Shri Siddhivinayak Ganpati Temple

Shri Siddhivinayak Ganpati Temple is an ancient hill shrine located in Kelzar village, Wardha district, Maharashtra. Situated atop the historic Kelzar Fort, the temple is dedicated to Lord Ganesha and is revered as Varad Vinayak. It is associated with legends from the Vasishtha Puran and Mahabharata, identifying the site as Ekchakranagar. The complex features archaeological remains from the Vakataka period, including fort ramparts and 8th-century idols of Vishnu and Mahalakshmi.

Visitors can expect a religious and historical experience at this hilltop temple situated within ancient fort ruins. Access is available via stairs or a vehicle road leading through a bastion archway. The main shrine houses a right-trunked Ganesha idol approximately 4.6 feet high. The premises include a water tank known as Ganeshkund, remnants of five bastions, and excavated 8th-century stone idols displayed near the sanctum. A dharamshala is available on-site for pilgrims.

The site is identified as Ekchakranagar mentioned in the Vasishtha Puran and Mahabharata. Tradition holds that Rishi Vasishtha installed the original Ganesha idol and that Adi Shankaracharya visited in 605 AD. The fort structure dates to the Vakataka period, and excavations have revealed 8th-century Jain and Hindu artifacts, indicating continuous religious significance over millennia.

Revered as one of the Ashtavinayaka temples of Vidarbha, the deity is worshipped as Varad Vinayak, believed to fulfill wishes. The annual Ganeshotsav festival attracts large gatherings for bhajans and kirtans. The site also holds importance for Jains due to the discovery of an 8th-century Chandraprabhu Swami idol.