पवित्र मंदिर दर्शन
TempleShree Siddhivinayak Temple
5:30 AM – 9:50 PM · Tuesdays from 3:15 AM
Prabhadevi, Mumbai – 400028
- Deity
- Lord Ganesha
- Established
- 1801
- Entry
- Free
The Story
About Shree Siddhivinayak Temple
One of Mumbai's most iconic and revered temples, Shree Siddhivinayak is dedicated to Lord Ganesha. The presiding deity's trunk turns to the right — an extremely rare and auspicious form believed to grant all wishes instantly. Devotees from across India and the world throng this temple daily, including Bollywood stars, politicians, and spiritual seekers.
History & Significance
Tradition credits the temple to Laxman Vithu Patil and his wife Deubai — a childless couple who built it in 1801 so that other women might be blessed with the children they never had. It is a lovely story, and the Government of India's tourism site repeats it. It is worth knowing that the temple trust's own website names no founder at all, and that the Bombay High Court, tracing the temple's ownership in a 2005 judgment, records the builder as Sunder Laxman Patil, who died in 1870. What is not in doubt is the date: the shrine was consecrated in November 1801, and it was small. Its Ganesha is carved from a single block of black stone, two and a half feet high, with the trunk curving to the right — the rarer form, and by tradition the stricter one. Rebuilding began in 1990, and the temple you see now, six storeys under a gold-plated dome, was consecrated in June 1994.
Highlights
- Rare right-trunk Ganesh idol — considered supremely auspicious
- Carved wooden shrine doors and a gold-plated inner shrine
- Daily panchamrit abhishek and elaborate flower rituals
- Free darshan for all; official poojas and sevas bookable at siddhivinayak.org
- Among the most-visited and highest-donation temples in India
Through the Lens
A closer look at Shree Siddhivinayak Temple
Real, free-licensed photographs of Shree Siddhivinayak Temple — tap any image to view it full-screen.
Before You Go
Visitor tips
A few things worth knowing before you visit Shree Siddhivinayak Temple.
- Arrive before 6 AM on weekdays to beat the longest queues
- The trust's official app and siddhivinayak.org offer darshan booking, live darshan and pooja bookings
- Tuesdays — Ganesha's sacred day — are exceptionally crowded; allow extra time
- Dress modestly; sleeveless tops and shorts are not permitted
- Leave bags and valuables in the cloakroom — nothing is allowed inside the inner shrine
Plan Your Darshan
Aartis, trains & the right day
Aarti Schedule
| Kakad aarti (dawn) | 5:30 – 6:00 AM |
| Evening aarti | ≈ 7:30 PM |
| Shejaarti (close) | ≈ 9:50 PM |
| Tuesdays | Temple opens 3:15 AM |
Commonly published schedule — timings shift on festival days; we confirm on the day of your tour.
Nearest Stations
| Prabhadevi (Western Line) | ≈ 10-min walk |
| Siddhivinayak (Metro Line 3) | beside the temple |
| Dadar (Western / Central) | ≈ 2 km |
Crowd Calendar
Best time: Weekday mornings 5:30–7:30 AM — Monday and Wednesday–Friday are calmest
Busiest: Tuesdays (2–5 hr queues), Angarki Chaturthi (next: Tue 29 Sep 2026) and Ganeshotsav
Quick Answers
Frequently asked questions
What are Siddhivinayak temple timings today?
5:30 AM – 9:50 PM from Wednesday to Monday. On Tuesdays the temple opens at 3:15 AM and darshan runs past midnight. Kakad aarti is 5:30–6:00 AM; hours extend further on festival days.
Which is the nearest station to Siddhivinayak — Dadar or Prabhadevi?
Prabhadevi (Western Line) is the nearest suburban station, about a 10-minute walk, and Metro Line 3's Siddhivinayak station is right beside the temple. Dadar is about 2 km away — handy if you're also visiting the flower market.
How long does darshan take at Siddhivinayak?
Typically 30–60 minutes on weekday mornings, 1–2 hours on weekends, and 2–5+ hours on Tuesdays (estimates). Our tours reach the temple around 6:30 AM, in the quietest window of the day.
Which day is best to visit Siddhivinayak?
For a peaceful darshan: Monday or Wednesday–Friday, right after the 5:30 AM opening. For the most auspicious — and most crowded — experience: Tuesday, Ganesha's day, or Angarki Chaturthi if you're prepared for serious queues.
Can I watch Siddhivinayak live darshan online?
