Vajreshwari

Vajreshwari is a town located at a distance of about 76 km from the Mumbai city centre. Situated on the banks of River Tansa, Vajreshwari lies in the Bhiwandi taluka of Thane District in the state of Maharashtra. Earlier known as Vadavali, the town was renamed as Vajreshwari in honour of the presiding goddess of the temple.

  The region was ruled by the Peshwas and was later overtaken by the British in 1817. In the year 1739, Chimaji Appa had set camp in the Vadavali region on his way to capture the Portuguese held Bassein Fort of Vasai. During this period, Chimaji Appa prayed to goddess Vajreshwari to help him conquer the fort and defeat the Portuguese.

He also promised to build the temple in honour of the goddess if he won the battle. It is believed that the goddess appeared in the dream of Chimaji Appa and told him the way to conquer the fort. For celebrating his victory, Chimaji Appa ordered his governor Shankar Kasav Phadke to build Vajreshwari Temple.

Surrounded by a hilly region, the destination attracts thousands of devotees to Shree Vajreshwari Yogini Devi Mandir which is built on Mandagiri hillock. Located near the post office of Vajreshwari town, Mandagiri hillock was formed out of a volcanic eruption. Goddess Vajreshwari is an incarnation of goddess Parvati and is worshipped mostly by the local Marathi community. Navratri and Ram Navami are the most prominent festivals celebrated in this region.

Travellers can reach Vajreshwari by boarding flights to Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport of Mumbai. It is the nearest airport to Vajreshwari which is located at a distance of 65 km. Vasai Railway Station is the closest railway station to reach the destination. It is located at a distance of about 31 km from the city centre of Vajreshwari.

The destination is well connected with other major cities and towns of Mumbai by buses operated by the Maharashtra State Transport Corporation. October to March is the best time to visit Vajreshwari.