Ganesh Chaturthi is one of Mumbai’s grandest festivals, and no celebration feels complete without a visit to Lalbaugcha Raja, the city’s most celebrated Ganesh mandal. Each year, millions of devotees from across India queue up for darshan. In 2025, festivities will be held from August 27 till September 6, and for those planning a visit, here’s a complete travel and darshan guide.
Visitors can choose between two main darshan experiences:
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Mukh Darshan – face view of the idol.
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Charan Sparsha Darshan – touching the feet of the idol.
Entry Gates:
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Siddhi Gate – Free entry.
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Riddhi Gate – Paid entry (VIP/Special passes).
Average darshan time per person is 10–15 minutes!
Darshan & Aarti Timings
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General Darshan: 5 am – 11 pm
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Mukh Darshan: 6 am – 11 pm
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Charan Sparsha Darshan: 6 am – 11 pm
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Live Darshan Online: 24 hours
Aarti Schedule (Daily):
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Morning Aarti: 7:00 – 7:30 am
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Midday Aarti: 12:00 – 12:30 pm
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Evening Aarti: 7:00 – 7:30 pm
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Night Aarti: 10:00 – 10:30 pm
(Timings may be adjusted on weekends and special days.)
Ticket Categories and Prices:
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General Darshan: ₹50
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VIP Darshan: ₹200
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Special Darshan: ₹500
How to Reach Lalbaugcha Raja
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By Metro: Nearest station – Lower Parel.
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By Local Train:
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Chinchpokli (Central Line) – 10 min walk.
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Currey Road (Central Line) – 15 min walk.
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Lower Parel (Western Line) – 20–25 min walk or short cab ride.
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From Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST): Take a Central Line train and get down at Chinchpokli.
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By Bus (BEST):
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Route 124 – Dadar TT to Lalbaug
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Route 134 – Worli to Lalbaug
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Route 66 – Mumbai Central to Lalbaug
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Route 132 – CST to Lalbaug
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Route 172 – Bandra East to Lalbaug
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Expect extra travel time due to heavy festival crowds.
