Today is Ganesh Chaturthi. If you enjoy traveling and sightseeing, the Trishund Ganpati Temple in Pune’s Somwar Peth is a special place for you. While most people remember Mumbai’s Lalbaugcha Raja or Pune’s Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati on Ganesh Chaturthi, this temple offers a different and unique experience.

At the Trishund Ganpati Temple, Lord Ganesha can be seen with three trunks and six arms, seated on a peacock. The temple’s beauty and its unique idol leave every visitor mesmerized. Everyone who comes here can experience this confluence of mystery, history, and art up close, which makes the Ganesh festival even more special. If you are in Pune this Ganesh festival, this temple should definitely be on your travel list.

History of the Trishund Ganpati Temple

The construction of the Trishund Ganpati Temple took about 16 years. Its foundation was laid in 1754, and it was completed in 1770. It was built by an ascetic. It is said that initially, it was a Shiva temple, but later it was dedicated to Ganesha. This temple was not just a place of worship but also a practice ground and samadhi temple for yogis. The samadhi of the ascetic who built it is still present inside the temple.

Famous Ganesh Temples in Pune

The Story Behind the Unique Idol and the Name

The temple’s name ‘Trishund’ is derived from the unique idol of Lord Ganesha. Here, Ganesha has three trunks and six arms, and most notably, he is not seated on his traditional vehicle, the mouse (Mushak), but on a magnificent peacock. This idol, made of black basalt, is adorned with precious gems and astonishes onlookers.

A Wonderful Confluence of Art and Architecture

Looking at this temple feels like you have visited a museum of art and history. The entire structure is made of Deccan black stone. Not only that, but the walls and pillars also reflect styles from Rajasthan, Malwa, South India, and the Maratha era. Additionally, the sculptures depict rhinoceroses and elephants in chains, mythical creatures, doorkeepers, and war scenes. The most special panel is the one depicting the scene from the 1757 Battle of Plassey, showing a British soldier and a captured rhinoceros.

Famous Ganesh Temples in Pune
18th-century Trishund Ganpati Temple

This gem of history and architecture remained hidden for a long time. However, in recent years, the Pune Municipal Corporation has focused on its conservation. Now, this temple is not only a center of faith for devotees but has also become a special place for tourists and art lovers. Visitors say that this temple is Pune’s hidden treasure, offering an experience of both history and spirituality.

How to Reach This Unique Temple

If you are on a trip to Pune, be sure to include this temple in your list. It is located in the Somwar Peth area, near Kamala Nehru Hospital. From Pune Railway Station, you can take an auto-rickshaw or a cab

Trishund Ganpati Temple

The Trishund Ganpati Temple is a historic Hindu temple in Pune, India, dedicated to Lord Ganesha. It was built in the 18th century during the Peshwa era and is renowned for its unique three-faced (Trishund) idol of the deity. The temple is an excellent example of the Nagara architectural style, featuring intricate stone carvings.

Lalbaugcha Raja

Lalbaugcha Raja is a famous Ganesh idol worshipped during the annual Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India. Established in 1934 by the local fishing community, it is renowned for fulfilling the wishes of its devotees and is popularly known as the “Navsacha Ganpati” (the wish-fulfilling Ganpati). It is one of the most iconic and visited public celebrations of the festival in the country.

Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati

The Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati is a renowned Hindu temple in Pune, India, dedicated to the deity Lord Ganesha. It was established in 1893 by a successful sweetmeat merchant, Shri Dagdusheth Halwai, and his wife, Lakshmibai, after they lost their son to a plague epidemic. The temple is famous for its immense wealth and the massive, beautifully adorned idol that is a central focus of the city’s grand Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations.

Shiva temple

The Shiva temple is a Hindu place of worship dedicated to Lord Shiva, one of the principal deities of Hinduism. These temples, which have been constructed across the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia for millennia, often feature a sacred Shiva Lingam and are centers for devotion and meditation. Their architectural styles, such as the towering shikharas of North India or the grand gopurams of the South, reflect the rich regional history and spiritual traditions of Shaivism.

Battle of Plassey

The Battle of Plassey was a decisive confrontation fought on June 23, 1757, between the British East India Company, led by Robert Clive, and the forces of Siraj-ud-Daulah, the last independent Nawab of Bengal. The British victory, secured in part by the betrayal of the Nawab’s commander Mir Jafar, marked a major turning point. It established British political and military supremacy in Bengal, which became the foundation for their subsequent expansion across the Indian subcontinent.

Pune Municipal Corporation

The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is the civic body responsible for the administration of the city of Pune, India. It was established in 1950, succeeding the Poona Municipality which was originally formed in 1858 during British rule. The PMC manages the city’s civic infrastructure and public services from its headquarters in Shivajinagar.

Kamala Nehru Hospital

Kamala Nehru Hospital is a major government-run women’s and children’s hospital located in Pune, India. It was established in 1964 and is named after Kamala Nehru, the wife of India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru. The hospital provides critical healthcare services and has a long-standing history of serving the community.

Pune Railway Station

Pune Railway Station, originally known as Poona Railway Station, is a major historical railway hub in Maharashtra, India, that first opened in 1858. It was a crucial node during the British Raj, connecting the important colonial military and administrative center of Pune to Bombay (now Mumbai). Today, it remains one of the busiest stations in India, serving as a vital gateway to the city.