Jyotiba Temple

Jyotiba Temple is situated in the village of Wadi Ratnagiri in Maharashtra’s Kolhapur district. The temple is located about 21 km away from the city of Kolhapur and 235 km away from Pune. The temple is dedicated to Lord Jyotiba who is believed to be the incarnation of Lord Dattatreya – an avatar of Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva. Lakhs of devotees visit this temple each year, especially on full moon nights in the Hindu months of Chaitra and Vaishakha.

Perched atop a hill, the Jyotiba Temple is set at a height of about 3124 feet above sea level. The views from the hill top are breathtakingly stunning. Originally the place was the site of Kedareshwar Temple built by Navji Shinde. In 1730, Ranoji Shinde built the present Jyotiba Temple in its place. A second shrine of Ramling was constructed by Malji Nilam Panhalkar in 1708. A third shrine, also known as Kedareshwar was built in 1808 by Daulatrao Shinde. Besides these three shrines, the temple complex also has a few smaller temples and light-towers.

The height of the Jyotiba Temple is about 77 feet and it approx. 55 feet long and 37 feet wide. One has climb about 100 steps to reach the main temple. The interiors of the temple are ancient but elegant. The temple has been recently renovated. The idol of Jyotiba is black in colour, wears a saffron-colored turban and is adorned with jewels and beautiful clothes. One feels absolutely calm after seeking the blessings of Lord Jyotiba and soaking in the temple’s divine atmosphere.

One of the main highlights of the temple is the annual fair held during the full moon nights in Chaitra and Vaishakh. During this annual fair and festival, devotees play with ‘Gulal’ powder and the entire premises gets covered in the vibrant pink hue of ‘Gulal’. The temple, its floors, the idol itself, everything is coated with the bright pink powder. The striking pink hue of the temple can be spotted even from the village’s farthest corner. During this festival devotees also perform the ritual of carrying ‘Sasans’ (tall and heavy sticks) into the temple.

The temple is always crowded with throngs of devotees on Sundays and Full-Moon days. There is ample parking space near the temple. Shops along the temple sell souvenirs, puja items and basic refreshments.