Pilgrimage Tours
Photo: Borayin Maitreya Larios · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0 · cropped
Siddhivinayak at Siddhatek is one of the eight Ashtavinayak shrines of Maharashtra, standing on a low hillock on the northern bank of the Bhima river in Karjat taluka. Its distinguishing feature is the idol itself: of all eight Ashtavinayak Ganeshas, this is the only one whose trunk turns to the right, a form associated with the granting of siddhi, or spiritual accomplishment. Tradition holds, following the Mudgala Purana, that Vishnu performed penance to Ganesha at this spot and gained the power to overcome the demons Madhu and Kaitabha, which is how the place and the deity take their name. The present north-facing black stone temple was built in the late 18th century by Ahilyabai Holkar of Indore, with the nagarkhana and the paved approach added by the Peshwa sardar Haripant Phadke.
November to February is the most comfortable window, with dry, mild weather for what is an open, exposed riverside site; March to May on the Bhima plains is genuinely hot. The two big days are Ganesh Chaturthi (Bhadrapada, usually August or September) and Ganesh Jayanti (Magha, usually January or February), and both draw very heavy crowds, as do Somavati Amavasya days; elders travelling with family will find an ordinary weekday far easier. Many pilgrims come as part of the full Ashtavinayak circuit rather than for Siddhatek alone.
The nearest railhead is Daund Junction, roughly 19 km away, well served by trains on the Mumbai–Solapur and Pune lines; taxis and state transport buses run from Daund to the temple. Pune is the nearest airport. By road the temple is reached either from the north via Shrigonda or Karjat–Rashin, or from the south bank at Shirapur, which is now linked to Siddhatek by a bridge; some pilgrims still cross by boat. Published road distances from Pune vary a good deal depending on the route taken, so confirm your driver's route in advance.
The temple sits on a hillock about a kilometre from the village, so there is a short walk and a flight of steps rather than a level approach. Devotees traditionally do seven pradakshinas around the hillock, and that circuit is unpaved and passes through scrub and thorny ground — it is not advisable for elderly pilgrims, and darshan does not require it. Siddhatek is a small village with limited facilities, so carry water and any medicines you need. Please confirm darshan timings and any festival-day arrangements with the temple before you travel.
Planned around you, not a fixed departure. Holiday Vibez arranges pilgrimages to Siddhivinayak Temple in Siddhatek for families, elders and temple groups travelling from Chennai, Coimbatore, Kochi and Madurai. Tell us your dates and how many are coming — we build the route around that. 100% customisable.
- Stays near the shrine — so elders aren't driven back and forth at 4am.
- Private transfers — pick-up from your door, not a meeting point.
- Meals that suit the group — including pure-veg and fasting requirements.
- Group travel — 4 people or 40, one coordinator, one itinerary.
- Someone on the phone — when you're in a queue three states from home.
Temple boards run their own darshan queues and quotas. No travel agent can sell you a special one, and agencies that promise "VIP darshan" are either misleading you or breaking the trust's rules. We help you book the official slots and we get everything else right.
Most of the people we send on yatra are over 55, or booking for parents who are. We plan shorter driving days, stays within walking distance where the shrine allows it, and we'll tell you honestly if a site involves a long climb or a trek before you pay — not after.
Why is the Siddhatek Ganpati considered different from the other Ashtavinayak temples?
Because of the idol's trunk. At Siddhatek the trunk turns to the right, and this is the only one of the eight Ashtavinayak shrines where it does. A right-turned trunk (uzavya sondecha) is traditionally regarded as the more demanding form to worship, and the deity here is invoked as the giver of siddhi, or accomplishment.
Is Siddhatek difficult for elderly parents to visit?
It is manageable but not effortless. The village is remote and the temple stands on a hillock roughly a kilometre away, with a walk and steps to the shrine. Darshan itself is straightforward; it is the optional seven-round pradakshina of the hill, over rough thorny ground, that older visitors should skip. Plan an unhurried morning and avoid the summer months.
Where does Siddhatek fall in the Ashtavinayak yatra?
It is one of the eight, usually covered on the leg between Morgaon and Theur, though tour operators and family traditions differ on the exact running order. The customary practice is to begin and end the circuit at Morgaon regardless of the sequence in between.
Plan your Siddhivinayak Temple yatra
Family & group yatras · Free expert callback
Enquiry received!
Our travel expert will call you back soon (during Mon–Sat · 9–6 IST).
Ref: —Couldn’t send right now
No problem — reach us instantly on WhatsApp or call and we’ll take your enquiry directly.