Shree Siddhivinayak Temple, Mehmedabad: Complete Darshan Guide to Asia’s Largest Ganesha Temple

On the banks of the Vatrak River, approximately 25 kilometres from Ahmedabad on the Dakor Road, there stands a temple that is unlike any other Ganesha shrine in the world. Not because of its age it was built in 2011. Not because of its ancient legend its history is entirely of the 21st century. But because of its physical form: the entire temple building is shaped like the face and form of Lord Ganesha himself. You do not enter a building that contains a Ganesha idol. You enter a building that is Ganesha.

Shree Siddhivinayak Devasthan in Mahemdabad was certified by the Asia Book of Records and the India Book of Records on June 4, 2023, as the largest Ganesha-shaped temple in Asia. The temple is 120.98 feet long, 84.25 feet wide, and 71 feet tall. Inside, the Ganesha idol stands at approximately 56 feet from the ground a scale that is immediately and physically impressive when you stand before it. The temple complex covers 600,000 square feet of the riverbank near Mahemdabad.

More than 10,000 devotees visit daily. Its holy flame was brought from the Siddhivinayak Temple in Mumbai’s Prabhadevi the same sacred fire, brought 25 kilometres from the city to establish the spiritual continuity between the two great Siddhivinayak temples. This TravelRoach guide covers the full story, the temple’s unique character, the Rudraksha Shivling, the facilities, darshan timings, how to reach, festivals, and all practical information for a meaningful visit.

Siddhivinayak Temple Mehmedabad – Quick Information

Detail	Information
Full Name	Shree Siddhivinayak Devasthan, Mahemdabad (also Mehmedabad, Mahemdavad)
Location	On the banks of the Vatrak River, ~2 km from Mahemdabad city, Kheda District, Gujarat
Highway	Ahmedabad-Mahemdabad Highway via Dakor Road
Record	Asia Book of Records + India Book of Records Largest Ganesha-shaped temple in Asia (certified June 4, 2023)
Unique Feature	The entire temple building is shaped like Lord Ganesha you enter the deity’s form
Temple Dimensions	120.98 feet long × 84.25 feet wide × 71 feet tall (including 8-foot shikhara)
Temple Area	600,000 square feet
Land Area	22 Bigha
The Ganesha Idol	~56 feet from ground level the main deity inside the temple structure
Mumbai Connection	Holy flame brought from Siddhivinayak Temple, Prabhadevi, Mumbai
Special Exhibit	Rudraksha Shivling a massive Shivling made entirely of Rudraksha beads
Built In	2011 (Bhumi Poojan March 9, 2011; completed approximately 2012)
Cost of Construction	~₹14 crore
Built By	Developed by Narendrabhai Purohit; vision of late Daibaji
Daily Pilgrims	10,000+ devotees daily
Entry Fee	Free darshan no entry fee
Darshan Timings (Regular)	6:00 AM – 10:00 PM (daily)
Darshan Timings (Chaturthi)	5:00 AM – 11:00 PM (Sankat Chaturthi and festival days)
Morning Aarti	8:30 AM
Evening Aarti	8:00 PM
Facilities	In-built elevator/lift, food court, children’s amusement area, AC/Non-AC rooms, Yagna Sala
Contact	097269 67677
Distance from Ahmedabad	~25–30 km (~45 minutes via NH64/Dakor Road)
Distance from Ahmedabad Airport	~28–30 km (~45 minutes)
Nearest Railway Station	Mahemdabad (Mehmedabad) Railway Station (~2 km from temple)
Distance from Dakor	~35 km (~45 minutes)

The Temple That Is the Deity -Understanding the Architectural Vision

A Building Shaped Like a God

The conceptual heart of the Siddhivinayak Temple at Mahemdabad is one of the most ambitious ideas in contemporary Indian religious architecture: the building does not represent Ganesha through carvings, paintings, or an idol placed within a conventional temple structure. The building IS Ganesha. The architecture of the temple itself takes the form of Lord Ganesha’s face and body so that from the outside, what you see is not a temple that contains the deity but a physical structure that embodies the deity at enormous scale.

