Bhuleshwar Temple

Bhuleshwar Temple is an ancient temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is situated about 58 km away from Pune, and about 15 km away from the village of Yavat. A protected monument, the temple is of religious as well as historic importance and attracts a lot of visitors and pilgrims all year round.

Built in the 13^th century during the reign of the Yadava Dynasty, the temple was originally a fort known as Mangalgad. Some believe that the temple may have been constructed during the Pandavas era. According to legend, this is the place where Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati stayed before they went to Mount Kailash. Some part of the temple was destroyed after Mughal invasion, but was reconstructed later by the Marathas. The temple’s entrance is hidden, which is similar to the Gaumukhi Buruj type of construction dominant during the era of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s rule.

Located atop a hill, Bhuleshwar Temple is known for its peculiar structure and architecture. The temple stands out at first glance, because it is made with black basalt rock, whereas its hilly surroundings have a brownish colour. The temple has a primarily of Hemadpanti architectural style, but some Islamic influence is noticeable in its outer structure. Inside the temple there are beautiful intricate carvings of Hindu deities.

On entering the sanctum, one can see a huge statue of Nandi located in a separate Nandi Mandapa in front of the shrine. Sun rays enter this portion of the temple through some gaps in the roof, and then reflect off the wall carvings to create a magical play of light. This stunning phenomenon is especially intriguing for artists and photographers.

Also, worth photographing are all the magnificent and detailed rock carvings on the temple walls. While some sculptures showcase stories from Ramayana and Mahabharata, others depict various Hindu Gods and Goddesses. One of the most interesting sculptures in Bhuleshwar is that of Lord Ganesha in a female form, known by the names of Ganeshwari, Vinayiki, Lambodari or Ganeshyani.

Thousands of devotees’ flock to Bhuleshwar Temple during the occasion of Mahashivratri and in months of Shravan and Chaitra. The temple is also famous for a curious phenomenon. When devotees present pedhas or sweets as ‘Prasad’, one or more pedhas disappears immediately. Many people have witnessed this miracle over the years, but there is no proven explanation for it. The view from the hill of Bhuleshwar is simply stunning. Also, many species of birds are seen in this region. Bird watchers must also visit Narayanbet, a birding haven that is just 10-15 km away from Bhuleshwar Temple.