Shri Varadvinayak, Mahad

History

• The Raigad district site says the temple was built, or restored, by Peshwa general Ramji Mahadev Biwalkar in 1725. It has images of the navagrahas, the mouse, and a Shivalinga, and four elephant images guard the four sides. District Raigad, Government of Maharashtra
• The tourism leaflet says this is the fourth temple of the yatra, that devotees believe the deity fulfils wishes, that a lamp called Nandadeep burns here, and that the original idol is outside the sanctum while a later idol is inside. Department of Tourism, Government of Maharashtra

Why it matters

• The district site says people visit throughout the year, and that Magha Chaturthi brings huge crowds. District Raigad, Government of Maharashtra

Location

• Mahad village, Khalapur taluka, near Khopoli, Raigad district. This Mahad is not the coastal town of the same name further down the district. District Raigad, Government of Maharashtra

Hours

Not stated in the sources used for this entry.

Aarti and rituals

Not stated in the sources used for this entry.

Festivals

• Magha Chaturthi is the crowd festival named by the district site. District Raigad, Government of Maharashtra

How to reach

• Khopoli and Khalapur sit on the Mumbai–Pune expressway and the old national highway, which the district site names. A last-mile distance from Khopoli station to the sanctum is not printed there. District Raigad, Government of Maharashtra

Best time to visit

Not stated in the sources used for this entry.

Crowds

• Huge crowds on Magha Chaturthi, in the district site’s words. No ordinary-day crowd note. District Raigad, Government of Maharashtra

Nearby

• Pali’s Ballaleshwar is the other Ashtavinayak on the same district page. District Raigad, Government of Maharashtra

Access

Not stated in the sources used for this entry.