Babulnath Temple

Getting there

• By road

  The temple is at 16, Babulnath Road, Khareghat Colony, Gamdevi, Mumbai 400004, near Girgaum Chowpatty.

Book and check

Official pages only. We do not sell darshan passes or tours.

• Mandir timingsbabulnathmandir.org

Rules to know

• Offerings may not be brought in plastic bags, according to a news report that may be out of date.

Why devotees come here

Babulnath Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva, on Babulnath Road in Gamdevi, Mumbai, near Girgaum Chowpatty. It stands on a small hillock and is one of the oldest mandirs in the city.

Legend says a cowherd named Babul found the Shivling here, and the name Babulnath honours him as its discoverer. The main deity is Shiva, worshipped in the shrine on the hill. It is one of the oldest mandirs in the city.

The official history traces a temple on this site to the 12th century, when a Hindu king, Bhimdev, is said to have built a Shiva temple here. In 1836, devotees from the Bhatia community, supported by Bania and Gujarati trading communities, began a larger temple project. Until 1890 the temple was recognised as Mumbai's tallest structure. A lightning strike then destroyed its gopuram.

The mandir is built in the Gujarat-Nagar style, with three main parts: the garbhagriha, the sabha mandap and the gudh mandap. It is made of white limestone and marble brought from Rajasthan. There are 108 steps to the main complex. A lift has been installed for those who cannot climb all of them.

Festivals

• Mahashivratri dayMahashivratri

  Temple authorities say more than 2 lakh devotees visit for blessings on this day.

Tips for your visit

• Pooja can be booked at the mandir office or by phone.
• The smaller shrines in the complex include Laxmi Narayan, Kashi Vishwanath, Virat Swaroop and Shree Hamumandada.
• Lift access is available inside the complex for those who cannot manage the steps.

Questions people ask