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lord-mahabaleshwar-temple-maharashtra-1-attr-hero

Maharashtra

Mahabaleshwar Temple

old temple from mahabaleshwar, maharashtra, which is in good condition and one of the historic attraction point
lord-mahabaleshwar-temple-maharashtra-1-attr-hero
old temple from mahabaleshwar, maharashtra, which is in good condition and one of the historic attraction point
map

January

9.2 - 29.5 °C

February

10.5 - 31.1 °C

March

13.4 - 33.9 °C

April

15.2 - 34.7 °C

May

15.3 - 34.7 °C

June

15.8 - 30.8 °C

July

15.8 - 22.9 °C

August

15.7 - 22.2 °C

September

14.3 - 26.3 °C

October

14.0 - 28.3 °C

November

12.7 - 28.6 °C

December

11.0 - 28.8 °C

Major Airports :

Pune Airport (PNQ), Pune

Nearest Railway Station :

Wathar Railway Station (WTR)

Major Airports :

Pune Airport (PNQ), Pune

The startling shrine of Lord Shiva

 

There are many Shiva temples around the world that you will find extraordinary, but there is none with a self-originated, 1000-year-old, 6-foot, black-stone Linga in the form of Rudraksha. Surrounded by the Sahyadri mountains, this is the Mahabaleshwar or Mahabali Temple.

Erected during the 16th century by the Marathas, this temple is enclosed within a 5-foot wall, divided into two areas, and is said to hold greater religious significance than the 12 Jyotirlingas. Built in the South Indian Hemadant style, it has a simple exterior with a pyramid-shaped tower and beautiful carvings inside.

Demons and legends

Though known to be built by Chanda Rao of the More dynasty, the origin of the temple’s Shiva Linga is shrouded in mystery with the lore surrounding its appearance finding mention in the ancient texts of the Sahyadri Section of the Skanda Purana.

According to it, the misdeeds of demon siblings Atibal and Mahabal reached a crescendo, their menace quelled only by the intervention of Lord Vishnu, who vanquished Atibal but not Mahabal because he could not be killed by anyone without his own will.

Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu beseeched Lord Shiva and Goddess Aadimaya. The Goddess convinced Mahabal to surrender himself to the Gods. He agreed, but only when Lord Shiva promised to reside with him forever. Thus, Lord Shiva was immortalised in the form of a Rudraksha-clad Shiva Linga, bestowing the name 'Mahabaleshwar' upon the region. The temple has Trishul, Damru, Rudraksha, and a bed − where it’s believed that Lord Shiva sleeps every night, as the bed is found crumpled every morning.

In 1215 CE, Yadava King Singham built the Panchganga Temple here, part of today's Mahabaleshwar Temple.

European explorers praised Mahabaleshwar's beauty, leading to its recognition as the Bombay Presidency's summer capital in 1829. 

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Timings

Opening time - 05:00 AM to 12:00 PM

and 04:00 PM to 09:00 PM

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Worth its weight in gold

You’ll be surprised to know that on the square platform of this temple, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, in a ceremony called ‘Suvarna Tuladaan’, once weighed gold equal to his mother Jijabai's weight and donated it to the needy.

Beyond the sacred

Mahabaleshwar offers plenty of fascinating temples, such as the picturesque Krishnabai Temple on a cliffside. Nearby, the Panchganga Temple stands at the confluence of five holy rivers.

Step back in time with an unforgettable visit to the Pratapgad Fort, an iconic symbol of Maratha history built by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in 1665.

Take time out before sunset to visit the Morarji Castle, a historic landmark boasting elegant colonial architecture that hosted Mahatma Gandhi in 1945.