Tourist Places in Ambaji

Millions of worshipers visit the Ambaji temple annually, making it a significant temple town. Ambaji town is included in the Banaskantha district of the Indian state of Gujarat. The Aravelli Hills encircle it on all sides, and it is located 480 meters above sea level. The settlement of Ambaji is tucked between the Abu Road in Rajasthan and the North Gujarat. Tens of thousands of followers come to Ambaji from all around the nation. It is worth mentioning that the 51 Shakti Peethas include the Ambaji Temple. Ambaji is humming with spiritual energy and will provide you with total tranquillity. Farmers and agriculturalists visit Ambaji on one of the four most significant festival days of the year, which is the full moon of Bhadrapad.

The primary shrine to the Goddess in Gujarat is the Ambaji temple, whose beginnings are still a mystery. On the town's Gabbar hilltop, Ambaji Mata's original residence is located. According to the old Scriptures, the Goddess Ambaji's heart is said to have fallen to earth when her body was dismembered, and the Temple of Ambaji is considered one of the original Shakti Pithas (religious writings) that describes this event. The god is symbolized by a triangle, Vishwa Yantra, with the syllable "Shree" engraved in the center and symbols around it. In reality, the absence of an idol attests to the temple's age. Worship of idols became popular much later.

Shri. Arasuri Ambaji Mata Devasthan Trust, with assistance from the whole District Administration, organizes a significant Religious Fair at Ambaji during Bhadarvi Poonam (in September). This Bhadarvi Fair in Ambaji is attended by more than 17 to 20 lakhs of pedestrian pilgrims and visitors each year.

Travel Destinations in Ambaji

1. Temple of Ambaji

The Ambaji Mata Temple is a well-known Shakti Peetha in India and is situated close to Khodiyar Chowk. Six other temples, including Ambikeshwar Mahadev, Varahi Mata, Ganapati Temples, Khodiyar Mata, Hanuman Temples, and Ajayar Mata Temple, are also present in Ambaji, a town at the mouth of the Saraswati River.

Due to its popularity, this particular temple is one of those which are also open during the night time. The temple is opened in three small shifts, spreading throughout the day. The opening and closing time of the temple is 7-11:30 A.M. in the morning, 12:30-4:30 P.M. in the afternoon, and 6:30-9 P.M. during the night time.

This temple is devoted to Arasuri Amba, a pre-Vedic Hindu deity. However, it lacks any worshipping idols. The adored object is the triangle Vishwa Yantra, which has the deity's name, "Shree", engraved in the center and surrounded by figures.

Over the course of the nine-day festival, Navratri at the Ambaji Mata Temple attracts a thriving crowd of worshippers. Diwali (an Indian festival of lights), full moon days, and Bhadarvi Poornima, all draw a sizable number of worshippers to the temple. At the Ambaji Mata Temple, photographing the holy book is against the law.

2. Gabbar Hills

Another place to visit in Ambaji is the Gabbar Hills. The Ambaji Temple is a well-liked Hindu pilgrimage site in Gabbar Hills. Goddess Amba is considered the presiding deity of this area. This particular hilltop is certainly eye-catching due to numerous reasons. The dead Devi Sati's heart is said to have fallen here if mythology is to be accepted. This sacred temple is accessible by 999 steps, and on the slopes overlooking the Ambe temple, a holy lamp is perpetually blazing. The winter months (October to February) are ideal because of the cool, pleasant weather.

Other lovely sightseeing alternatives outside the shrines include the sunset point, Mataji's grotto and swings, and a ride on the ropeway.

It's an excellent idea for tourists to take a ride to Gabbar Hills in Ambaji. The hill station is renowned for its popular legends, spiritual value, scenic beauty, and outdoor activities.

Gabbar Hills is a lovely and worthwhile site to visit and take in Gujarat's natural beauty. The hill station provides breathtaking views of the neighboring valleys and is surrounded by verdant foliage and undulating hills. It is an excellent location for taking in the area's religious significance, Gujarat's natural beauty, and adventurous sports. On the border between Gujarat and Rajasthan, these hills are located.