This concept is at once theologically bold and visually spectacular. In the Hindu tradition, the idea that the divine can be present in any form human, animal, geometric, natural is fundamental. The Ganesha at Mahemdabad extends this tradition to architecture itself: the building is itself a form of divine manifestation. When you walk through the entrance of the temple, you are not merely entering a sacred space. You are, in a literal architectural sense, entering the body of Ganesha.

The Asia Book of Records – June 4, 2023

On June 4, 2023, the Asia Book of Records and the India Book of Records formally certified the Shree Siddhivinayak Devasthan at Mahemdabad as the largest Ganesha-shaped temple in Asia. This certification represents recognition of both the scale of the structure 120.98 feet long, 84.25 feet wide, 71 feet tall and the uniqueness of the concept: no other temple in Asia combines this scale with the specific architectural conceit of the entire building taking the form of Lord Ganesha.

The certification transformed the temple’s regional profile. A shrine that had been a popular day-trip destination for Ahmedabad devotees became nationally and internationally recognised. The record is a measure of physical scale but it is also a recognition that the temple’s founding vision was genuinely unprecedented.

Also Read: Ranchhodraiji Temple Dakor

The Story of the Temple – From Vision to Record

The Founding Vision

The Shree Siddhivinayak Devasthan at Mahemdabad was the vision of late Daibaji a visionary whose dream was to create a Ganesha temple on the banks of the Vatrak River near Mahemdabad that would be both a place of powerful devotion and a physical statement of the divine Ganesha’s presence in the landscape of Central Gujarat. The vision was for a temple that would not merely house Ganesha but would itself be Ganesha the Ganesha-shaped architectural form that became the temple’s defining characteristic.

Narendrabhai Purohit undertook the development of the project following this founding vision. The Bhumi Poojan (ground-breaking ceremony) was conducted on March 9, 2011 on the auspicious occasion of Samvant 2067 Fagun Sudh 4. Construction proceeded rapidly: within approximately one year, the temple’s main structure was complete at a total construction cost of approximately ₹14 crore.

The Mumbai Connection – The Sacred Flame of Prabhadevi

One of the most significant acts in establishing the Mahemdabad Siddhivinayak Temple’s spiritual authority was the bringing of its holy flame from Siddhivinayak Temple, Prabhadevi, Mumbai one of India’s most famous and most visited Ganesha temples. The holy flame of the Mumbai Siddhivinayak was brought to Mahemdabad with full religious ceremony and installed at the new temple, creating a living spiritual lineage between the two shrines.

This connection is not merely symbolic. In Hindu practice, the continuity of a sacred flame is understood as the continuity of divine presence the flame carries the spiritual energy of the original shrine to the new one. The idol of Ganesha at Mahemdabad is also modelled after the famous Mumbai Siddhivinayak idol creating visual as well as spiritual continuity. For Gujarati devotees who may have prayed at the Prabhadevi temple on visits to Mumbai, the Mahemdabad temple offers a local connection to the same lineage.

Inside the Temple – What to See and Experience

The Exterior -The Ganesha Form

The approach to the Siddhivinayak Temple at Mahemdabad is unlike any other temple approach in Gujarat. As you drive toward the complex from the Ahmedabad-Mahemdabad highway, the temple’s silhouette gradually resolves into the unmistakable form of Ganesha the large rounded shape of the head, the distinctive ears, and the overall form that is simultaneously architectural and divine. The scale is considerable: 71 feet tall at its highest point. In the flat landscape of the Kheda district, the temple is visible from a significant distance.

The temple complex is set on the riverbank of the Vatrak River the water providing a natural scenic backdrop and the associated spiritual significance of river proximity that has been important to temple siting in India for millennia. The 600,000 square foot complex gives the approach area a generous, open character no crowding of the structure, no obscuring of the architectural vision.

