Sarasbaug Ganpati Temple

Getting there

• By air

  Pune Airport at Lohegaon is about 15 km from Pune city centre.

• By train

  Pune Railway Station is about 6 km away.

• By road

  Swargate Bus Station is within a kilometre of the temple, and it is a ground transport station for Pune.

Why devotees come here

Sarasbaug Ganpati Temple in Pune is a Ganesh shrine known locally as Talyatla Ganapati. It stands at the foot of Parvati hill, and it was built in the lake that once filled this garden. The garden and temple are among the primary landmarks of Pune.

The Ganesh temple in Sarasbaug is known locally as Talyatla Ganapati, the Ganapati of the lake. It was built in the lake near the Parvati Temple, which was the main residence of the Peshwa family. The Marathas used the temple for military meetings against the Nizam and the British Empire in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Construction began in 1750 under Nanasaheb Peshwa and was completed in 1784, when the Ganesh statue was installed in a consecration ceremony. While the temple stood in the lake, Peshwa officials went into the lake by boat to discuss matters and plans.

The lake later dried up. The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) developed the site into the Sarasbaug garden, and the whole 25-acre complex is known as Sarasbaug. The last major renovation was in 1969, under Mahadev Kumthekar and Anandrao Mane. In 1995 a small museum showing over a few hundred Ganesha idols was added to the premises. The temple and garden are among the primary landmarks of Pune.

Tips for your visit

• Parvati Hill, a hilltop with temples and a panoramic view of the city, is a favorite among locals and tourists.
• The small museum on the premises shows over a few hundred idols of Ganesha, added in 1995.
• The Parvati Temple near the lake was the primary residence of the Peshwa family.

Questions people ask