Siddhivinayak Temple, Siddhatek stands in Siddhatek, Maharashtra, is a shrine to Ganesha, worshipped here as Siddhivinayak, giver of siddhi (accomplishment); this is the only Ashtavinayak idol whose trunk turns to the right. It is also known as Siddhi Vinayak Mandir, Siddhatek (distinct from the Siddhivinayak Temple in Mumbai).
Siddhatek is the second temple of the Ashtavinayak pilgrimage circuit, visited after Morgaon and before Pali; it is the only Ashtavinayak shrine located in Ahmednagar district and is notable as the sole one of the eight where the idol's trunk turns to the right. According to the Mudgala Purana, Vishnu performed penance at this site and, after invoking Ganesha, received the siddhis (supernatural powers) that let him defeat the demons Madhu and Kaitabha, giving the site its name Siddhatek.
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 | 5:00 AM - 12:30 PM |
| Evening | 4:00 PM - 9:30 PM |
Official daily schedule (Chinchwad Devasthan Trust): Kakad Aarti 5:00 AM, Prakshal Puja 5:15 AM, Mahapuja 11:00 AM, Mahanaivedya 12:00 PM, evening Prakshal Puja 8:00 PM, curd-rice/pulse offering 8:30 PM, Shejarati 9:00 PM, temple closes 9:30 PM.
Poojas and daily rituals
Kakad Aarti (5:00 AM), Prakshal Puja (5:15 AM and 8:00 PM), Mahapuja (11:00 AM), Mahanaivedya (12:00 PM), Shejarati (9:00 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 month (August/September) | Marked with a multi-day procession carrying the deity's palanquin. |
| Magh Utsav / Ganesha Jayanti | Magha month (January/February) | Celebrates Ganesha's incarnation. |
| Somavati Amavasya | Occasional Monday new moon | Considered an especially auspicious day for darshan at this temple. |
History and architecture
Architecture
Black stone temple facing north, with a sabha mandapa (assembly hall), a garbhagriha about 15 feet high and 10 feet wide with a dome shaped stone ceiling, a Nagarkhana (drum chamber), and Jaya-Vijaya brass sculptures flanking the main icon; the temple stands on a hillock surrounded by babul trees
History
According to the Mudgala Purana, Vishnu performed penance at this site and, after invoking Ganesha, received the siddhis (supernatural powers) that let him defeat the demons Madhu and Kaitabha, giving the site its name Siddhatek. The original shrine is said to have fallen into ruin before a cowherd's vision led to rediscovery of the Siddhivinayak icon. The temple seen today was rebuilt in the late 18th century by the Holkar queen Ahilyabai Holkar and is now administered, like Morgaon and Theur, by the Chinchwad Devasthan Trust.
Planning your visit
How to reach
Nearest railway station is Daund (about 18-19 km away); nearest airport is Pune (Lohegaon), about 100 km away; the village is reachable by road via Daund-Kasti-Padgaon or Shirur-Shrigonda routes, with the nearest bus stop at Shirapur about 1 km from the temple
Where this information comes from
Confidence: High. Official Chinchwad Devasthan Trust site confirms the daily aarti/pooja schedule and address, and Wikipedia confirms history, architecture and the temple's position as second in the Ashtavinayak sequence. Care was taken to source facts specific to this Siddhatek temple, not the Mumbai Siddhivinayak temple.