Nerul Balaji Temple, Navi Mumbai Overview

The Nerul Balaji Temple is an almost-exact replica of the Tirupati Balaji Temple, and also replicates certain aspects of the Venkateswara temple at Tirupati. It has been constructed according to the Shilpa Shastra. This temple is located on a small hill close to the western side of the Nerul railway station. The primary deity worshipped in this temple is Shri Balaji, which is a name ascribed to a form of Lord Hanuman is different parts of our country. The temple premise houses many other temples as well.

Inside the temple premise, there are different temples dedicated to different deities, such as the Hanuman Temple, Vishwaksena Temple, Ramanuja Temple and Lakshmi Narasimha Temple, the Vidya Ganapati Temple, and the Shri Padmavati Devi Temple. Several other deities such as Sridevi, Bhoodevi, and Shrinivasa are also worshipped in this temple. Even more, temples which host idols of Rama, Sita, Lakshmana, and Krishna with Rukmini can be found inside the complex. Some special idols are also there, knows as the Utsava idols, as they are saved for festivities or certain special occasions.

Timings and Entry Fee

The timings of the Nerul Balaji Temple differ according to the day of the week during which one is visiting the temple. The temple remains open during 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM during Friday, Saturday, and Sunday; whereas, on the other hand, on Mondays to Thursdays, the temple remains open from 6:00 AM to 11:00 AM in the morning and then from 4:30 PM to 9:00 PM. Entry is free for all in this temple, but any sort of photography or videography is not allowed within the temple premises.

Architecture of the Temple

The architecture of the temple is really astounding. Upon entering the temple, the two pillar-like structures one can see are the Dhwaja Stambha and the Baali Peetham. The Tiru Mamani Mandapam lies right next to the Stambha, which is connected through a flight of steps. Cement and granite forms this Mandapam, which portrays comparatively modern architectural style and elements. There are different ‘sannathi’s in the temple, including one sannathi dedicated ro Ramanuja (which is an uncommon occurrence in South Indian temples), and one Navagraha sannathi. The temple also has a Garbha Griham located behind the Ardha Mandapam. Beside the Garbha Griham, the Bhoga Srinivasa is placed, which is a small silver idol of the deity and is also often referred to as the Kautuka Bera. The temple surrounds a 60-feet high Rajagopuram (gopuram refers to a monumental entrance tower which is usually found in the temples in southern India), and is in turn surrounded by a well maintained garden area.

Best Time to Visit

The best time to visit Navi Mumbai is during the winter months as well as early spring, which are from the months November to late April. As Navi Mumbai is situated in the state of Maharashtra, the weather the city usually experiences is quite warm and also highly humid.

Places to Visit Nearby

There are a plethora of exciting places for tourists to visit in Navi Mumbai as well as in Mumbai, which is quite near to the area. Some of these destinations include popular sites such as Central Park, the Rock Garden, Navi Mumbai, the DY Patil Stadium, the Kharghar hills, the Pandavkada falls, the SIES Hanuman temple, and the Jewel of Navi Mumbai (a recreational park). Several places in Mumbai such as the Gateway of India, Marine Drive, the different beaches such as Juhu and Chowpatty, etcetera are all quite conveniently accessible by roadways, buses, as well as the local train from Navi Mumbai.

How To Reach Nerul Balaji Temple

Most connecting routes from Mumbai to the Nerul Balaji Temple are easily accessible via Andheri. The Balaji Temple can be reached either by roadways or railways. Buses from Andheri to the temple frequently operate from Agarkar Chowk Station and are operated by the Bombay Electric Supply Transport. These buses can also be accessed from the stations Vikhroli, Vikhroli East, RTO Ghatkopar, and Nerul Naka. NMMT buses also operate every four hours between Maharashtra Nagar and Nerul Naka. Nerul Naka is the bus stop closest to the Balaji Temple. The line 1 metro, subways, and local trains also operate between these spots and can be accessed conveniently at regular intervals of between 15 to 25 minutes every day. The train station closest to the Balaji Temple is the Nerul station. Besides these, taxi services are also functional, and reaching the temple from around Andheri takes between 30 minutes to an hour. The rear side of the temple looks onto the Palm Beach Road. This road connects Belapur and Vashi and passes from Nerul.