Temples in Pune for a Spectacular Religious Getaway

Brought into existence by the great Peshwa ruler Balaji Baji Rao in the 17th century, and rising to over 2,000 feet, Parvati hill offers a sweeping view of the city of Pune. It is located in the south-east part of Pune. The hill in itself brags of beautiful views away from the hustle and bustle of the city with a pleasant climate throughout the year.

Situated on the Jangli Maharaj Road in Pune, Pataleshwar Cave Temple is enshrined by Lord Pataleshwar- the God of the Underworld, who is a form of Lord Shiva. Carved out of a single magnanimous rock, this spellbinding monolithic find is located right in the heart of the city and is a revered Hindu shrine which is thronged by hundreds of devotees and pilgrims on an everyday basis. What is more, the temple has an exuberant architecture with elaborate carvings on the walls and miniature paintings.

Dehu Gatha temple is one of the largest temples and is located near Pune. At the entrance of the temple lies the statue of Sant Tukaram Maharaj. What attracts people the most are the carvings of all Gathas ie legends/storis of Sant Tukaram on the walls of the temple which are very easy to read. It is said that one must read at least 3 Gathas on visiting the temple. The temple is located on Indrayani River's bank. Also, there is a place on the river where these Gathas floats which should not be missed out.

A divine place of worship devoted to Lord Ganapati, Shreemant Dagdusheth Halwai Ganapati temple is extremely famous for its religious festivities and is located in Pune, Maharashtra. The temple receives a considerable crowd of devotees every day who come to attend the daily pooja, abhisheka and the Arti of Lord Ganesh. The idol of Lord Ganapati is 2.2 meters high and 1 meter wide and is adorned with almost 40 kilos of gold.

Sri Balaji Mandir of Pune is a close replica of the renowned Venkateshwara temple at Tirumala, Tirupati. Not only the architecture and the look of the sanctum deity, the temple follows its influencer in rituals and religious activities as well. With beautiful, lush green surroundings, free meal and a calm environment, Sri Balaji Mandir is a great alternative for those who cannot make the journey to the original.

ISKCON NVCC (New Vedic Cultural Center) is located in the less congested area of Kondhwa near Pune. ISKCON NVCC is a temple devoted to Lord Krishna and Goddess Radha. The temple has lavish green hills in the background and provides its visitors with a great ambience. Once you enter the prayer hall, you will be awe-struck by the stunning idols of Lord Krishna and Goddess Radha.

One of the revered temples of Pune, the Chaturshringi Mandir should be on your list of places to visit when you’re in Pune. Located on Senapati Bapat Road near Pune University in Gokhale Nagar, this temple has been the place for the devotees of Mahakali and Shri Chaturshringi for ages. The word “Chaturshringi” is derived from the word “Chattu” which means “Mountain with four peaks” and represents faith and power. The main temple also includes idols of Goddess Durga, Ashtavinayaka and Ganesha.

Sarasbaug Ganapati Temple is a shrine for Siddhi Vinakayak Ganesh, as established by the Maratha ruler Shrimant Sawai Madhavrao Peshwa, in 1784. The temple derives its name from the island where it is situated, called Sarasbaug, named by its creator, Madhavrao's predecessor, Nanasaheb Peshwa. Located at the foot of Parvati Hills, the lake around the temple is said to be the venue of secret meetings held by the Peshwas during boat rides.

Rich in ancient history and peculiar architecture, Bhuleshwar temple is a holy site devoted to Lord Shiva and is one of the oldest temples in Maharashtra. Situated on a small hill in a small village of Maharashtra called ‘Yavat’, the temple is located around 54 kms from Pune city. The calm and cool ambience of the temple creates a peaceful experience for the devotees to offer their prayers.

Peace and tranquillity are the two most dominant forces at this prominent place of worship, Katraj Jain Temple. The temple sits on a hillock which lies between the Pune-Satara highway, at Katraj in the district of Pune, Maharashtra. The mesmerizing view from the temple of the Pune city adds to the feeling of calmness experienced by the visitors. Once the temple is entered, there is no stopping the refreshing breeze from blowing into your hair.

Formerly a funeral site for the Hindus, The Shree Omkareshwar Temple is an 18th-century Shiva temple located near the Balgandharva Rang Mandir, Shanivar Peth. The temple was built by Shivram Bhat who was the spiritual teacher of the renowned Peshwa family who lived in Pune. The temple's Shikhara is made of white stone and is made of 5 layers. Each layer has sculptures and carvings of different gods and goddesses in Hinduism. The main entrance of the temple leads one to the idol of Nandi Maharaj, who is believed to have helped the people during the Panshet deluge.  The main sanctum of the temple has a Shivalinga, and in addition to this, the temple also houses idols of various gods like Ganesh, Vishnu, Shani in smaller temples. This temple is also widely known because, during the freedom struggle, many political leaders held processions and meetings in the Omkareshwar temple Taalim.

The Swami Narayan Mandir in Pune is located on Narhe Ambegaon road in the city of Pune. The Swaminarayan temple has a beautiful lawn around the main temple which is carved of red stone. The temple is known as it’s extremely well maintained and clean. The temple is usually open from 7.30 AM till 12 PM and then from 4 PM to 9 PM. The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan temple is also closed between 10.15 AM to 11.15 AM and then 6.15 PM to 7 PM during the offering of the Gods daily Thal or Bhog. There is a daily aarti that also takes place at the temple at different timings. The temple also has several basic guidelines that they require the devotees and visitors to follow in order to keep the temples respect and glory. 

The Nageshwar Temple Pune is one of the oldest temples of Pune. Located in Somwar Peth, Pune, Maharashtra, the temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple is believed to be built in the 13th Century AD in Yadava style of architecture. The temple Sanctum has shrines for various other Deities such as Lord Vishnu, Almighty Maruti and Shree Dattatreya. The devotees believe that the water of the reservoir near the temple could cure Leprosy. Although the colossal structure has inscriptions dating back to ancient times, the temple has since gone through various renovations by the government. The temple celebrates Mahashivratri every year as its main festival while it also celebrates Hanuman Jayanti and Vinayaka Chaturti. The temple timings are 6.00 A.M to 10.00 P.M daily.

The Kasba Ganapati Temple is a temple dedicated to a specific idol of Lord Ganesha, Kasba (Gramadevata), located in Kasba Peth, Pune, Maharashtra. The temple became popular when the Seven prominent Maratha families migrated to Pune near the area where the temple currently sits in the year 1630. Hence the temple carries historical significance in the Maratha Dynasty. The temple is decorated very beautifully with paintings of Lord Ganesha on the walls. Although the temple is not very big, it holds very high regard to the locals and pilgrims. The main festival of the temple, Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated every year for a span of 10 days. Started by Bal Gangadhar Tilak in the 19th Century, the festival is the most important festival of Maharashtra. The temple echoes devotees from all over the country every year, especially during Ganesh Chaturthi. 

The Shri Mahalaxmi Mandir is located in the city of Pune, Maharashtra. The temple has three forms of the goddess. One of which is Mahasarwati who symbolises knowledge, Mata Laxmi who symbolises wealth and prosperity and Mahakali to discharge time from death. The temple has Dravidian style architecture and the summit of the temple is approximately 55 feet high and 24 feet wide. The temple took around 12 years to be completely built. The main idol of the Goddess is made from ancient marble. During the mogra festival, the idols of these gods are decorated and filled with thousands of flowers. The other festivals widely celebrated here are Navratri, Holi, Brahma Utsav, Ram Navmi and Janmashtami.