Amba at Ambaji temple is at a distance of 65 Kms from Palanpur and 45 Kms from Mt. Abu near Gujarat Rajasthan border and 185 kilometres from Ahmedabad. It is one of the richest and holiest temple in Gujarat attracting lakhs of pilgrims from Gujarat and neighbouring Rajasthan every year. The original seat of Ambaji Mata is on Gabbar Hilltop, which is 3 Kms away from Ambaji town.
Shakti is worshipped as Amba and Shiva is worshipped as Batuk Bhairav
Devi’s heart fell here.
Ambaji Mata temple at Gabbar hill is very ancient, origin of which is lost in antiquity. It is believed that Goddess Amba was one of the deities of Pre-Aryan race, which Aryans absorbed in their pantheon. On the Gabbar Hill the footsteps of Goddess are imprinted. The imprint of Her chariot is also found here. It is believed that the tonsure ceremony of Lord Krishna also took place here. Ambaji temple has a golden yantra made jointly with the yantra of Nepal Shaktipeeth at Ujjain. There are 51 shlokas on the yantra.
There are three major sites to be visited on Gabbar Hill. One is the Holy New Temple of Mata Ambaji, where there are some Foot prints incurved on the rock. The other one is Holy Tree of Pipal, under which Lord Krishna’s hairs were removed as a ritual in his childhood. And the third one is Cave of Ambaji, where devotees can hear voice of the singing of Mataji.
The inner sanctum of the temple has silver-plated doors. Made of white marble with gold cones, the temple was originally built by Nagar Brahmins. There is a main entrance in the front and only a small side-door, because it is believed that Mataji (another name for Ambaji) has forbidden the addition of any other door. The temple is surrounded by an open square called chachar chowk where ceremonial sacrifices called havans are performed.
There is a gokh, or niche, in the wall on which is fixed an old-plated marble inscription of the Viso Yantra, a Vedic text on sacred geometry, which is the main focus of worship. There is no idol of the goddess, perhaps because the temple is so ancient that it predates idol-worship, but the priests decorate the upper portion of the gokh in such a way that it looks like an idol.
How to get there
By Road
The Ambaji Temple can be reached through road network across the state. nearest major city is Palanpur, from where direct buses are available from other part of state.
By Train
The nearest Railway station is at Palanpur (65 km), which is connected to most of the cities and towns in Gujarat.
By Air
The nearest International Airport is Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, Ahmedabad which is 179 km far from Ambaji Temple Town.
