Ballaleshwar Temple, Pali stands in Pali, Maharashtra, is a shrine to Ganesha, worshipped here as Ballaleshwar; uniquely among the Ashtavinayak temples this form is named after a devotee, the boy-devotee Ballal. It is also known as Pali Ganpati Temple, Ballaleshwar Ganpati Mandir.
Pali is the third temple of the Ashtavinayak pilgrimage circuit, visited after Morgaon and Siddhatek and before Mahad; it is the only one of the eight Ashtavinayak shrines named after the devotee whose story it commemorates rather than a form or deed of Ganesha. The temple is dedicated to the legend of Ballal, a boy so devoted to Ganesha that his father, angered by his son's constant worship, beat him and tied him to a tree; Ganesha appeared and granted him the boon that he be worshipped here in.
Maharashtra carries a distinct temple identity of its own: From Mumbai's beloved Siddhivinayak and Shirdi's Sai Baba to five of the twelve Jyotirlingas and the Varkari heart of Pandharpur, Maharashtra weaves together Shaiva, Vaishnava and Shakta devotion.
Darshan hours and daily worship
| Session | Timing (as published) |
|---|---|
| Morning | 5:30 AM - 12:00 PM |
| Evening | 3:00 PM - 10:00 PM |
Sources vary on the exact midday and closing hours (some list continuous hours to 10:30 PM); devotees can join priest-assisted abhishek/pooja in the inner sanctum until around 11:30 AM-12:00 PM daily. Confirm exact hours locally before visiting.
Poojas and daily rituals
Morning aarti around 6:00 AM, midday pooja around 12:00-12:30 PM, evening aarti around 7:00-7:30 PM, and a closing Shej aarti around 10:00 PM
Festivals and special-day timings
Regular darshan hours are usually extended, or set aside entirely, on these dates.
| Festival | Period | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Ganesh Chaturthi | Bhadrapada Shudh Pratipada to Panchami (August/September) | Five-day festival marking Ganesha's birth, with decorations and special poojas. |
| Maghi Utsav | Magha month (January/February) | Celebrates Ganesha's rebirth/incarnation. |
| Dhundi Vinayak Utsav | Jyeshtha Shudh Pratipada to Panchami | A five-day celebration in the Jyeshtha month. |
History and architecture
Architecture
Stone temple built in the shape of the Devanagari letter 'Shri', constructed using a lead and cement mixture for durability; the east facing sanctum is positioned so that sunrise rays fall directly on the murti, and the temple has two sanctums, an inner one about 15 feet high and an outer one about 12 feet high
History
The temple is dedicated to the legend of Ballal, a boy so devoted to Ganesha that his father, angered by his son's constant worship, beat him and tied him to a tree; Ganesha appeared and granted him the boon that he be worshipped here in Ballal's name as Ballaleshwar. Moreshvar Vitthal Sindkar built the original wooden shrine in 1640, and it was rebuilt in stone in 1760 under the patronage of Peshwa minister Nana Phadnavis. The temple also holds a bell that Chimaji Appa brought back after defeating Portuguese forces in 1739.
Planning your visit
How to reach
Nearest railway stations are Karjat (about 30 km) and Roha/Pen on the Konkan Railway (roughly 18-30 km depending on route); nearest airport is Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, about 110-124 km away; Pali is about 110-120 km from both Mumbai and Pune by road, and around 70 km from Lonavala, with MSRTC buses connecting it to Mumbai, Pune, Khopoli, Karjat and Panvel
Where this information comes from
Confidence: Medium. Core history, architecture and Ashtavinayak sequence position are well confirmed by Wikipedia; exact daily timings and aarti schedule vary somewhat across secondary sources and no official temple trust website could be located, so timings should be treated as approximate.