Babulnath, Hindu temple in Mumbai, India
Babulnath is a Hindu temple on a hill in Mumbai, India, with a tall shikhara tower rising above the main shrine. The facade displays stone reliefs of divine figures, and several smaller shrines surround the central prayer hall.
Locals discovered a natural Shiva lingam among the babul trees in the 18th century and built the first small shrine around it. The current structure grew through several expansions, with local communities raising funds for each phase of construction.
The name refers to the babul trees that once covered the hill before the shrine was built. Worshippers bring bilva leaves, which they place directly onto the lingam, while priests in saffron robes guide the rituals.
Access is either by a steep stairway or a gentler sloping path, both leading up from the base of the hill. Visitors should wear modest clothing and remove their shoes before entering the inner sanctum.
The hill stands roughly 78 meters above sea level and offers views of the Arabian Sea and southern neighborhoods. On clear days, you can see the coastline and the dense buildings stretching toward the water.
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