Lord Dattatreya Temple, Grant Road / Chowpatty,Mumbai

The Dattatreya Temple is located at Grant Road (West) in South Mumbai, right next to Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan.The presiding deity of this temple is Lord Dattatreya, the combined form of Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu, and Lord Shiva.

Lord Dattatreya represents the unity of creation, preservation, and transformation — symbolizing complete knowledge and spiritual balance. The beautifully adorned marble idol of Lord Dattatreya stands in the sanctum, radiating peace and divinity. Devotees believe that worshipping Lord Dattatreya here brings wisdom, spiritual progress, and protection from difficulties.
The temple opens to the public only once a year, making it one of the most exclusive and sacred Dattatreya temples in Mumbai.

Temple Age

This ancient Dattatreya Temple is over 120 years old. It was constructed in 1898 by Shantaram Narayan Dabholkar, a respected member of the Dabholkar family. The temple began as a private family shrine and has been lovingly maintained by the Dabholkar family for generations.

Architecture

The temple’s design blends beauty, tradition, and European craftsmanship. The main shrine (Devhara), about nine feet high, is made entirely of Italian marble, which was imported in pieces from Italy and assembled in Mumbai. The floors are also of polished Italian marble, giving the sanctum a serene white glow.
The outer walls were built using Porbandar stone, which was soft enough for fine carvings. The doors and windows are made of Burma teak wood, intricately carved and still preserved in their original form. The overall structure has a calm, colonial-era charm — a reflection of late 19th-century architecture in South Mumbai.
During the 1998 restoration, all original materials and carvings were carefully retained, keeping the temple’s authenticity intact. The effort won the temple a heritage award for religious sites.

History

The Dabholkar family, originally from Vengurla, moved to Mumbai in the 19th century. Narayan Dabholkar, the father of Shantaram, was a hardworking man who rose from humble beginnings to become successful in business. He owned properties across Mumbai, including the area where Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan now stands and parts of Nepean Sea Road, where “Narayan Dabholkar Road” still bears his name.
After his early death, his son Shantaram Narayan Dabholkar decided to build a temple in his memory and devotion to Lord Dattatreya. The construction began in 1897, and by 1898 the temple was completed. The Italian marble Devhara was custom-made, shipped by sea, and assembled in Mumbai — a remarkable achievement for that period.

Over time, the temple became one of the city’s most respected Dattatreya shrines, representing both devotion and heritage. Though originally a private shrine, the Dabholkar family gradually opened its doors to devotees, especially during Datta Jayanti.

Sthalapurana

Over time, the temple became one of the city’s most respected Dattatreya shrines, representing both devotion and heritage. Though originally a private shrine, the Dabholkar family gradually opened its doors to devotees, especially during Datta Jayanti.

Festivals

The most important celebration at this temple is Datta Jayanti, the birth anniversary of Lord Dattatreya. On this day, the temple — usually closed to the public — opens its doors to thousands of devotees. The atmosphere is filled with devotion and chanting, and people line up from early morning to get darshan of Lord Dattatreya.
Every year, nearly 14,000 devotees visit the temple on Datta Jayanti. The day is marked by abhishekams, special pujas, bhajans, and aarti. The Dabholkar family personally organizes and oversees all arrangements with great sincerity. For the rest of the year, the temple remains closed, preserving its sanctity and family tradition.