Vahanvati Sikotar Mata Khambhat – Photo Tour, Story and History
Vahanvati Sikotar Mata temple is located 7 km from Khambhat town in Ralej village. Built few meter from seashore, Sikotar Mata temple is a scenic holy place. I’ll talk about history of the place, Sikotar Mata story and will take you to a photo tour.
How We Ended Up At Sikotar Mata
We visited Sikotar Mata without any prior planning.
In 7th semester of B. Tech in Computer Engineering from DDIT, Nadiad, I hadn’t spent any weekend sitting in room watching movies! 🙂
It was one bright Sunday morning. So I thought of going somewhere..
I had visited all places nearby Nadiad and Anand. All of a sudden, I had a thought of Khambhat. I called Smit Patel, asked him if he’s ready. He is always ready!
Within an hour, we were seen biking on Anand – Khambhat road. I liked the road. On the both sides of road, you’d find row of trees. Breezing air coming over from fields is an add on.
Oh! I still haven’t told you how we ended up visiting Sikotar Mata!
So, we were in Khambhat city. Now what?! We asked a shopkeeper, what are some places to visit in Khambhat city.
He told us to visit Vahanvati Sikotar Mata Temple, saying that sea is nearby temple and we’d enjoy the views. That’s it! All we needed was one hint and we set off for Vahanvati Mata.
Location of Sikotar Maa Temple and How to Reach
Vahanvati Maa temple is situated near Arabian seashore in Ralej village, which is 10 minutes drive from Khambhat. As I mentioned above, the location is quite scenic.
Distance Matrix:
From | To | Distance in km / Time in hr |
Khambhat | Sikotar Maa | 10 km / 20 minutes |
Anand | Sikotar Mata | 60 km / 1.5 hour |
Nadiad | Sikotar Maa | 60 km / 1.5 hour |
Vadodara | Sikotar Maa | 70 km / 1.5 hour |
Ahmedabad | Sikotar Mata | 100 km / 2.5 hour |
Plenty of GSRTC buses run to-from Khambhat.
Food stalls outside Sikotar Maa campus
Nearest railway station is Khambhat. Demu trains run every two hour between Anand – Khambhat. See Khambhat Railway Station Timetable
From Khambhat, rickshaws will take you direct to Vahanvati temple.
Sikotar Maa History
Temple has mapping with 950 year old history.
In name Sikotar,
Si = Laxmi
Kotar = Goddess living in ravine.
Sikotar Maa is also known as Goddess of sea.
Sikotar Maa Photo: http://www.templetravel.net/
Years ago when Khambhat was known as Trambavati nagari, Vahanvati Maa is believed to be inhabiting in Khambhat.
Maa Sikotara Vahanvati is Kulvardhini of Rabari Samaj.
Story time now!
Vahanvati Sikotar Mata Story
Sikotar maa has many stories. Let’s list each story one by one:
-> A. On the back side of Vahanvati temple, there’s a copper pillar.
Legend says that back in time when ships would lost from their way, they would pray for Vahanvati Mata. Soon after, a lamp will be lightened up on the copper pillar and taking directions, ships would their destination safely.
-> B. Another tale is that, during Navratri time, Mata would come to Sikotar to play Garba. Sound of Mata’s anklet was so powerful that farmers in nearby villages could easily hear.
-> C. There’s one popular story of Sikotar Mata and Jagdusa. It explains how Sikotar Mata started to know as Vahanvati.
When drought took over Saurashtra region, a merchant named Jagdusa came to Khambhat and entrapped his ships. He was true devotee of Maa Sikotar and soon his business grown full fledged.
He became so rich. Wondering what to do with the money he had, he bought a gold chain for Sikotar Maa. Though, being a merchant, his thoughts were changed after he saw gleaming gold. Instead of devoting to Sikotar Maa, he kept chain for his wife.
That night, in his dream, Sikotar Maa appeared and told Jagdusa to see positions of his ships. Hastily, Jagdusa came out only to see his ships sinking in sea.
He realized the grave mistake he made and immediately apologised Sikotar Maa. Kind Maa accepted his apologies and saved his ships from sinking.
From this incident, Goddess is regarded as Vahanvati.
-> D. Vahanvati Maa is also known to solve infertility issues of devotees. There have been many examples of devotees pledging to Maa and Sikotar Maa helping to come over their situations.
Courtesy: http://panchalshailesh.blogspot.in/2011/11/ralej-ni-sikotar-mataji-ane-jagdusa.html
View of Arabian sea from temple platform
Photos of Vahanvati Temple Campus
The grand campus has,
- Chachar Chok
- Garba Mandap
- Cultural Hall
- Bench for Rest
- Garden for Kids
- Dinner Hall
- Dharamshala
- Food Storage Room
I didn’t take photos inside temple as photography wasn’t allowed inside temple. Following are photos from: http://www.templetravel.net/2015/11/sikotarvahanvati-mata-temple-in.html
Festival and Events
During Navratri, a huge celebration is held at Maa Sikotar.
