, a grand entrance, and sculptural and mural work & idol of Lord Ganesha is embedded with precious and semi-precious stones. 

The temple itself has the aura of a peaceful place of worship. A little crowd of devotees if you avoid the festive occasions. In the temple, there is a Huge Bell made of five metals brought from Europe by the Peshwas during their raid on a church in Vasai & Sashti. During Dakshinayan, as the sun rises, the sun's rays fall on the Vinayaka. The temple itself is ancient though it is maintained well. The deity is said to be famous for its quick response to prayers. The approximate driving distance between Shree Ballaleshwar Temple Pali and Pune is 121 Kms.