About Ambreshwar Shiva Temple
The Ambreshwar Shiva Temple is an 11th-century Hindu temple located in Ambernath, Maharashtra, built around 1060 AD by the Shilahara dynasty. Situated on the banks of the Waldhuni River, it is a protected monument under the Archaeological Survey of India. The temple features unique Bhumija-style architecture with a sunken sanctum and an unfinished spire open to the sky. It houses a Swayambhu Shiva Linga and remains an active place of worship.
Visitors guide
Visitors can explore an ancient basalt stone temple featuring intricate exterior carvings and a distinctive subterranean sanctum reached by descending approximately 20 steps. The central shrine is open to the sky due to the truncated shikhara. The site includes a pillared mandapa with three porches and sculptural panels depicting Hindu deities. As an active religious site, visitors may observe daily rituals and abhisheka ceremonies, particularly during evening aarti.
Key highlights
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11th-century temple built circa 1060 AD by Shilahara King Chhittaraja
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Sunken garbhagriha located approximately 20 steps below ground level
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Unfinished Bhumija-style shikhara leaving the sanctum open to the sky
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Swayambhu (self-manifested) Shiva Linga
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Intricate basalt stone carvings and sculptured panels on exterior walls
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Protected monument maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India
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Situated on the banks of the Waldhuni River
History of Ambreshwar Shiva Temple
Built circa 1060 AD during the reign of Shilahara King Chhittaraja, possibly completed by his son Mummuni. It represents one of the earliest dated examples of Bhumija temple architecture in Maharashtra. Rediscovered in 1850 by ASI Director Henry Cousens after being lost for centuries, it has been a centrally protected monument since 1951.
Culture & Context
The temple is a major pilgrimage site hosting one of Maharashtra's largest Mahashivratri fairs, attracting hundreds of thousands of devotees annually. The name 'Ambarnath' (Lord of the Sky) derives from the temple's open-to-sky sanctum. It serves as a significant cultural landmark representing North Konkan Shilahara heritage and continues to be an active center for Shaivite worship.