3. Kailash Hill Sunset

There is a stunning Shivalaya on a hill called "Kailash Tekari" that is only accessible by mounting the steps and strolling through the lovely mountainous neighborhood of Kailash Tekari, which is only 1.5 km from Ambaji on the Khedbrahma Highway. Along with its stunning Sunset Point, exploring the Kailash Tekari is always enjoyable for tourists. Shri Arasuri Ambaji Mata Devasthan Trust, which also manages the Temple Trust, recently built a sizable Artistic Stone Gate at the Mahadev Temple on Kailash Tekari.

This hill is not only a great place to watch the sunset, but it also has a Shivalaya, making it a place of worship. The elaborate stone gateway built into the Shiva temple is a recent addition. The Manglya Van Garden, which is around 2 kilometers from the hill, is also close by.

In addition, Kailash Tekari is a well-liked vacation spot because of its stunning scenery. The hill offers breathtaking views of the surroundings as it is surrounded by a lush green landscape.

Overall, Kailash Tekari is a stunning and worthwhile destination. It is a fantastic location to experience adventure, take in Gujarat's natural beauty, and learn about Hindu culture and religion.

4. Kamakshi Mandir

The distance between the Kamakshi Mandir in Chikla and Ambaji is only approximately a kilometer. This temple's grounds contain numerous additional minor shrines arranged in a South Indian temple architectural style that surround the main temple. This temple is home to some of India's most significant Shakti Peethas and houses the various manifestations of Aditya Shaktimata.

Aside from a few Vishnu temples, Shiva Kanchi, often known as the "Big Kanchi", is situated on one side of the temple. On the other side lies Vishnu Kanchi, often known as "Tiny Kanchi", which is home to numerous Shiva temples in addition to some large Vishnu temples.

One of the 51 Shakti Peethas in the nation and a highly significant Shakti Peeth is Kamakshi Temple in Kanchi. When Shiva was roaming around with the body of Goddess Sati, her navel (or Nabhi) had fallen here. Additionally, it is thought to be the Nabhisthan, or at the very least the eastern hemisphere, of the planet.

5. Kumbharia Jain Centre

Five Jain temples comprise the Kumbharia Jain Temples, located in Gujarat, India's Banaskantha region. They were built between 1062 and 1231 CE under the Chaulukya dynasty and are renowned for their intricate construction.

One of the most significant Jain centers during the Chaulukya era was Kumbharia. There were allegedly 360 temples in the area in the fourth century, but only five still stand today due to volcanic activity. These five Jain temples were built between 1062 and 1231 CE.

In 1062, the Mahavira Temple was created. The earliest Jain temple is this one. In 1082, the Shantinath Temple was completed. The Chalukyan king Jayasimha Siddharaja established the Parshvanath temple in 1094. A bit later, in 1136, during the rule of Jayasimha Siddharaja, the Neminath temple was constructed. The temple of Sambhavanatha was built in 1231.

Intricate architecture is a hallmark of the Kumbharia Jain temples. They are regarded as outstanding examples of Chaulukyan architecture, with the Dilwara, Girnar, and Taranga Jain temples. Some of India's most well-known Jain temples can be found at the Kumbharia Jain temple complex, specifically the Mahavira, Shantinatha, and Parshvanatha temples. These five marble temples have distinctive features and ranges in size, image carving, and architectural complexity. Every temple has a defensive walled courtyard with ornately carved entrances around it.

6. Balaram Ambaji Wildlife Sanctuary

The Aravali hills that comprise the dry deciduous forests of North Gujarat give the Balaram-Ambaji Wildlife Sanctuary an unimaginably gorgeous atmosphere. On August 7, 1989, the Gujarati government designated this gorgeous area as a wildlife sanctuary to preserve, enhance, and develop the local fauna and flora.

The unusual flora includes Musali, Gugal, and Kadaya (which produce medicinal gum). The main trees are Khair, Salai, Modad, Dhavada, Khakhara, and Timru. Khakhara, also known as Palash, Tesu, Kesudo, and Dhak, is a plant that blooms in late winter (February-March) and has a dramatic red color that resembles forest fires. It goes by many other names as well.

