Being in the Aravalli mountain range on the border of Gujarat and Rajasthan, Ambaji Shaktipeeth is also known as “Arasur Mata”. This Shaktipeeth temple of Ambaji is also considered among the 51 Shaktipeeths as well as the 12 most prominent Shaktipeeths of Goddess Sati. It is believed that in this Shaktipeeth temple, Goddess Ambaji resides in her awakened form from time immemorial. That’s why this place is one of the most prominent and biggest pilgrimage for Hindu religion.
Ambaji Shaktipeeth is a very ancient temple of Goddess Durga, situated on a mountain in the Aravalli mountain range in the Banaskantha district of the state of Gujarat. This temple of Ambaji holds the greatest importance of faith and Shakti worship, especially for the Gujarati community settled abroad. This Shaktipeeth temple holds a place among the most famous and special temples of India. This temple is considered to be one of the most prominent and biggest pilgrimages for Hinduism.
Ambaji trip by road –
So if you also want to visit Mata Ambaji Shaktipeeth located in Banaskantha district of Gujarat state, then tell that this temple is situated on the border of Rajasthan and Gujarat state. National Highway 14 also passes from near the temple. Apart from this, there is also a state road named Danta-Ambaji from state road number 9, which passes through the temple itself. That’s why very good facilities of regular buses and taxis are available in every way to come and go by road.
Ambaji Temple is about 70 kilometers from Palanpur in Gujarat. While Shree is 42 Kms from Amirgarh, 50 Kms from Kadiyadra, 45 Kms from Mount Abu, 200 Kms from Gandhi Nagar and 175 Kms from Ahmedabad. Apart from this, if you want to come here from Sirohi district of the neighboring state of Rajasthan, then this distance will have to be covered about 67 kilometers and about 170 kilometers from Udaipur. And, if you are going from Jodhpur to Ambaji then this distance has to be covered around 270 kms.
If you are coming to Ambaji Temple via Mount Abu Road, then the temple is only about 20 kilometers away from this road. There is a bus stand at Khodiyar Chowk, near Shri Ambaji Temple, for commuters traveling by bus, car or taxi. You can also walk from here to the temple.
Train travel to Ambaji
This is what happened to the passengers coming and going from the areas around the Ambaji Shaktipeeth temple. But, if the devotees from far-flung areas of the country and other states have to reach here, then for that they will have to travel by rail or aeroplane. In such a situation, if we talk about the devotees coming here by rail, then the nearest railway station here is named ‘Ambaji Station’, about 20 kilometers from Shri Ambaji Shaktipeeth Temple.
‘Ambaji Station’ is also known here as ‘Abu Road’ station. This railway station falls in Sirohi district of Rajasthan state. To reach this station, which is just 20 kilometers away from Ambaji Temple, there is a very good facility of taxi, auto, bus or sharing jeep or local auto at all times of the day or night. Apart from this, the second railway station here is also in Palanpur, which is located at a distance of about 70 km from the temple. The bus fare from Palanpur station to Ambaji temple is around Rs.50.
Air travel to Ambaji –
For the passengers going by air to Ambaji Shaktipeeth temple, the nearest airport is in Udaipur, Rajasthan, which is about 170 kilometers from here, and the second airport is Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad, which is located here. It is about 180 kms away from. That’s why even after traveling by air, the devotees have to take the help of the road route to come and go here. But, if you wish, you can also come to ‘Ambaji Station’ by train from Ahmedabad.
Where to stay –
By the way, most of the travelers and tourists make bookings for themselves in hotels, dharamshalas or guest houses before reaching here. But if you reach here even without booking, then you will find hundreds of small and big private hotels, guest houses, dharamshalas according to your budget in the vicinity of Shri Ambaji Temple. So there is not much problem to stay here. Apart from this Shri Arasuri Ambaji Mata Devasthan Trust has taken some historic steps to provide maximum facilities and accommodation to the visitors and pilgrims from all over the world coming to Mata Ambaji Shrine.
In Ambaji, you get an AC double bed room for Rs 578 and non-AC up to Rs 295 in almost all the accommodation you get from the trust. If you want to take a common hall with 10 beds, then it is available for Rs.590 and a common hall with 25 beds is available for Rs.1180.
Apart from this, some special and more comfortable accommodation and boarding facilities are available for the pilgrims of all classes and ages coming here economically and socially. A multi-storey building named “Shri” has recently been established here by the Ambaji Trust. This building named “Shri” is situated in front of Jagat Janani Pathikashram Ambika Rest House and State Transport Bus Station Depot.
This multi story building has 48 double and single room facilities. Apart from this, all the facilities like conference room, dining hall, garden, a play ground and parking have been kept in mind. Ambaji Trust says that this building is not on the basis of any kind of profit or loss but for the convenience of the passengers.
