Ganesh Chaturthi is at our doorstep, and it’s time to welcome our favourite Lord Shri Ganesha. The streets are decorated, pandals are made for Ganesha, and dhol nagada’s are ready to welcome Ganesha. The 10-day festival brings happiness, togetherness in the family, and spirituality in our surroundings.
In this blog post, we will explore the unique Ganesha Temples across the globe. Let’s begin the journey……
Dholkal Ganesha, Dantewada – Chhattisgarh
Have you ever heard! Lord Ganesh wore a chain instead sacred thread, called “Janeyu”? In Chhattisgarh’s Dholkal, the Ganesha idol sits at a height of 3000 feet on a hilltop in the forest of Dantewada. The three-foot-tall idol of Ganesha, carved from a single granite stone. It is believed that Ganesha was attacked by Parshuram’s Farsa (axe), while the outcome of the battle remains a mystery. The ideal was lost and rediscovered in 2012.
How to Reach Dantewada
- The Nearest Airport and Railway Station is Jagdalpur.
- Dantewada is 80 km from Jagdalpur, and from here, local conveyances are available.
- The temple is situated on a hilltop, and a trek of 7 km. is required to reach.
Guddattu Sri Vinayaka Temple, Udupi – Karnataka
The Vinayaka Temple is swayambu, which means it is formed naturally from the rock. In this temple, Ganesha remains submerged in the water. Throughout the year, the water covers Ganesha up to the neck. Forests surround the temple and are renowned for their Aayira Koda Seva rituals. In this seva, the idol is bathed daily with water from one thousand pots. Maybe this is one of the reasons for Ganesha’s submersion in the water.
Pic Credit: Google
How to Reach Udupi
- The Nearest Airport and Railway Station is Mangaluru.
- From here, take a train, bus, or cab to reach Kundapura, which is 100 km from Mangaluru.
- Once you reach Kundapura, take a bus or cab to reach the temple that is only 15 km away.
Trinetra Ganesha Temple, Ranthambore – Rajasthan
The temple is a UNESCO Heritage site and is situated inside the Ranthambore Fort. We always heard or knew that only Shiva has three eyes. Do you know Ganesha also has 3 eyes? The temple is known for its rare three-eyed Ganesha idol. In this temple, Ganesha is with his parents, Lord Shiva and Mata Parvati, and his mouse. The mouse is Vahan (vehicle) of Lord Ganesha. Here, devotees send letters and wedding invitations addressed to Bappa. The letters were kept alongside during the prayers by the priest of the temple.
How to reach Ranthambore
- Sawai Madhopur is very well connected by trains from major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Jaipur.
- The fort is only 12 km from Sawai Madhopur, and local vehicles are easily accessible.
Badrinath Gufa, Mana Village – Uttarakhand
We all know that Lord Ganesha created the manuscript of the epic Mahabharata in Badrinath. Mana Village is the last village of India and is also famous for the temple of Lord Badrinath. But do you know, close to the Badrinath shrine, there is an ancient café, known as Vyas Gufa. In this cave, sage Veda Vyasa composed the Mahabharata, and Lord Ganesha scripted the manuscript here. This is the place where Ganesha cursed the Saraswati River, and in due course of time, the river vanished from India’s map.
How to reach Mana Village
- Take a bus to Joshimath, which is accessible from major cities, Delhi or Chandigarh.
- Go for a short road trip from Joshimath to Badrinath, which is at a distance of 40-50 km.
- Take blessings at Badrinath Temple and trek or take a cab to Mana village, which is 4 km away from Badrinath. Then, hike 1 km uphill to the cave.
Girijatmaj Temple, Lenyadri – Maharashtra
The temple is known as the birthplace of Lord Ganesh. As per Locals, at this place, Mata Parvati performed penance to beget her son. This is also an important part of the Ashtavinayak pilgrimage route. The idol is carved from a single rock. The cave is located near Junnar and faces towards the south. As per Sanatana, all the temple faces north, except Lord Hanuman, often referred to as Dakshin-Mukhi Hanuman Ji. Though Hanuman Temple can face both directions – north and south. The cave is located among 30 rock-cut Buddhist caves.
How to reach Lenyadri
- The Nearest Airport and Railway Station is Pune. From Pune, the temple is 95 km.
- To reach the cave, devotees have to take 340 stairs. But it’s a divine journey.
Borders Bow to Bappa
We and the world bow to Lord Ganesha. Ganpati worshipped across the borders, from Tokyo to Indonesia.
Matsuchiyama Shoden, Toyko – Japan
In the ancient temple at Asakusa, Ganesha is worshipped as Kangiten. In India, we offer Laddo, or Modak, to Ganpati, but in Japan, devotees offer white radishes. Like Ganeshotsav, Japan celebrates, Daikon Matsuri Festival every year of January. The temple is filled with white radishes during the festival.
Sri Sakthi Vinayagar Temple, Penang – Malaysia
The temple was built in the 19th century, and the carvings depicted Tamilian architecture. The temple is situated in George Town’s heritage district. In Ganeshotsav, devotees prepared chariots for Ganpati Bappa, and the chariot procession was performed with music and dance. For the Indian community, the temple remains a cultural landmark.
Arulmigu Navasakthi Vinayagar Temple, Victoria – Seychelles
In 1992, the temple was built in the Dravidian style of architecture. This is the only Ganesha temple in Seychelles. The temple resembles our culture, as it features a gokulam (tower) and the status of Hindu gods and goddesses. In Ganeshotsav, the temple is filled with Hindu devotees from nearby islands and tourists. The processions were performed with joy, happiness, and laughter.
Ganesh Idol, Mount Bromo – Indonesia
In Mount Bromo, people believe Ganesha is the savior of their life from the eruption of the volcano. The idol of Lord Ganesha is 700 years old and situated at the edge of the active volcano, Mount Bromo. The local believes Ganesha has mega power, and devotees worship the idol every day. The devotees offered flowers and fruits to the idol, with the belief that, if it’s not done, the volcano would engulf the town. The idol was installed by the Tengger Mastiff tribe for the protection of the town.
Final Thoughts
In this blog post, we took you on a journey through lesser-known Ganpati spots in India and beyond. Have you ever heard any of the idols described? If so, please ping me with your location.
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