Adjutant Storks, spoonbills, ospreys, white-backed vultures, and black vultures are some of the area's unique birds. The sanctuary is also home to a wide variety of other species, including bulbuls, Indian rollers, woodpeckers, grey hornbills, peafowl, barbets, shrikes, etc., as well as several raptors. Both the Banas and Sabarmati rivers pass through this region.

The unique ecosystem is home to 483 plant species, including 107 tree species, 58 shrub species, 219 herb species, 49 climbers, 40 grass species, and 10 kinds of lower plants.

The top carnivore, the leopard, is free to travel in a variety of habitats. Sloth bears, striped hyenas, leopards, blue bulls, porcupines, foxes, little Indian civets, and Indian pangolins, as well as various snakes and lizards, star tortoises, and other reptiles, are among the rarer animals that may also be found if you are lucky. Besides, the wild boar, wolf, jackal, hare, langur, blue bull, leopard, rhesus monkey, sloth bear, Indian civet cat, Indian porcupine, hyena, etc., are also present.

7. Mangalya Van

Mangalya Van is a beautiful park that has attracted a large number of tourists recently. It is located atop a hillock called Kailash Tekri on the Khedbrahma Highway, about a kilometer and a half from the Ambaji Temple. Reaching Kailash Tekri and Mangalya Van, which are both surrounded by water bodies, requires climbing steps. There are many astrological myths followed within the region.

Every day, between 700 and 800 people visit Mangalya Van, and on weekends and holidays, the number exceeds 1,000. It is quickly gaining popularity. Everyone who visits Mangalya Van always wants to know how plants affect sun signs and wants to take a sapling home that will benefit their sign. They cultivate it in their backyard or next to their home. The plants in this garden (Van) are laid out in an area measuring 18 by 18 meters, with three plants each for the twelve zodiac signs.

8. Poshina

Poshina in Ambaji is another great tourist destination. It is a tiny village in Gujarat, India's Sabarkantha district, around 18 kilometers from Ambaji. Poshina is well-known for its distinctive tribal culture, stunning natural surroundings, and ceramic horses.

The various architectural details on the façade of Darbargadh Poshina, a fort palace that has been in the family for eight generations, reveal its past in great depth. Some components date back over 450 years. The 32 guest rooms are decorated with exquisite attention to detail and subtle, functional, and aesthetically pleasing opulence.

The food is tailored to suit the guests' preferences, be it the amount of heat or the avoidance of onion and garlic. Hostess is happy to share her recipes with you so you can make them at home. The host takes you on a tour in his jeep, whether you want to see an army of terracotta horses that are used as votive offerings rather than real animals, see an archery demonstration from the Garasia tribe, meet the rustic Rabari people, or want to go for a walk.

9. Temple of Khodiyar

Despite being built in the early 20th century, the Khodiyar Temple (15 km) outside Bhavnagar continues to have a devoted following among followers of Janbai (Khodiyar Maa). The temple features a ropeway at the back that connects the base to a shrine at the top of a hill and is located on the edge of the Tataniya Wali Lake. The primary prasad of the shrine is lapse (a dessert made of broken wheat).

It is thought that Khodiyar Mata is a Hindu warrior goddess who was born into the Charan caste around 700 AD. The Goddess and the building of this temple are the subjects of an intriguing mythology.

This temple is credited to Maharaja Wakhatsinghji Gohil, who governed the state of Bhavnagar from 1748 until 1816. He was Khodiyar Mata's devoted disciple. He once asked the Goddess to appear at Sihor, the seat of Bhavnagar, in her bodily form. When Khodiyar Mata appeared before him, he was instructed to lead the way to Sihor, but only on the condition that he should not look back to see if she was following him. Wakhatsinghji continued walking for many hours before stopping in Rajpara, just before Sihor, to check on her. The goddess was present but she kept her word and became stationary at the same place from that time onwards. The temple was built here after she and her sisters decided to live there.