Parking Arrangement –
If you are going here by any type of your private vehicle, then Shri Arasuri Ambaji Mata Devasthan Trust has also made parking arrangements for your any type of vehicles and at a place called Gabbar Teli near the temple. Apart from lockers, you also get the facility of tourist shower room and public toilets at these parking places.
food arrangement
Since Ambaji is a pilgrimage place, generally pure vegetarian food will be available here. The breakfast items include delicious items like Dhokla, Sev, Khakra, Chakri, Fafda, Khandvi and Khaman. Although food from other states is also available here, but the most famous and delicious food here is Gujarati thali. In this plate, you get curry or lentils, rice and vegetables along with roti. Apart from this, another famous dish ie Khichdi is eaten with buttermilk. The enjoyment of traditional Gujarati cuisine and breakfast here is something else.
If you want, for the most delicious food here, you can also take advantage of the facility of world-class Satvik food from 10 am to 10 pm at Ambika Bhojnalaya on behalf of Shri Arasuri Ambaji Mata Devasthan Trust. Satvik food arrangements have been arranged in these restaurants at a very low cost, in which the price of a plate for an adult has been kept at Rs 15.
If you take some sweets along with the food here, then you will have to pay Rs 21 separately for that. Apart from this, the price of a plate for a child up to 6 years has been kept at Rs 11. And if you add something for the child too, you will have to pay Rs 15 extra.
Shri Arasuri Ambaji Mata Devasthan Trust has very beautiful and exquisite arrangement of some special Holiday Homes, Guest Houses, Dharamshalas and Bhojans here in the heart of Ambaji city, All these accommodation and boarding facilities run by the temple trust provide all kinds of facilities. Modern facilities and traditional Gujarati food and snacks are provided.
Shri Arasuri Ambaji Mata Devasthan Trust has opened Ambika Bhojanalayas on a large scale here with the help of NASA Foundation and others so that the pilgrims can get food arrangement in the vicinity of their residence.
Darshan of Ambaji Temple –
Before visiting the temple, keep in mind that there is no idol of the mother in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple, but a Shree Yantra is installed here. This Shree Yantra itself is considered as the symbol of Mother and is worshipped. Devotees are not even allowed to enter inside the sanctum sanctorum to have darshan of this holy Shree Yantra. That’s why the sanctum sanctorum of the temple is made like a safe cave. While a Jharokha has been left in the wall to have a darshan of the Shree Yantra from where all the devotees can see the Shree Yantra.
Arasuri Gabbar mountain pilgrimage –
After having darshan of Sri Yantra at Sri Ambaji Temple, all the devotees proceed to Arasuri Gabbar Tirtha. It takes around 15 to 20 minutes to reach Arasuri Gabbar Teerth from Shri Ambaji Temple. To cross this distance of about 5 kilometers, you have to go here by paying a fare of Rs 10 to 15 in local auto, taxi, rickshaw or sharing jeep. However, most of the devotees can be seen going here on foot.
Most of the devotees can also be seen climbing this Gabbar pilgrimage hill on foot, about 1,600 feet high. But, if you want, you can also take the facility of flying cot here. Here you will have to pay around Rs 95 per person for the flying cot, in which this facility is available for both the travel i.e. for coming and going.
Keep in mind that if you want to climb this Gabbar pilgrimage hill on foot, then go in the morning or in the evening only. Because at that time you will not feel much heat while climbing or descending here. From the height of Gabbar Teerth Hill, the view around is very beautiful and attractive. Good food and drink facilities are also available upstairs.
Best season to go –
So if you people are also planning to visit Shri Ambaji Shaktipeeth Temple with the children and elders of your family, then tell that the best time to go here can be during winter i.e. between October to March.
Although the fun of visiting here on the occasion of Navratri is somewhat different, but during this time there is a lot of crowd here. In such a situation, if you are going to a far-flung area, then you will not be able to enjoy the darshan of Mata here as much as at any other time.
In which season not to go –
Apart from this, if you go here between the months of July to September, then you may also have to face torrential rains here. But, during this time there is moisture in the air, so the weather here becomes a bit pleasant. Try to avoid visiting Ambaji during the summer months from April to June.
Public bath and toilet house –
In addition to this, special public bathing houses and toilets have also been made well arranged by the temple trust near the Sri Ambaji temple complex for the devotees.
Transparent facilities of the trust –
The list of facilities like various guest houses, restaurants, dining halls, parking, tourist bathing rooms and public toilets operated by Shri Arasuri Ambaji Devasthan Trust at different places here is provided by the temple trust with complete details so that people from far and wide can The pilgrims coming from here should not face any kind of problem in this.
Other places to visit –
There are some other famous temples and places of interest in the vicinity of Ambaji Temple such as Varahi Mata Temple, Ambikeshwar Mahadev Temple, Ganapati Temple, Hanumanji Temple, Mahadev Temple of Kailash Pahari, Kamakshi Temple and Koteshwar, Kumbhariya etc.
– Ajay Chauhan
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