The Ashtavinayaka pilgrimage refers to a circuit of eight temples dedicated to Lord Ganesha, situated around the Pune district of Maharashtra. Each of these temples houses an “Idol” that is said to be Swayambhu (self-manifested). According to tradition, the yatra should begin and end at the Moreshwar temple in Morgaon.
| Sequence | Temple Name | Location | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Moreshwar | Morgaon, Pune | The starting and ending point of the Yatra. |
| 2 | Siddhivinayak | Siddhatek, Ahmednagar | The only idol with the trunk turned to the right. |
| 3 | Ballaleshwar | Pali, Raigad | The only Ganesha named after a devotee (Ballal). |
| 4 | Varadvinayak | Mahad, Raigad | An oil lamp (Nandadeep) here has burned since 1892. |
| 5 | Chintamani | Theur, Pune | Believed to bring peace of mind (Chintamani). |
| 6 | Girijatmaj | Lenyadri, Pune | Located in a Buddhist cave complex on a hill. |
| 7 | Vighneshwar | Ozar, Pune | Known for the legend of defeating the demon Vighnasur. |
| 8 | Mahaganapati | Ranjangaon, Pune | Representing the most powerful form of Ganesha. |
Traveler’s Note: The entire circuit covers approximately 650 to 700 kilometers. Most pilgrims complete this trail starting from Pune, taking 2 to 3 days by road.