Annakshetra is run on every Sunday and Poornima.
During Navratri time. Photo: http://www.templetravel.net
Silhouette Photography!
We completed tour of temple in a couple of hours. The sight infilled vibes.
Now what, we thought again.
To the sea!
Arabian sea is 10 minutes from the temple. Upon reaching there, I looked around. We were the only ones out there!
We didn’t want to leave the place without capturing sunset. We were 2 hours from sunset.
Camera! Action! And we started photography sessions!
I’d always remember trip to Khambhat and Sikotar Mata for these photos! It was one of the finest photography sessions I ever had!
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Ramchandra damor
जय वहाणवटी मां सिकोतर तमने जाजी खम्मा तमारा आशिर्वाद अमारा उपर कायम राखजु अने आ सुचना देनारा भाई ने उजलु फल आपने मां जय जय मां सिकोतर
Pooja
Superb information, I’m making video on this.. In my channel
https://youtube.com/channel/UCghLQrL0aS-rsI3MwPhgMUw
Kindly have a look..
Sanghani B L
Shitotar mataji (vahanvati maa) temple is also situated at village Gigasan, Taluka Dhari, District Amreli Gujarat. Sanghani family (Thakkar/Lohana). Trusted goddess of the family and regular pooja, aarti, nivedan, yagna etc. taking place every year. Mobile no.
Vanraj Dangar
Very interesting & informative:)
I used to find information any place whenerver i think to visit any place nearby nadiad:D i never disappointed!
Darpan Dodiya
Thank you! Glad to hear that 😇
K udh
Hii.. very nice description… Can u tell me wether there is proper clean beach there to move around??
Darpan Dodiya
Hey, not really. There’s no proper beach as such.
LÈENA
Hi
Do u have any chalisa / stuti of ma sikotar …
Darpan Dodiya
Right now, I don’t have any.
I will try to get it for you and will email you..
Fulesh Desai
Jay Sikotar Maa
Solanki Komal
Jay ma sikotar amri kurni Devi Jay mataji badhani raksha karjo
Bhate
Thankyou for the information. Have desire to visit since 2010. We visited our village near jamnagar where we have sikotar mata mandir as well.
We were blessed with a daughter ,a companion four our son.
Hope mata no bulavo ave and darshan na labh male.
Thanks.
Darpan Dodiya
Hope your wishes come true.. 🙂
uday solanki
Maa sikotra bless every one of m family
Ashwini Solanki
Thank u for d information…maa sikotara isy kuldevi as well Bt haven’t visited the place yet…will visit..N this stuff is really useful !!
Darpan Dodiya
You’re welcome! 🙂
Do share some photos of the place whenever you visit.
uday solanki
Yes
uday solanki
Maa sikotar tara mahima khup che jai maa
uday solanki
Jai maa sikotar
Dashrath Desai
MA SIKOTAR TANE GHANI KHAMMA, MA TU NA MALE ENO AVTAR NAKAMO KEHAVY
Shubham Panchal
Jay ma shikotar
Paresh Solanki
Jai Vahanvati Maa
Mansi
thanks for the information,it is good to know about our motherland and inheritance and historical stories
Darpan Dodiya
🙂
Falguni
Thanks for info… shikoter ma is my kuldevi so i m syor that we are going to khmbhat 1 time thank u so much..
Darpan Dodiya
Nice to know that!
Yes, it’s worth the visit 🙂
sandip
Thanks for this information.
Darpan Dodiya
You’re welcome. 🙂
Dr. Anil Gajjar
Thanks for the information.
My father Shree Kantibhai Mistry has supervised the renovation of mata temple.
And one more thing in BIG shivling behind mata temple is India’s map in the centre with all 12 shivlings shown.
Darpan Dodiya
I didn’t notice the 12 Shivalinga’s map on my visit. I shall update my article stating the fact.
Thanks for info!
Vikas
Thanks for knowledge, my birth place is Khambhat.
Darpan Dodiya
Nice! Khambhat is beautiful city. 🙂
Smit
We had captured approximately 2k pictures that day!
Darpan Dodiya
Haha yeah!
Like every other tour of us!
Shambhu R. Solanki
Jai Sikotar Mataji,
We hope that sea water will flow till your temple earlier, Your worshipers wish you fullfill earlier that’s our preyer.
Shambhu Reva Solanki
Asodar Ta. Ankalav, Di. Anand