The Principal Idol – Ganesha at 56 Feet

Inside the Ganesha-shaped structure, the principal idol of Lord Ganesha is installed at approximately 56 feet from the ground a scale that, when you stand before it, provides an immediate sense of the deity’s overwhelming presence. The idol is modelled after the Mumbai Siddhivinayak’s form and is richly adorned and dressed in the traditional manner of Ganesha worship. The elephant head, the four arms, the pot belly, the characteristic posture all are present in a scale that makes the familiar divine form new and commanding.

The name Siddhivinayak the title of the deity at both the Mumbai and Mahemdabad temples combines Siddhi (accomplishment, perfection, the fulfilment of wishes) with Vinayak (another name for Ganesha, meaning the supreme leader or the one who removes obstacles). Siddhivinayak is therefore the Ganesha who fulfils wishes and removes all obstacles the specific manifestation of Ganesha invoked for success in all endeavours.

Also Read: Kashtabhanjan Dev Hanumanji Temple

The Rudraksha Shivling – A Unique Sacred Object

One of the most extraordinary and unusual features inside the Siddhivinayak Temple at Mahemdabad is the Rudraksha Shivling a large Shivling (the sacred form of Lord Shiva) constructed entirely from Rudraksha beads. Pure Rudraksha, the sacred seeds of the Elaeocarpus ganitrus tree that are among the most revered natural objects in Shaivite Hinduism, have been used to form the entire body of the Shivling. This is a genuinely rare and unusual sacred object the combination of the Shiva Shivling form with Rudraksha material creates a doubly sacred object that represents the Shaivite dimension of the temple alongside its primary Ganesha worship.

The Rudraksha Shivling is a major draw for Shaivite devotees visiting the temple and provides a dimension of devotional experience beyond the principal Ganesha darshan. The presence of a Shivling within the Ganesha temple also reflects the theological relationship between Shiva and Ganesha: Ganesha is Shiva’s son, and the worship of Ganesha begins with and flows from the worship of Shiva.

The In-Built Elevator – An Unusual Temple Feature

The Siddhivinayak Temple at Mahemdabad includes an in-built elevator/lift facility an unusual feature for a temple that reflects the practical needs of the large daily pilgrim numbers and particularly the needs of elderly devotees and those with mobility limitations. The elevator allows visitors who cannot manage stairways to access the different levels of the temple structure comfortably. This practical accommodation of accessibility needs within a sacred space is a thoughtful design choice that significantly expands the range of devotees who can have the full darshan experience.

The Yagna Sala – For Special Pujas

The temple complex includes a dedicated Yagna Sala a specially designed hall for the performance of yagnas (ritual fire ceremonies) and special pujas by the temple’s pandits. Devotees who wish to commission special religious ceremonies for family occasions, for specific wishes, for occasions of particular significance can arrange these ceremonies in the Yagna Sala. The space is equipped for the full range of Vedic fire ritual requirements.

Festivals at Siddhivinayak Temple Mahemdabad

Ganesh Chaturthi – The Supreme Festival

Ganesh Chaturthi the birthday of Lord Ganesha, celebrated on the fourth day (Chaturthi) of the bright half of the Bhadrapada month (typically August or September) is the most important annual festival at the Siddhivinayak Temple. The temple comes alive with the energy of lakhs of devotees who gather to celebrate the birth of their beloved deity. The entire complex is decorated with flowers, lights, and festive garlands. The chanting of ‘Ganpati Bappa Morya’ fills the temple grounds continuously.

Special extended darshan hours are in effect during Ganesh Chaturthi. Long queues of devotees wrap through the complex. Cultural programmes, devotional music, and community meals are organised. For anyone who has never experienced a major Ganesha festival, Siddhivinayak Temple Mahemdabad on Ganesh Chaturthi is an extraordinary immersion in one of Gujarat’s most enthusiastically observed religious celebrations.

Sankat Chaturthi – The Monthly Festival

Every month on the fourth day of the dark fortnight (Krishna Paksha Chaturthi), the Sankat Chaturthi observation is held at the temple with extended darshan hours from 5:00 AM to 11:00 PM. Sankat Chaturthi is dedicated to Ganesha as the remover of all difficulties (Sankat = troubles, Chaturthi = fourth day) it is the day when devotees specifically pray for the removal of obstacles and difficulties in their lives. The monthly Sankat Chaturthi at Siddhivinayak Temple draws significantly larger crowds than regular days throughout the year.

