Divine Ganapati Anjarle on the hill, Dapoli, Ratnagiri

Suvarnadurg is considered a historically significant fort, being one of the few sea forts constructed during the era of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. This fort in Central Konkan held as much importance as the Sindhudurg fort in South Konkan. The Kadyavarcha Ganpati temple in Anjarle, situated near this Suvarnadurg and regarded as the jewel of Konkan, is a place of faith for millions of devotees. This temple, which is about 600 years old, is also becoming increasingly popular as a well-known tourist destination.

Previously, the Ganpati idol was housed in the Ajralyeshwar temple located on the seashore here. However, as the sea level rose, the temple began to submerge. At that time, the villagers built a temple on a nearby hill (locally known as ‘Kada’) and installed the Ganpati idol there. Since then, this place has been famous as ‘Kadyavarcha Ganpati’ (Ganpati on the cliff). It is believed that while moving from the sea to the hill, Ganpati placed one foot on the path to the temple, leaving an impression of his footprint there. This is called ‘Ganpatiche Paul’ (Ganpati’s footprint). Devotees also worship this spot, which is located approximately 100 meters from the Ganpati temple. It is said that the village got its name, Anjarle, from the Ajralyeshwar temple. Even today, the ruins of that temple can be seen in the sea during low tide from December to May.

One can reach the temple by climbing 223 steps from the beach. A new direct road has now been constructed to reach the temple. This Ganpati shrine is situated in a nature-rich area with the vast sea to the west and the landscape to the east. The architecture of the temple shows the influence of various periods, including Mughal, Roman, and European Gothic styles. The temple is surrounded by a six-foot-high stone fortification. The original structure of the temple was made of wood. The current temple came into existence after its renovation between 1768 and 1780. It is said that the Ganpati appeared in a vision to the Dashgranthi scholar Ramkrishna Bhat Nitsure of Anjarle and asked him to renovate the temple; however, Ramkrishna Bhat was financially weak. He told about the vision to Vasudev Raghunath alias Dadajipant Ghanekar, who held a high position in the court of Thorle Madhavrao Peshwa in Pune and was originally from Anjarle. He approved the renovation of the Ganpati temple. Ghanekar provided the funds for the renovation, which lasted for about 12 years.

The walls of this temple, built of laterite stone, are finished with a lime plaster made from marble (Zinko polish). Because of this, the temple appears as white as marble. The temple premises are vast and filled with ancient Bakul trees. Additionally, various flowers and ornamental plants in the garden further enhance the beauty of the temple. The pond in front of the temple is famous as the Sudarshan Lake. The temple is structured with a Sabha Mandap (assembly hall), Antaral (vestibule), and Garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum). The height of the temple is about 65 feet. The Sabha Mandap has three arches, i.e., three entrances. Among them, the central arch is large, while the other two are smaller. The Sabha Mandap has a dome-shaped roof. Lotus flowers are carved at the top of the dome. The Antaral is somewhat small and features many bells.

In the Garbhagriha, there is a beautiful and elegant five-foot-tall idol of Ganpati, seated on a throne with his trunk turned to the right. Wearing a golden crown on his head, this idol is four-armed (Chaturbhuj). In one right hand, he holds an ankusha (goad), while the other hand is in a blessing gesture; in one left hand, he holds a parashu (axe), and the other hand rests on his knee. There is intricate carving on the stone prabhavali (halo) behind the idol, and the entire idol is painted with oil paints. Near the feet of the idol is Ganpati’s vehicle, the mouse. On both sides of this idol, made of basalt rock, are one-foot-tall idols of Riddhi and Siddhi. It is said that the Ganpati idol was crafted by stone sculptors from Dabhol.

There is a beautiful shikhara (spire) over the Garbhagriha, which has 16 smaller spires and 16 sub-spires along with the main kalash. Sculptures of the Ashtavinayakas are carved on this shikhara. The five-day Ganpati Janmotsav (birth festival) is celebrated here from Magh Shuddha Pratipada to Magh Shuddha Panchami. Devotees can have darshan of the Ganpati here daily between 7:00 AM and 7:00 PM. The temple trust has provided accommodation facilities for devotees.

Along with the Ganpati temple, Anjarle is one of the important and famous tourist destinations in the Dapoli taluka. Along with its vast coastline, the village is blessed with historical and cultural heritage. From the time of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj to the Peshwa era, many kings and sardars used to frequent this place. Since the villages of Anjarle, Ade, Kelshi, and Murud are situated on the coast, they were often raided by the Siddi army of Janjira. This kept these villages in a state of constant instability. This led to the birth of the saying, “Aajbai sarva, udyabai tarva” (Today I clean the house, tomorrow I might be taken away by ships). This meant that while there was housework to be done today, there was always a fear that soldiers might arrive and take them away in ships. However, this situation changed over time, and stability was restored.

Sacred History & Spiritual Significance

This sacred temple stands as a testament to deep spiritual devotion, ancient architectural grandeur, and rich local cultural traditions.

Temple Sanctum & Architecture

The sanctum sanctorum houses the divine idol consecrated according to ancient Vedic traditions, surrounded by serene courtyards and traditional temple architecture.

Sacred Darshan Gallery