Shri Arasuri Ambaji Mata Temple, Ambaji
Ambaji, Danta taluka, Banaskantha district (near the Rajasthan border) · Goddess Amba (Arasuri Ambaji), worshipped through the Visa (Shri) Yantra – there is no idol
One of the 51 Shakti Peethas, where the Goddess is worshipped not as an idol but as a sacred yantra, under a 103-foot spire gilded with 140 kg of devotees' gold.
Ambaji is Gujarat's most visited goddess temple, set in the Arasur hills of the Aravalli range near the Rajasthan border. It is counted among the 51 Shakti Peethas, the places where parts of the goddess Sati's body fell. The trust and tradition hold that her heart fell here. The temple is unusual because there is no idol: the deity is the Visa (Shri) Yantra, a sacred geometric diagram that priests worship blindfolded and dress so that it appears as the Goddess on a lion. Nearby Gabbar hill, with its eternal flame, is believed to be the original seat of the Goddess. About 40 lakh pilgrims, many walking from across Gujarat, come for the Bhadarvi Poonam fair each September.
Timings
- Morning aarti: approx. 7:00 / 7:30 – 8:00 AM
- Morning darshan: approx. 8:00 – 11:30 AM
- Rajbhog (closed): 12:00 – 12:30 PM
- Afternoon darshan: approx. 12:30 – 4:15 PM
- Evening aarti: approx. 6:30 – 7:00 PM (varies with sunset)
- Evening darshan: approx. 7:00 – 9:00 PM
- Note: The trust posts the day's exact timings on ambajitemple.in; they shift with the season and on Poonam and festivals.
Darshan types and costs
- General darshan – Free
- Senior citizen / disabled assistance – Free
- Live darshan – Free
Sevas and costs
- Yagna (havan) – Check official site (On booked dates, in the temple's yagnashala / Chachar Chowk)
- Dhaja (flag) offering – Check official site (Daily; especially on Poonam days and Bhadarvi Poonam)
- Pavdi Puja – Check official site (On booked dates)
- Mundan (first haircut) – Varies (Daily)
- Aarti darshan (morning and evening) – Free (Morning aarti approx. 7:00/7:30 – 8:00 AM; evening aarti approx. 6:30 – 7:00 PM (posted…)
- Chunri and shringar offering – Varies (shops on the approach road) (Any day)
- Suvarna Shikhar gold donation – Varies (gold, cash, cheque/DD or online) (Any time)
How to book darshan
Darshan is free and needs no booking. Yagna, dhaja and pavdi puja, online prasad and donations are on the official website and app.
Dress code
Modest traditional dress is advised. No formal written code was found on the trust's site, but very short or revealing clothes are inappropriate.
Best time to visit
October to March for pleasant weather. The monsoon is the most scenic season in the Aravallis (the trust notes about 20 inches of rain). Bhadarvi Poonam (September) and Navratri bring very large crowds; summer can reach 45°C.
How to reach
- air: Ahmedabad (Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport) is about 185 km away. Udaipur (about 170 km) is an alternative.
- rail: Abu Road (Rajasthan) is the nearest railway station, about 20 km away, with trains on the Ahmedabad–Delhi line. Palanpur Junction is about 65 km away.
- road: Frequent GSRTC and private buses run from Ahmedabad (about 190 km), Palanpur (65 km) and Mount Abu (45 km). Taxis are available from Abu Road.
Festivals
- Bhadarvi Poonam Mahamela – Week ending on the full moon of Bhadrapada (Sep). 2026: held 20–26 September. 2027 dates not yet announced (expect mid-September).
- Sharad Navratri – Ashwin Shukla 1–9 (Sep/Oct)
- Chaitra Navratri – Mar/Apr
- Poonam (every full moon) – Monthly
- Diwali – Oct/Nov