Set in Ambaji, Gujarat, Ambaji Temple is a shrine to Goddess Amba (Ambaji); worshipped in the form of a sacred Shree Yantra rather than an idol. It is also known as Maa Amba, Arasuri Ambaji.
One of the 51 Shakti Peethas, drawing around five million devotees a year. The temple houses a revered Shree Yantra, and the annual Bhadarvi Poonam Fair is among the largest religious gatherings in Gujarat. Ambaji is one of the 51 Shakti Peethas and among the most sacred goddess shrines in India, with a spiritual legacy spanning centuries.
Gujarat carries a distinct temple identity of its own: Gujarat's sacred coast and hills hold the first Jyotirlinga at Somnath, Krishna's kingdom at Dwarka, a Shakti Peeth at Ambaji and the temple-crowned heights of Girnar.
Darshan hours and daily worship
| Session | Timing (as published) |
|---|---|
| Morning | Aarti 7:30-8:00 AM; darshan 8:00-11:30 AM |
| Evening | Afternoon darshan 12:30-4:30 PM; evening Aarti 7:00-7:30 PM; evening darshan 7:30-9:00 PM |
Darshan is held in sessions with aartis morning and evening. Timings can vary on festival days and during the Bhadarvi Poonam fair; the temple publishes daily timings via its official app and website.
Poojas and daily rituals
Morning and evening aartis; special poojas and abhishek can be arranged; Mohanthal is the temple's signature prasad
Festivals and special-day timings
Regular darshan hours are usually extended, or set aside entirely, on these dates.
| Festival | Period | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Bhadarvi Poonam Fair | September (Bhadrapad Purnima) | A five to seven day fair when lakhs of devotees (over 25 lakh) walk on foot to Ambaji; one of the largest pilgrimages in Gujarat. |
| Navratri | September/October | The nine nights of the goddess, celebrated with great devotion and garba. |
| Diwali and Purnima observances | Throughout the year | Full-moon (Purnima) days each month are especially auspicious at the Shakti Peeth. |
History and architecture
Architecture
A revered Shakti Peeth temple with a gold-plated shikhara (Suvarna Shikhar). The sanctum enshrines a sacred Vishwa Shree Yantra (described as the world's largest) rather than a conventional idol. The associated Gabbar Hill has around 999 steps.
History
Ambaji is one of the 51 Shakti Peethas and among the most sacred goddess shrines in India, with a spiritual legacy spanning centuries. The temple is unusual in that the deity is not worshipped as an image but through the Shree Yantra installed in the sanctum. In recent years the temple's shikhara has been plated in gold (Suvarna Shikhar).
Planning your visit
How to reach
Nearest railway station is Abu Road, about 20 km away. The closest airport is Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, Ahmedabad (about 185 km). Frequent buses run from Ahmedabad, Palanpur and Mount Abu.
Ambaji Temple in photographs
4 freely-licensed photographs of this temple, from Wikimedia Commons. Each is credited to its photographer.
Where this information comes from
Confidence: High. Darshan and aarti sessions taken from the official Ambaji Temple website; note that daily session times can shift, especially during festivals