Bhuleshwar Temple
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