Sarasbaug Ganapati Temple - Pune

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Site Name: Siddhi Vinayak Temple aka Sarasbaug Ganapati Temple
Site Type: Hindu temples, museum
Location:  Pune, Maharashtra state, India
Highlights: A temple located within scenic garden
Nearest Railway Station: Pune
Nearest Airport: Pune
How to reach: Well connected by road, rail and air
Hotel: A lot of options across the entire Pune city
Restaurants: Varieties of options especially delicious Maharashtrian food across the entire city

Pune is the second largest city of Maharashtra state of India. The city which exists since the 9th century CE was the first capital of the great Maratha Emperor Chhatrapati Shivaji. Pune is also considered as the cultural capital of Maharashtra. The city has many attractions and most of them are religious sites. Let us explore an important temple called Sarasbaug Ganapati Temple.

Highlights:
  • An important temple in Pune city
  • Located within a scenic gardent
  • A museum dedicated to Ganapati's idols and paintings located within the temple complex
History:

Soon after constructing the Devadeveshwar Temple in Parvati hills, Nanasaheb Peshwa started the excavation of a lake at the foothill in 1750 CE. The lake had an area of about 25 acres with an island of about 25000 Sq. feet area retained in the middle. Later, Peshwa created a beautiful garden in the island and named it as 'Sarasbaug'. In 1784 CE, Madhava Rao Peshwa built a small temple for Siddhi Vinayak in Sarasbaug.

Temple Layout:

Sarasbaug Siddhi Vinayak Temple is located in a peaceful and scenic Sarasbaug garden in Pune city. The temple is small. It houses just one shrine dedicated to Lord Siddhi Vinayak aka Ganapati. The idol is a small beautiful one made of marble stone. Ganapati has no tusks and his trunk is turned towards his right side which is considered as auspicious.

The highlight of this serene location is the 'Ganapati Museum' which is located within the temple complex. Hundreds of miniature idols and big idols made of different materials of Ganesha are displayed here. In addition, mural paintings depicting the story of Ganesha and other paintings with Ashta Vinayaka and other forms of Ganesha are all found in this museum. It is rare to find such a museum dedicated to Ganesha.

When you visit Pune, ensure that you visit this peaceful place in the evening. Enjoy your time in garden as well in the temple.

Happy travelling.

Location: Saras Baug, Pune, Maharashtra, India

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