Vinayak Chaturthi – Monthly Auspicious Day

The Vinayak Chaturthi the fourth day of the bright fortnight (Shukla Paksha Chaturthi) each month is the other monthly observation dedicated to Ganesha. This is considered particularly auspicious for beginning new ventures, seeking blessings for success, and offering special prayers. The temple’s atmosphere on Vinayak Chaturthi has a celebratory quality distinct from the petitionary atmosphere of Sankat Chaturthi.

Navratri and Other Festivals

Navratri, Diwali, Makar Sankranti, and other major Hindu festival days are observed at the Siddhivinayak Temple with appropriate ceremonies and decorations. Regular bhajans are held at the temple throughout the year spiritual music as a continuous background to the devotional life of the complex.

Also Read: Ambaji Temple, Banaskantha

Best Time to Visit Siddhivinayak Temple Mahemdabad

October to March – Best Season

The winter months offer the most comfortable visiting conditions. The weather in Kheda district from October to February is pleasant 15 to 27 degrees Celsius and the open riverside complex is enjoyable in the cool air. Morning visits between 6 and 9 AM in this season are particularly pleasant: the early light on the temple’s Ganesha form and the cool air from the Vatrak River create a genuinely peaceful devotional environment.

Ganesh Chaturthi (August/September) – For the Festival

If experiencing the temple at its most devotionally charged is your purpose, visit during Ganesh Chaturthi. The atmosphere is extraordinary: lakhs of pilgrims, continuous chanting, elaborate decorations, and the collective energy of one of Gujarat’s most enthusiastically observed festivals. Plan all logistics transport, parking, and time around the expected large crowds.

Sankat Chaturthi Days – Monthly Pilgrimage

For a more intimate but still devotionally rich experience, time your visit to coincide with the monthly Sankat Chaturthi. The darshan hours are extended (5 AM to 11 PM) and the crowd is significant but more manageable than the annual festival peak. Check the Hindu calendar for the current month’s Sankat Chaturthi date before planning.

Weekday Mornings – Quietest Darshan

For a peaceful, unhurried darshan particularly if you are interested in spending time with the Rudraksha Shivling and exploring the temple architecture without crowd pressure visit on a Tuesday to Thursday morning between 6:30 and 9:30 AM. The temple is active and devotional but not overwhelmingly crowded at this hour.

How to Reach Siddhivinayak Temple Mahemdabad

From	Distance	Mode	Approx. Time
Ahmedabad city	~25–30 km	Car / Taxi / Bus via Dakor Road (NH64)	45 minutes
Ahmedabad Airport (SVP)	~28–30 km	Taxi	45–50 minutes
Mahemdabad (Mehmedabad) Station	~2 km	Auto-rickshaw / Walking	5–10 minutes
Dakor (Ranchhodraiji Temple)	~35 km	Car / Taxi	45 minutes
Nadiad	~20 km	Car / Bus	30 minutes
Anand	~35 km	Car	45 minutes
Vadodara	~80 km	Car / Train + local	1.5 hours

By Road – Most Common Option

From Ahmedabad, the Siddhivinayak Temple is approximately 25 to 30 km via the Ahmedabad-Mahemdabad Road (NH64/Dakor Road). The drive takes approximately 45 minutes. Navigate to ‘Siddhivinayak Temple Mahemdabad’ or ‘Shree Siddhivinayak Devasthan, Mahemdabad’ on Google Maps. The temple is located on the riverbank approximately 2 km from Mahemdabad city centre. Ample parking is available in the temple complex.

By Train

Mahemdabad (Mehmedabad) has its own railway station approximately 2 km from the temple. Trains connect Mahemdabad to Ahmedabad and other cities on the branch line. Check current train schedules at Indian Railways. From Mahemdabad station, the temple is accessible by local auto-rickshaw (approximately ₹50 to ₹80).

