Showing posts with label Pune. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pune. Show all posts

Sunday, January 17, 2016

Khandala, Maharashtra, Pune


Khandala

  • Destination: Maharashtra, Pune
Khandala is a beautiful hill station located amidst the mighty Western Ghats in the Pune district of Maharashtra. It is situated 68 km away from its district headquarters. This hill station impresses the tourists with its picturesque scenery of lush green hills, scintillating valleys and magnificent cascades. A spectacular hilly terrain, Khandala is blessed with a cool and pleasant climate, which entice the tourists with its breathtaking spectacles throughout the year.
Though marked with a mysterious past, this hill station has witnessed the rise and decline of strong powers like the Heroic Marathas, the Lionhearted Peshwas and finally the British. Like all other hill stations, Khandala is grateful much to the progressive British for its wonderful mansions that proudly stood as a prominent testimonial to the colonial era.
Khandala proffers striking waterfalls and glittering lakes attributes to the grand look of a superb ambiance. A nice walk through the mesmerizing valleys brings forth the panoramic vista of the hill station. Khandala is the major attraction for those who are very fond of adventures. Mounting the heights in an enthralling atmosphere would be so tempting that one cannot forget its transcendence. The Duke’s Nose peak and Karla hills are the two popular spots for rock climbing.
Khandala is the best place to have a quiet and tranquil holidaying.

Major Attractions

Tiger’s Leap
Amrutanjan Point
Duke’s Nose
Rajmachi Fort
Bhushi Lake
Shingroba Temple
Reversing Station

Fast Facts

Taluka: Maval District: Pune
State: Maharashtra Languages: Marathi, Hindi, English
Best Time to Visit: All Seasons Weather: 12°C to 38°C (Max.)
STD Code: 02114 Pin Code: 410301

How to Reach

By Air

Pune Airport is the nearest one, 74 km away and is well connected to major cities of India and abroad. Other major airport is at Mumbai (101 km).

By Rail

Khandala has its own railway station. It lies on the Mumbai- Pune rail route and is well connected to all the major cities of India.

By Road

MSRTC and various private travels operate regular buses that ply to Khandala from Pune and Mumbai. The best way to reach here is by your own means of transportation like car, bike or private taxis.

Distance from Nearby Cities

Lonavala – 5 km
Pune – 68 km
Mumbai – 93 km
Kolhapur – 297 km
Surat – 353 km

Bhuleshwar Temple Maharashtra, Pune

Bhuleshwar Temple

  • Destination: Maharashtra, Pune

Location

Bhuleshwar Temple is an ancient temple located in the Pune district of Maharashtra. It is situated 54 km away from its district headquarters. The temple is located on a hill and surrounded by exotic scenery. The presiding deity of the temple is Lord Shiva.

History of the Temple

The area where the Bhuleshwar Temple is located is considered to be of historical and religious importance. As per the mythological story, Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati had a fight and angry Shiva came here to meditate. Then Goddess Parvati, dressed as a tribal woman danced to impress Shiva and therefore, he got attracted to her beauty. Finally, they went to Mount Kailash and got re-united. In Marathi, “To sedate” means “Bhul”. Hence, Lord Shiva got another name – Bhuleshwar. And this is how the place got its name.
The Bhuleshwar Temple has been lately considered as a protected shrine. The temple was built during the reign of the Yadava rulers near 1230 AD. Then, it was destroyed during the Mughal invasion and reconstructed later. Hence, the entrance of the temple is hidden similar to the Gaimukhi Buruj style of architecture that was followed during the time of Shivaji Maharaj. The structure that stands today dates back to the 13th century.
It is said that the temple was originally built by the Pandavas. The temple is situated on a fort named Mangalgadh, which was also referred to as Daulatmangal Fort. The fort was built by Murar Jagdev in 17th century. He constructed the fort on the hill of Bhuleshwar Temple to get a view of the city.

Architecture of the Temple

The Bhuleshwar Temple is made from black basalt rock. The rock is entirely different from the brownish basalt rock that is seen in the surroundings. The architecture of the temple is traditional and the walls are engraved with beautiful carvings. Figures of numerous deities and mythological characters are beautifully carved on the walls of the temple. Right from the entrance of the temple, tourists can see the cravings that augment the structure of the stone. The exterior of the temple features Mughal style of architecture, which is very surprising. The tower of the temple almost looks like a Mughal tomb. An effect of southern architecture can also be seen in interior of the temple.
Upon entering the main sanctum of the temple, you can see a huge statue of Nandi. Infront of Nandi, there is a statue of Lord Shiva. The temple also has an idol of Lord Ganesha dressed in the attire of a female; the Ganesha idol here is also referred to as Lambodari, Ganeshyani and Ganeshwari. Many of the sculptures inside the temple are in broken state. The entire scene of the temple looks quite mystic yet exquisite and awe-inspiring. The surroundings of the temple contain various small and large structures which are remains of the fort. Many people claim to have witnessed the miracle in the temple.
The miracle is when sweets are presented to the Shivalingam on a particular day; one or more sweets will disappear the next day. The view from the hill of the Bhuleshwar Temple is jaw-dropping. The beauty of the area is best experienced during the time of sunrise and sunset.

Address

Bhuleshwar Temple
Bhuleshwar Road,
Dist. Pune, Maharashtra

Details

Taluka: Purandar Area: Pune
Timings: 6 AM- 9 PM (Open on All Days)

Fast Facts

State: Maharashtra District: Pune
Languages: Marathi, Hindi Weather: 18°C to 38°C (Max.)
Best Time to Visit: July-March
STD Code: 02115 Pin Code: 412104

Transportation

By Air

Pune Airport is the nearest one and has direct flights to major cities of India and abroad.

By Rail

The nearest railway station is at Pune and is well connected to major cities of India.

By Road

Pune has excellent road connectivity with the major cities of the state. Direct buses are available from Pune Swargate as well as from Saswad to Yavat. Upon reaching the Yavat village, tourists can take private jeeps to reach the temple. The temple is only about 9 km away from Yavat. The journey from Pune to the Bhuleshwar Temple is quite stunning. The best way to reach here is by your own means of transport like car or bike.

Distance from Nearby Cities

Pune – 54 km
Mumbai – 200 km
Kolhapur – 231 km
Hyderabad – 522 km