Best time and places to visit in Mahabaleshwar Temple. Maharashtra Mahabaleshwar Timings, History. Mahabaleshwar Temple Maharashtra Images, Aarti, Location, Phone, Entry Fee. How to Reach Mahabaleshwar Temple,
India is a vast country famous for its food, enriched culture, and spiritual temples. Temples enable devotees to see and feel the deities’ presence and communicate with them. The devotees believe their prayers are answered if they worship the gods using Poojas and special prayers.
Mahabaleshwar Temple
The temple is a sacred pilgrimage place for Hindus, well known for its beautiful strawberry farms, ancient temples, hills and valleys, waterfall, dense green forest, and manicured. It is a hill station in the Western Ghats in the Satara district of Maharashtra. It is 6km away from Mahabaleshwar city.
However, the best time to visit the temple is from December to February when great climates exist. The temple is 1438 meter altitude above sea level. Summer months are also the best to visit.
History of Mahabaleshwar Temple
According to the legend, during the Padma Kalp, Lord Brahma was meditating in the forest of Sahyadri to create beings. Atibal and Mahabal were two brothers troubling the region’s people and sages. The two demons were believed to have appeared from a Shiva Linga that Ravana tried to Lanka with him. The demons came to a point where they had reached an extent, and Lord Vishnu had to fight them to protect human beings from them. Lord Vishnu could kill only the Atibal, whereby Mahabal was blessed; hence he could not be killed by anyone without his will.
Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma decided to pray to Lord Shiva and Goddess Aadimaya for assistance to rid of the Mahabal demon. After the Goddess Aadimaya mesmerized Mahabal with her beauty and to surrender to Gods, Lord Shiva appeared as a Shiva Linga in the appearance of a Rudraksha to live with him. However, the entire region changed to Mahabaleshwar to praise Mahabal. According to the beliefs, Lord Shiva visited the temple every night, and they found the bed crumpled every morning.
Architecture
The temple is the Hemadanta design famous in South India.it is surrounded by a five-foot wall divided into a central hall and sanctum sanctorum. The sanctum sanctorum is estimated to be 500 years old with black stone lingam.
Mahabaleshwar temple houses a square shape high platform that is believed to be where Maratha ruler Shri Chhatrapati Shivaji had performed the Golden balance of his mother, Jijabai. Chanda Rao More built the temple with an ambiance of the space crafted for storing all Shiva’s belongings as Hindus believed, like his Damru, his sacred bull, Trishul, the sculpture of the devotees, and kalbhairav.
Temples to Visit in Mahabaleshwar
- Shankar Temple
- Krishnabai Temple
- Bhushan maha muni
- Pancha Ganga Temple
- Mahabaleshwar Temple
Temple Entry Fee
- No entry fee
Best Places to Visit in Mahabaleshwar Temple
- Elephant’s Head Point
Elephant’s Head Point, or Needle’s Point, is best for tourists to visit during sunrise and sunset. The most picturesque views make it famous for the stunning view of the Sahyadri Ranges in the Mahabaleshwar. The Elephant’s Head Point symbolizes an elephant’s head and trunk, making the place a beautiful and peaceful environment.
- Dhobi waterfalls
Dhobi water locates 3km from Mahabaleshwar town. It has a waterfall that connects Lodwick and Elphinstone point, which streams down the Koyna river. Dhobi waterfall is surrounded by rocks and greenery, with an ideal picnic spot for a surreal experience amidst nature.
- Arthur’s seat
Arthur’s seat is also known as the Suicide point; it is well known to be the queen of viewpoints. The site offers a fascinating and mesmerizing view of the dense valleys of the SavitrRiver and Brahma-Arayana. Floating of light objects that are throwing off light things that float back up due to air pressure makes Arthur’s seat to be famous.
- Pratapgad Fort
It is in the famous hill station Pratapgad hill in Maharashtra. Pratapgad fort is a popular tourist destination; within the fort, four lakes overflow during the monsoons. It also has a statue of Shivaji Maharaj in full glory, a Bhawani temple at the top of Pratapgad fort, a watchtower as the main entrance, and a handicraft center en route to the fort.
- Chinaman’s falls
Chinamans’s falls are quite famous and located in the Mahabaleshwar. Chinaman’s falls got its name from the Chinese prison near the fall. It is an enthralling place for visitors and the most significant fall in the Mahabaleshwar.
How to Reach Mahabaleshwar Temple
- By Bus
One can directly take a bus from nearby cities of Maharashtra. The devotees are free to travel from any location to experience the beauty and serenity of the Mahabaleshwar temple.
- By Train
Wathar, which lies at a distance of 60 km, is the nearest station to the temple. It is an accessible railway station connecting all Maharashtra cities to the Mahabaleshwar temple.
- By Air
Pune International Airport is the nearest airport located in the city of Pune.it is the nearest airport to the temple.
Points to Note While Visiting the Mahabaleshwar Temple
There are points you should note down before visiting the temple, as stated below;
- During monsoon periods, it is advisable to carry your raincoats and umbrellas.
- Ensure to walk carefully during monsoon; hence the roads and floors of the temple may be slippery.
- Keep your belongings and care of your children’s safety because of a massive crowd of people.
- It is prohibited to carry pets to the temple.
- Capturing the scenic beauty and surrounding things is allowed, whereby shooting and clicking pictures of their deities is illegal.
- Ensure you follow the rules and regulations of roads along the temple
- During rush hours, parking may be difficult; thus, ensure you plan your trip appropriately
- Bargaining for things you have bought from the nearby shops is allowed
- Avoid visiting the temple during late hours
FAQ’s
- What is the entry fee for Mahabaleshwar Temple?
Visiting the temple, no entry fee is charged for any devotees. The Shri-Kshetra Mahabaleshwar Devasthanam Trust allows donations from the devotees for development purposes and an authorized receipt.
- What are the best places to visit near the temple?
Pilgrims can visit places near the Mahabaleshwar temple, such as Pune, kolad, Mumbai, Lavasa, Panchgani, etc…
- mumbai to mahabaleshwar distance
265 Kilometers.