Divine Ganapati Songaon in Ghalai, Village, Ratnagiri

The Ghalaitil Ganpati temple in Songaon, located in the Khed taluka near the famous Parshuram temple in Chiplun, is one of the most renowned temples in the district. It is believed that Lord Ganesha, pleased by the devotion of a follower, manifested at this site of His own accord. Situated in a nature-rich area, this is a charming tiled-roof temple built of laterite stone. The shikhara (spire) above the sanctum sanctorum is unique, featuring a three-tiered structure.

The legend of this temple states that a sculptor from Kothavali, near Songaon, decided to carve a Ganesha idol from a heavy stone. While working on the idol, he had a divine vision instructing him to take the idol to Babji Barve of Songaon. That same night, Babji, a devout worshipper of Ganesha, also had a vision in which Ganesha said, “I wish to come to you; install me in the betel nut orchard near your house.” It was decided that the idol would be brought to Babji according to the divine vision; however, the landlord of Songaon, Mandlik, was so captivated by the beauty of the idol that he decided to bring it to his own home. He had a bamboo palanquin constructed and entrusted 50 to 60 palanquin bearers with the task of bringing the idol.

The palanquin arrived in Songaon with the idol, but as it reached the road turning toward Mandlik’s house, the bearers suddenly felt the palanquin become incredibly heavy. They could not move it any further. Finally, they set the palanquin down and sent word to the landlord. Upon learning of this, Mandlik was shaken and, realizing that nothing could be done against the will of Ganesha, he agreed to let the idol be taken to Babji. As soon as he agreed, the palanquin became light again, and the idol was placed in Babji’s betel nut orchard. Due to his humble circumstances, Babji Barve erected four pillars around the idol and built a thatched roof over it. The idol was consecrated on Vaishakh Vadya Panchami. For many years thereafter, the structure of the temple remained largely unchanged. According to local records, Laxman Moro Barve, of the fifth generation, renovated the temple and built a permanent structure. Following renovations in 2008, the temple attained its present form.

There is a road leading to Songaon from the Mumbai-Goa highway, before reaching the Parshuram temple in Chiplun. This sacred site is located on a mountain slope, 700 feet deep from the road and 250 feet above the Vashishti River. For this reason, it is called ‘Ghalaitil Ganpati’ (Ganpati in the gorge). The temple is also famous in the surrounding area as ‘Barvyancha Ganpati’ (The Ganpati of the Barves). The temple architecture consists of a Mushak Mandap (mouse pavilion), Sabha Mandap (assembly hall), and Garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum). In the Mushak Mandap, Mushakraj (the mouse) is seated on a pedestal. The Sabha Mandap is spacious and features 12 large windows, ensuring ample light and ventilation.

In the sanctum sanctorum, there is a four-foot-tall, vermilion-smeared idol of Ganesha, depicted with the right leg folded and the left leg upright but bent at the knee. It is said that this idol is 250 years old. Ancient stone padukas (footprints) are placed in front of the idol. Every year, the anniversary of the idol’s consecration is celebrated on a grand scale on Vaishakh Vadya Panchami, featuring Sahasravartana (thousand-fold chanting), Shodashopachara Puja (sixteen-step worship), Aartis, and a community feast in the afternoon. A festival is also held during Sankashti Chaturthi in the month of Paush, which includes Satyanarayan Puja, Bharud, and Bhajan performances. In front of the temple are two Sanjeevan Samadhis of the Ganesha devotees from the Barve family. Devotees can have darshan of Ganpati daily from 7:00 AM to 12:00 PM and from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM. The evening Aarti takes place daily at 7:30 PM.

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