Balaji Temple
Best Route -
Route1 :: Katraj - Kondhwa Road - Bopdev Ghat - Saswad (Take Right, ask for Narayanpur Road or Purander Fort) - Follow the road post Narayanpur Village to Shri Venkateshwar temple (The Balaji Temple)
Other Possible Route -
Route 2 :: Pune - Mumbai Bangalore Highway (NH4) - Kapurhol - Take Left - 4.2 Kms to Shri Venkateshwar Temple (The Balaji Temple )
Best Season -
365 Days (Summers get too hot, due to Marble flooring)
Road Condition -
Route 1 - Average , Low on Traffic (except weekends)
Route 2 - Very Good, High Traffic
Timings -
Daily Pooja schedule and timings from Monday to Sunday
05.00 am to 05.30 am : Suprabhatam
06.30 am to 08.15 am : Morning Pooj
10.00 am to 11.15 am : Afternoon Pooja
06.00 pm to 07.15 pm : Evening pooja
08.00 pm Onwards : Shuddhi, Ekantseva
06.30 am to 08.15 am : Morning Pooj
10.00 am to 11.15 am : Afternoon Pooja
06.00 pm to 07.15 pm : Evening pooja
08.00 pm Onwards : Shuddhi, Ekantseva
Darshan close timings (approximate)
07.30 am to 08.15 am : Daily Naivedyam
10.30 am to 11.15 am : Daily Naivedyam
09.00 am to 09.30 am : Saliampu - Netradarshan (Thrusday only)
05.00 pm to 05.30 pm : Poolangi Seva (Thrusday only)
08.15 am to 10.15 am : After Abhishekam (Friday only)
10.30 am to 11.15 am : Daily Naivedyam
09.00 am to 09.30 am : Saliampu - Netradarshan (Thrusday only)
05.00 pm to 05.30 pm : Poolangi Seva (Thrusday only)
08.15 am to 10.15 am : After Abhishekam (Friday only)
Friday special programe
07.30 am to 08.00 am : Abhishekam
05.00 pm to 05.45 pm : Unjalseva
07.30 am to 08.00 am : Abhishekam
05.00 pm to 05.45 pm : Unjalseva
On days of Special functions Pooja timings may alter
There is Annachhatra facility at 12am to 2 pm and evening 8pm to 9 pm.
There is Annachhatra facility at 12am to 2 pm and evening 8pm to 9 pm.
A quick hour drive from Pune takes you to the miniature replica of Tirupati Balaji temple, with a long queue of devotees one could easily guess the possible popularity it has gained in recent years. Bald heads, hand full of ladoos, the south Indian tune makes you believe your visit as dutiful as it would had been in Tirupati.
Beautifully constructed in the same pattern as its inspiration, the interior of the temple is completely made up of stone. One is not allowed to carry his or her camera & cellphone within temple premises. During summer, it turns out to be a hard run once you leave your slippers for a walk on marbles towards the temple. If reached early, a small queue leads you to the main deity, but occasionally (usually during evening or weekends) the queue gets never ending. Once inside temple, you are made to rush away from the main statue so that the queue could move on. With other deities surrounding the main temple, it takes around half an hour to enjoy the beautiful sculptures and other carvings upfront. While returning one is given Ladoos or Khicda while returning (Take only if you could eat it, you can always refuse a prasad or ask for less. People are frequently throw it in dustbin)
Rumour goes, that the main statue is an actual part of Tirupati Balaji which was bought here by the priests who actually are from Tirupati. The Temple is completely carved out of stone which is its beauty.
On an average it takes around 2 hour to completely enjoy the vicinity.
It is better to plan your weekend as ::
Katraj - Bopdev Ghat - Kanifnath Temple - Saswad - Purander Fort - Balaji Temple - Kapurhol - NH4 - Pune
So, as to cover all major points on a single drive.
PS:: Do not confuse Narayanpur with Narayan Gaon , Narayangaon is on Nashik Highway .
