The order, and why it is not negotiable
The yatra is traditionally begun at Morgaon and — this is the part most itineraries miss — completed by returning to Morgaon after the eighth temple at Ranjangaon. A circuit that stops at Ranjangaon is held to be unfinished.
The eight are not clustered together; they are spread across three districts, and the traditional order is a devotional sequence rather than the shortest driving route. Most operators run it over two days.
The eight temples
- 1
Shri Mayureshwar
~65 km from Puneश्री मयूरेश्वर · Morgaon, Pune district
The first and last stop of the yatra. The idol is seated, with a peacock mount — Morgaon takes its name from mor, peacock.
Live darshan from Mayureshwar - 2
Shri Siddhivinayak
~100 km from Puneश्री सिद्धिविनायक · Siddhatek, Ahmednagar district
The only Ashtavinayak idol with its trunk turned to the right, which is held to make it especially difficult to propitiate.
Live darshan from Siddhivinayak - 3
Shri Ballaleshwar
~110 km from Puneश्री बल्लाळेश्वर · Pali, Raigad district
The only one of the eight named for a devotee rather than for Ganesha, and the only one where the deity is dressed as a brahmin.
Live darshan from Ballaleshwar - 4
Shri Varadavinayak
~85 km from Puneश्री वरदविनायक · Mahad, Raigad district
Devotees are permitted into the sanctum to pay respects personally. An oil lamp here is said to have burned continuously since 1892.
Live darshan from Varadavinayak - 5
Shri Chintamani
~25 km from Puneश्री चिंतामणी · Theur, Pune district
The closest of the eight to Pune. Associated with Madhavrao I Peshwa, who died here.
Live darshan from Chintamani - 6
Shri Girijatmaj
~95 km from Puneश्री गिरिजात्मज · Lenyadri, Pune district
Carved into a Buddhist cave complex on a hillside — roughly 300 steps up. The only Ashtavinayak temple set in a cave.
Live darshan from Girijatmaj - 7
Shri Vighneshwar
~85 km from Puneश्री विघ्नेश्वर · Ozar, Pune district
The one temple of the eight with a golden dome, and the deity credited with subduing the demon Vighnasura.
Live darshan from Vighneshwar - 8
Shri Mahaganapati
~50 km from Puneश्री महागणपती · Ranjangaon, Pune district
The last stop before returning to Morgaon. The temple is oriented so that the sun’s rays fall on the idol at the equinoxes.
Live darshan from Mahaganapati
A two-day plan that works
Grouping by geography rather than by the devotional order is what makes two days possible — you keep the traditional sequence within each day and simply split the circuit where the roads split it.
Day one
Morgaon → Siddhatek → Theur
South and east of Pune. Siddhatek is the longest single leg of the day; start early. Theur is close enough to Pune to finish on.
Day two
Pali → Mahad → Lenyadri → Ozar → Ranjangaon
Pali and Mahad sit west over the ghats in Raigad; Lenyadri and Ozar are north. Allow extra time at Lenyadri — the temple is up roughly 300 steps.
Then close the circuit back at Morgaon. Temple opening hours differ from site to site and shift on festival days, so confirm with each temple close to your date.
When to go
The circuit is busiest during Ganeshotsav and on Sankashti Chaturthi, when many pilgrims time the yatra to the vrat. Angarki Sankashti — a Sankashti falling on a Tuesday — draws the largest crowds of all.