Ambaji, Sacred temple complex in Banaskantha district, Gujarat, India
Ambaji is a temple complex in Danta Taluka, Banaskantha district, in northwestern Gujarat, rising at the southwestern edge of the Aravalli range near the riverbed of the Saraswati. The main structure of white marble is crowned by gilded domes that shine in sunlight, surrounded by smaller shrines and pavilions scattered across the grounds.
The site is mentioned in ancient Sanskrit texts as one of the 51 Shakti Peethas, holy places where parts of Goddess Sati are believed to have fallen to earth. The current marble structure was renewed and expanded over centuries through donations from pilgrims and regional rulers.
The name Ambaji honors Goddess Amba, a form of the divine mother, venerated throughout the complex with oil lamps and garlands. Pilgrims walk clockwise around the main shrine, murmuring prayers and touching the stone walls before prostrating themselves before the Yantra.
The nearest railway station is Palanpur, around 65 kilometers (40 miles) away, with regular bus services to the temple. Accommodation options range from simple guesthouses to hotels in town, which should be booked early during religious festivals.
The inner sanctum holds no statue or figurative representation, only a silver plate showing an engraving of the Viso Yantra, a geometric symbol made of triangles. Visitors approach the Yantra through a narrow passage covered with ancient inscriptions in Sanskrit.
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