Yes — the temple trust streams live darshan free on its official website, siddhivinayak.org/live-darshan. It is the real thing for devotees abroad or unwell; and if you're watching from overseas while planning an India trip, the real darshan is a 6:30 AM stop on any of our Mumbai tours.
What does the name Siddhivinayak mean?
Siddhi means accomplishment, success or fulfilment; Vinayaka is one of Ganesha's oldest names. Together: the Ganesha who grants what you set out to achieve. Devotees in Mumbai often call him Navsacha Ganpati — the Ganesha who fulfils a vow — and that name, more than anything else, explains the Tuesday queues.
Why does the Siddhivinayak idol's trunk curve to the right?
Most Ganesha idols have the trunk curving left. This one curves right, which the temple trust confirms as the idol's distinguishing feature. In Maharashtrian practice a right-turned trunk is held to be the more powerful form — and the more demanding one, calling for stricter ritual observance. The idol is carved from a single block of black stone and has a third eye etched on the forehead.
Is Siddhivinayak one of the Ashtavinayak temples?
No — and this is a common mix-up. The Maharashtra Tourism Department's own list of the eight Ashtavinayak temples names Morgaon, Siddhatek, Pali, Mahad, Theur, Lenyadri, Ozar and Ranjangaon. All eight are in Pune, Raigad and Ahmednagar districts; none is in Mumbai. The confusion comes from a name collision — one of the eight is Siddhivinayak at Siddhatek — and from the fact that Prabhadevi's sanctum doors are themselves carved with images of the Ashtavinayak. This temple depicts the eight; it is not one of them.
Can non-Hindus visit Siddhivinayak temple?
Yes. The temple publishes no religious test for entry — its posted rules cover dress, footwear and mobile phones only. Visitors of other faiths do come; Apple CEO Tim Cook opened his first India trip here in May 2016. Dress modestly, remove your shoes, and follow the queue like everyone else.
Is there an entry fee, or a paid VIP darshan queue?
Ordinary darshan is free, and the trust publishes no fee for a faster queue. What it does publish is a list of paid poojas — panchamrut abhishek, Satyanarayan mahapooja, vehicle poojas and so on — bookable through the temple. Third-party websites selling 'VIP darshan at Siddhivinayak' are unaffiliated intermediaries, not the temple.
Is Siddhivinayak the richest temple in India?
No, though it is genuinely wealthy. It is usually placed around sixth nationally — Tirupati's annual revenue is roughly forty times larger, and Shirdi's is several times larger. Siddhivinayak is fairly described as the richest temple trust in Mumbai. The trust reported income of about ₹182 crore for 2025-26, and budgets tens of crores a year to medical aid, dialysis centres and scholarships.
What is Angarki Sankashti Chaturthi, and should I avoid it?
Sankashti Chaturthi falls monthly; when it lands on a Tuesday it becomes Angarki, the most auspicious Ganesha day of all. Darshan runs almost continuously — the trust has described it beginning at 2 AM and closing around 1 AM the following morning — and the trust's chairman estimated five to six lakh visitors on the 2025 Angarki. If you want the atmosphere of a lifetime, go. If you want a calm darshan, avoid it.
Is the temple ever closed to visitors?
Yes. Beyond daily closing after the Shejaarti, the main idol's darshan is suspended for a few days each year for the Sindoor Lepan ceremony, when the sindoor coating is renewed — devotees pray to a replica installed on the premises meanwhile. The temple also closed entirely during the COVID-19 periods. Check the trust's site before travelling on a specific date.
Who is Ganesha, and why does he have an elephant's head?
Ganesha is the elephant-headed son of Shiva and Parvati, invoked first at the start of any undertaking as the lord of thresholds and beginnings. As for the head, the Puranas genuinely disagree: in the Shiva Purana, Parvati creates him from the substance of her own body to guard her door, Shiva beheads him not knowing who he is, and an elephant's head is fitted in repair. In the Brahmavaivarta Purana there is no beheading at all — the infant's head is destroyed by Shani's gaze and Vishnu brings an elephant's head from a riverbank. There is no single official version, and anyone who tells you there is has picked one.
What should I offer at Siddhivinayak?
Flowers, coconuts, modaks and durva grass are the usual offerings, and garland-and-coconut stalls line the approach. Nothing is required — you may simply take darshan. If you want a formal ritual performed in your name, the trust's poojas are booked through its office or app rather than through anyone who approaches you outside.
Getting There
Find it on the map
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