Letstravail
Travel planning content.
Hindu
ashta vinayak
Peak season
Mahaganapati Temple
Ganesha
Location
Ranjangaon, Maharashtra
Darshan
6:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Best time
October, November, December
Difficulty
easy
Est. cost / person
₹7,000
About Mahaganapati Temple
Mahaganapati at Ranjangaon is the eighth and last stop of the Ashta Vinayak circuit before pilgrims return to complete the yatra at Morgaon. 'Mahaganapati' refers to the most potent and complete form of Ganesha, who blessed Shiva with the power to destroy the triple-city demon Tripurasura. The idol is especially powerful, with ten trunks and twenty arms — a rare iconographic form. Located on the Pune–Ahmednagar highway, it is easily accessible as a day-trip from Pune and is the most visited of the Ashta Vinayak temples.
The idol was reportedly concealed underground during Mughal raids; the current temple was built by Peshwa Madhavrao I in the 18th century after the idol was rediscovered following a vision. Peshwa Madhavrao visited Ranjangaon before launching military campaigns, believing it gave him divine sanction.
Darshan & Aarti
Darshan timings
- · 6:00 AM - 9:00 PM
🚌 How to reach
By Air
Pune International Airport (50 km)
Flights from Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru. Taxi to Ranjangaon ~1.5 hrs via Wagholi.
By Rail
Pune Junction (50 km) / Ahmednagar (40 km)
Board an Ahmednagar-bound bus from Pune Shivajinagar; drop at Ranjangaon Ganpati.
By Road
On NH-753F (Pune–Ahmednagar highway).
- Pune: 50 km · ~1.5h · NH-753F via Wagholi–Koregaon Bhima
- Ahmednagar: 40 km · ~1h · NH-753F towards Pune
Last mile: Regular MSRTC buses from Pune Shivajinagar. Parking and autos near the temple.
Where to stay
Estimated expense (per person)
| Transport | ₹2,800 |
| Stay | ₹3,000 |
| Meals and local travel | ₹1,200 |
| Total | ₹7,000 |
Estimated for a short 2-day pilgrimage.
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