Shree Morya Ganesha, Somatne-Shirpur Marg, wade, Pune

While traveling along the old Mumbai-Pune highway, near the Somatane Phata, the magnificent seven-story-tall seated idol of Lord Ganesha, situated on a small hill, catches one’s attention from afar. Known as ‘Moraya Ganesh’, this sacred site was established by the Birla Group of Industries.

This sacred shrine is located approximately 2 kilometers from the Somatane Phata on the highway, along the Shirgaon road. It is also popularly known as ‘Birla Ganesh’ in Pune and its surrounding areas. This deity is enshrined within a beautiful campus spread across sixteen acres.

There are 179 steps to reach the Ganesha temple from the foothills. There is a beautiful garden on both sides of the steps. As you climb, the ascent becomes pleasant while enjoying the colorful flowers and the beauty of nature. Facilities for devotees to sit are also provided at various places along the steps.

The idol of Ganesha is 72 feet tall (approximately seven stories) and weighs one thousand tonnes, which is ten lakh kilograms. The idol has been crafted using cement concrete with the help of state-of-the-art technology. It has been coated with copper, which has enhanced the beauty of the idol manifold.

Lord Ganesha is seated on a pedestal with one leg folded, while the other rests below. In this idol, which bears a serene expression, one of the four hands holds a noose (pasha), the second holds a modak, the third holds an elephant goad (ankusha), and the fourth is raised in a gesture of blessing. Near Ganesha’s feet stands the great Mushakaraja, holding a prasad of laddus. There is a beautiful circumambulation path (pradakshina marg) around the idol, flanked by a lovely garden. A smaller replica of this Ganesha has been installed here for daily worship rituals. This magnificent idol was crafted by the Rajasthani artisans Maturam Verma and Naresh Verma, a task that took them two years to complete. The idol was unveiled on 17 January 2009 by Swami Tejomayananda, the head of Chinmaya Mission.

In the evening, hundreds of devotees and tourists arrive here to witness the illumination and to seek the blessings of Lord Ganesha. At that time, as colorful spotlights are cast upon the idol from all directions, the beauty of the deity is further enhanced. From this hill, the old Mumbai-Pune road, the Dehu Road area, and the surrounding landscape for five to seven kilometers come into view. During the monsoon season, this area appears truly enchanting. It is a delightful sight to behold the clouds drifting by and touching the towering idol of Ganesha. According to Hindu mythology, the number nine is considered auspicious. That same auspicious number has been incorporated in many places here. For instance, the height of the idol is 72 feet (7 + 2 = 9), the base of the idol is 54 feet (5 + 4 = 9), and the height of the base is 18 feet (1 + 8 = 9).

Aarti is performed here every morning at 8 o’clock. On every Sankashti Chaturthi, many devotees from the surrounding area attend the Aarti held at the time of moonrise. Although the idol can be viewed from the premises 24 hours a day, the visiting hours for Darshan are from 5:30 in the morning to 8 at night.

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