Visit Mahalaxmi Temple: A Popular Religious and Tourist Place to Visit in Mumbai (2024)
Mahalaxmi Temple in Mumbai is a popular temple in the Mumbai area, and is also one of the oldest, with its origins dating to the 1800s. The temple dedicates itself to Mahalaxmi, the central deity of Devi Mahatmyam. Today, the Mahalaxmi temple is a famous religious as well as a tourist location of Mumbai. If you are planning to visit the Mahalaxmi temple, read this article to know what to expect.
History of Mahalaxmi Temple
Mahalaxmi Temple has an interesting history. Back in the day, the authorities were unable to build the Hornby Vellard, with walls collapsing a couple of times. A chief engineer of the project dreamt of the Devi statue and found it near Worli, which became the location for this temple.
This incident is very much in line with the Indian concept that anything that needs creation requires religious approval.
The Mahalaxmi Temple Experience
Mahalaxmi Temple is an important religious and tourist location. You will see a lot of commercial activity around it. As you enter the Mahalaxmi temple, you will see the vendors selling various darshan paraphernalia.
All around the Mahalaxmi temple, you will find walls with intricate carvings that are a symbol of past creativity and painstaking effort. The deepmala and the dhwajasthamb are two of the iconic imagery that defines the city.
The main worship area, the sanctum sanctorum has the idols of Shree Ganesha and Lord Vitthala and Rukmini.
The area has the idols of the three Goddesses, Mahakali, Mahalakshmi, and Mahasaraswati. The idols and the props are a view that one can only see to believe. Along with these, you see the visuals a sculpture of a silver-covered lion.
The Mahakali Goddess is the Goddess of Destruction, the Mahalaxmi Goddess is the Goddess of Wealth, and the Mahasaraswati is the Goddess of Learning.
This temple is one of the several that gives its visitors a calmness and serenity that is rare. The Mahalaxmi temple forms an integral part of Mumbai tourism and you will see that many tour operators include Mahalaxmi temple in their traveling itinerary.
The Mahalaxmi temple experiences crowds all through the day, so try to complete your visit by early morning. The religious locations in Mumbai are sometimes hotspots for robbers, so make sure that you take care of your personal belongings and do not wear too much jewelry.
Mumbai is a cosmopolitan city, and most people do not bother what you wear. However, because this is a religious place, it makes sense to dress conservatively – both for men and women.
One pro-tip while visiting Mahalaxmi or any other temple is – there will be a couple of touts around who will try to hoodwink you into something or the other. Steer clear of them. The best way to stay away from them is to travel in groups and keep an eye out for anything untoward.
Mahalaxmi temple is so famous because of its accessibility, the calming experience that it is, and the intricate architecture that makes it a must-visit for anyone looking to learn more about ancient Indian architecture. The busiest times for the Mahalaxmi temple are Diwali , Gudi Padwa and the New Year.
Your Mahalaxmi temple visit should not take more than an hour. If you plan well, you can complete your visit by late morning and have the whole day to do something else.
Places to Visit Near Mahalaxmi Temple
If you are in Dadar, you have many options for that. Dadar is one of the busy localities in Mumbai, and you can experience the speed at which Mumbai operates by just strolling through the bylanes of this area.
You can also travel to Churchgate and experience a lifestyle that you will find in very few metros in the country. Visit the Gateway of India and have a look at British architecture.
The Gateway of India is also the location from where you can catch a jetty to Alibaug. If you have a weekend on you, visit the Mahalaxmi Temple in the morning, head over to the Gateway of India, and then go to the Alibaug beach, spend your overnight there, and then return to Mumbai the next day. A jetty leaves from Mumbai to Alibaug, every forty-five minutes, from 8:30 in the morning to about 5:30 in the late afternoon.
If you would not be comfortable doing that and wish to remain in Mumbai, you can have an exciting experience in Mumbai as well. You will see a small flea market along the way in Churchgate, that has everything from female fashion accessories to knock-off electronic products.
How To Reach Mahalaxmi Temple
Mahalaxmi Temple is in a place called Mahalaxmi in Mumbai and is easily accessible. You can either get down at Dadar station or Mahalaxmi station. If you would like to explore Mumbai on your own, you can also hire a cab from wherever you are in Mumbai. Pro-tip, there are no autorickshaws that ply after Bandra. So, you will have to hail a cab or book one via the cab aggregators.
