Temple Details

Lord Mahabaleshwar Temple   Mahabaleshwar


About Lord Mahabaleshwar Temple

Mahabaleshwar is a small town and a municipal council in Satara district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is a hill station located in the Sahyadri mountain range. With one of the few evergreen forests of India, it served as the summer capital of Bombay province during the British Raj.

Mahabaleshwar Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is one of the important pilgrimage sites for the Hindus. The temple is situated in the Old Kshetra Mahabaleshwar, which is about 6 km north of the main city. Built in the 16th century by the Chanda Rao More dynasty, this temple is quintessential of the Hemadant architectural style of South India.

  Enclosed by a 5 ft high stone wall, this temple is divided into two areas, the sanctum sanctorum, and the central hall. Swayambhu, which is the 500 years old self-originated lingam, is enshrined within the sanctum sanctorum. This self-originated lingam is in the shape of Rudraksha and is called Mahalingam, which is considered to be superior to the twelve Jyothir Lingams.

  The main and central attraction of this temple is the 6 feet long Shiva lingam of which only the tip is visible, depicting the stone incarnation of Lord Shiva. The Mahabaleshwar Temple has a very serene and spiritual environment. Devotees visit the temple around the year to witness the calm and peaceful aura of Lord Shiva. The site has two more temples nearby, namely the Mahabaleshwar temple and the Panchganga temple. Mahabaleshwar Temple is quintessential of the authentic Hemadant architectural style of South India.

  Lord Shiva’s Trishul, Rudraksha, damru and a bed which is around 300 years old, are kept inside this temple. Moreover, the temple also comprises a square shaped raised platform. According to the legend, the Maratha ruler, Shivaji weighed his mother Jijabai in gold at this platform and then gave away the gold in charity.

 

BY AIR

   Mahabaleshwar does not have an airport. Nearest airport to Mahabaleshwar is Pune & Mumbai. Pune airport is 120 km and the airport at Mumbai is 280 km from Mahabaleshwar. These airports are connected to all major Indian cities like Delhi, Kolkata, Bangalore, and Chennai. Taxi/cab and bus services are available from both the airway.

BY Railway 

Mahabaleshwar does not have a railway station. Satara about 55 km away from Mahabaleshwar is the nearest railway station. The most accessible and convenient railway junction is at Pune, which has the number of trains connected to all the major cities of India like Kolkata, Delhi, Bangalore, Mumbai, Chennai, and Cochin.

 By Bus

  There are numerous options to reach Mahabaleshwar by bus. Multiple bus services including Volvo, Sleeper and regular buses from Mumbai and Pune to Mahabaleshwar are available at pocket-friendly tariff rates. There are private, State Transport (Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation or MSRTC) and MTDC bus services to choose from.

 The road from Mumbai and Pune to Mahabaleshwar city is mostly in good condition and you should reach your destination in 3 to 6 hours, depending on number and frequency of stops. As most buses start late in the evening, you can easily check in to your hotels or resorts in Mahabaleshwar and utilize your day visiting tourist attractions or points.

BY Road

  The best way to reach Mahabaleshwar is by road from nearby places like Mumbai and Pune as the roads are smooth and a joy for the driving enthusiasts. The pleasant weather, lush green views, and sightseeing especially during rainy season, makes the trip or holidays enjoyable.

BY Cab/Taxi

  If you are not a big fan of driving or would rather enjoy the picturesque surroundings, steep hills or click few photos or selfie on the way, you can easily find a taxi to Mahabaleshwar. Cabs are provided by travel agents in Mumbai, Pune, Goa, and Bangalore.

Routes to Mahabaleshwar

The route from Mumbai: Distance between Mumbai and Mahabaleshwar is 230 km by road. From Mumbai, there are multiple routes you may follow to visit Mahabaleshwar. It takes around 4-5 hours if you take a route via Panvel through Mahad and Poladpur. You may also choose to go via Pune. The roads are better if you go via Pune to make driving more enjoyable as the difference in terms of distance and time would be negligible.

The route from Pune: Mahabaleshwar is 120 km from Pune, it is a pleasant drive on the Mumbai-Bangalore highway up to Surur and then take a turn towards Panchgani and Mahabaleshwar. The roads are pretty good with some twists and turns which every driving enthusiast would cherish.

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Tapola-Adventure, 'Mini Kashmir' (famously called), Shivsagar lake, Kas Pathar (Valley of flowers), Trekking, Water Sports, Boating, Vasota Fort

Satara-Vajrai waterfalls, Ajinkyatara Fort, Sajjangad Fort, Kas plateau, Kandi Pedhe (sweet delicacy), Chhatrapati Shivaji statue, temples

Khandala-Hiking, Duke's Nose

Pune-Temples, Museums, Gardens, Palace, Parks etc

Harihareshwar-Pilgrimage, Shrivardhan beach, Diveagar Beach, Harihareshwar temple, Kalbhairav Jayanti Utsav

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