The Ganesha temple at Ozhar. The Ganapati here is called "Shri Vighnahar." Ganesha had defeated a demon Vighnasur -- hence the name.
The Ozhar temple
Deepsthamb in the premises of the Ozhar temple
The Kukadi river of Ozhar. The Ganesha temple is on the banks of this river.
Sugarcane fields, Ozhar.
Sugarcane fields, Ozhar. This is on the way to Lenyadri.
Sugarcane Vegetable fields on the way to Lenyadri from Ozhar.
The view from the base of the hill at Lenyadri.
The caves of Lenyadri. The temple of "Shri Girijatmaj" -- as the Ganpati is here known is in one of the caves. According to legend, goddess Parvati performed penance here to sire Ganesha. Girija's (Parvati's other name) Atmaj (son) is Girijatmaj. In Marathi "Lenya" means caves while "dri" stands for mountains.
View on the climb up at Lenyadri.
Lenyadri. The temple is in the 8th cave in this complex of 18 caves of Buddhist origin. The temple is constructed such that during the day it is always lighted up by the sun's rays.
The view from Lenyadri.
The view from Lenyadri. That's Shivneri in the distance (roughly 8kms away). Shivneri is the birth place of the Maratha king - Shivaji.
The hills of Lenyadri.
Stone steps cut into the hills of Lenyadri.
Shivneri as seen from Lenyadri.
Climbing down Lenyadri. 307 steps.
One of the 30 dishes that make up the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescopes (GMRT). This is the world's largest radio telescope at metre lengths. Each of the dishes is 45 metres in diameter. When used together all the 30 dishes form a radio telescope with a baseline of about 25 km.
Bajra fields on the way to Ranzangaon.
The "Shri Mahaganapati" temple of Ranzangaon. The temple has a lovely forecourt made entirely of wood. On either side of the door that leads to the inner sanctum are verses etched in gold and silver. The idol is placed on a throne of silver.
The temple of "Shri Siddhivinayak" at Siddhatek. A local story goes that general Haripant Phadke was sacked by the then Maratha Peshwa. Phadke propitiated the Siddhivinayak at this temple. 21 days later he was reinstated in the court with full honors. Haripant Phadke then vowed that he will bring to the temple the stones of the first fort he wins after becoming a general again. He attacked and won the fort at Badami. The stone pathway to the temple is built from the stones of Badami fort.
The temple of "Shri Siddhivinayak" at Siddhatek. According to legend god Vishnu is supposed to have vanquished the demons Madhu and Kaitabh after appeasing Ganesha here. This is the only Ashtavinayak idol with the trunk pointing to the right.
A tree on the Banks of Siddhatek's Bhima river.
The Bhima river of Siddhatek. The Ganapati temple is on a hillock near this river.
The Bhima river of Siddhatek.
Sugarcane fields on the banks of river Bhima.
Entrance of the "Shri Chintamani" temple at Theur. Ganesha is believed to have retrieved the Chintamani jewel from the greedy Guna for sage Kapila here. After bringing back the jewel, sage Kapila put it around Ganesha's neck. Thus the name Chintamani.
Shri Chintamani Vinayak of Theur.
This outer wooden hall of the Theur temple was built by the Peshwas. The Theur temple was a favorite of Madhavrao Peshwa (one of the great Peshwas) and he is belived to have passed away in the premises of this temple. There's a small shrine dedicated to Madhavrao Peshwa in the temple's premises.
The temple at Theur.
The premises of the Theur temple.
A stud farm on the way from Theur to Mahad.
Fields near Theur.
The Mumbai-Pune Expressway. We were on our way to Mahad.
A Ganapati idol inside the temple of "Shri Varadavinayak" at Mahad. The idol of Varada Vinayak (the giver of bounty and success) was found in a lake which is now behind the temple.The oil lamp in the inner sanctum of this temple has been burning continuously since 1892.
Lord Hanuman etched on a pillar. This is within the premises of the Varadavinayak temple.
The lake behind the temple at Mahad. The idol was found in this lake in 1690.
View from the Varadvinayak temple at Mahad.
Boiled groundnuts and corn on sale outside the temple.
On the way to Pali.
Paddy fields on the way to Pali.
Hibiscus and durva grass garlands on sale outside the Shri Ballaleshwar temple at Pali. The temple is constructed in such a way that after the winter solstice, at sunrise, the sun's rays fall on the Ganesha idol .
A river that flows adjacent to the road that connects Pali to the Mumbai-Goa highway.
Paddy fields along the Mumbai-Goa highway.
Wildflowers along the Mumbai-Goa highway.
Paddy fields with the Haji Malang mountains as a backdrop. This is close to Ambarnath, where I stay.
Required reading on the tour of Ashtavinayak. The book I carried along with me much to the chagrin of brother and sister-in-law.
