Ballaleshwar Temple, Pali

Ballaleshwar at Pali, 28 km from Roha in Raigad district, is one of the eight Ashtavinayaka temples of Ganesha and the only one known by a devotee's name. Moreshvar Vitthal Sindkar built it in 1640, and in 1760 the original wooden temple was replaced by a stone one designed by Fadnis, laid out in the shape of the letter shri, with lead mixed into the cement. Legend tells of Ballal, a merchant's son whose devotion to a stone he worshipped as Ganesha held firm even when his angry father beat him.

The temple faces east so that the rising sun falls on the image, which sits on a stone throne with its trunk to the left, against a silver backdrop showing Riddhi and Siddhi; its eyes and navel are set with diamonds. The 40-foot main hall has eight pillars shaped like cypress trees, and a bell brought back by Chimaji Appa after defeating the Portuguese is kept here.