By Bus

GSRTC state buses and private buses run from Ahmedabad toward Dakor, passing through or near Mahemdabad. From Ahmedabad’s main bus stands, ask for a bus to Mahemdabad and alight near the Siddhivinayak Temple turn. Local autos are available from the Mahemdabad bus stand to the temple.

Facilities at Siddhivinayak Temple Complex

• Elevator/Lift – An unusual temple facility that allows elderly devotees and those with mobility limitations to access all levels of the temple structure comfortably
• Food Court – A vegetarian food court within the temple complex serving meals and snacks for devotees. Ideal given that the temple’s highway location has limited food options immediately outside
• Children’s Amusement Area – A dedicated entertainment area for young children, making the temple suitable for family visits with young kids who may need activities between temple circuits
• AC and Non-AC Accommodation – Rooms available for devotees who wish to stay overnight at the temple particularly useful for those attending early morning Chaturthi darshan or major festival events. Book in advance for peak festival periods
• Yagna Sala – For conducting special pujas, havans, and yagnas. Contact the temple at 097269 67677 for bookings and scheduling
• Regular Bhajans – Devotional music programmes held at the temple throughout the day create a continuous devotional atmosphere

Practical Tips for Visiting Siddhivinayak Temple

• Visit for the morning aarti at 8:30 AM or the evening aarti at 8:00 PM for the most devotionally complete experience the aarti is the spiritual peak of each day at the temple
• Remove footwear at the designated area at the temple entrance – footwear storage is available
• Dress modestly – covered shoulders and knees; no shorts or sleeveless clothing
• Carry cash – the food court and any puja bookings may be cash-only; digital payment availability may be limited
• For Sankat Chaturthi and Ganesh Chaturthi visits – arrive significantly earlier than your planned darshan time to account for larger crowds. Check the Hindu calendar date before planning a festival visit
• Book accommodation in advance – if planning an overnight stay for an early morning festival darshan, contact 097269 67677 well in advance
• Combine with Dakor (Ranchhodraiji Temple) – the Ranchhodraiji Temple in Dakor is approximately 35 km from Mahemdabad. Both together in a single day trip from Ahmedabad is a practical and devotionally rich Central Gujarat circuit
• The temple is a good one-day trip from Ahmedabad – approximately 1 to 2 hours for the darshan, Rudraksha Shivling viewing, and complex exploration; with travel time, a comfortable half-day outing from Ahmedabad

Nearby Attractions to Combine with Siddhivinayak Temple

• Ranchhodraiji Temple, Dakor ~35 km | One of Gujarat’s most beloved Krishna temples on the banks of Gomti Lake the famous Dakor Mandir where the deity is worshipped as Ranchhodraiji. Read our full TravelRoach guide.
• Vadnagar ~60 km | The ancient town associated with the legendary singer Tansen and with the childhood home of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Sharmishtha Lake and Tana-Riri historical sites are here.
• Ahmedabad ~25–30 km | Gujarat’s largest city with Gandhi Ashram, Sarkhej Roza, Manek Chowk Night Market, Atal Bridge, and much more. Read our TravelRoach Ahmedabad guides.
• Nadiad ~20 km | A major town in Kheda district practical for food and facilities if combining with a wider Central Gujarat day circuit.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Final Thoughts

Gujarat’s religious landscape spans millennia from Somnath’s first Jyotirlinga to the 11th-century temples of Shatrunjaya to the Swaminarayan Akshardham consecrated in 1992. The Siddhivinayak Devasthan at Mahemdabad, built in 2011, is the newest temple in TravelRoach’s Gujarat series. And it is genuinely distinctive.

The idea that the building should not merely contain Ganesha but should be Ganesha that devotees should walk into the deity rather than walk toward an idol is a remarkable theological and architectural proposition. The record certification makes it the largest of its kind. The Mumbai sacred flame gives it spiritual lineage. The Rudraksha Shivling gives it an unusual sacred dimension within the Ganesha worship context.

And 10,000 people a day, from across India and abroad, are there every day. That number, sustained daily, tells you everything you need to know about whether the vision worked.