Most Marvellous Temples to Visit in Mahabaleshwar

Mahabaleshwar is a small hill station nestled in the heavily forested Western Ghats in India. Owing to its calm and beautiful scenery, Mahabaleshwar was once the summer capital of Bombay at the time of the British Raj in the country. And until now it is one of the most popular and beautiful hill stations having a lot to offer to travelers having all sorts of interests. The hill station has a myriad of attractions from gorgeous lakes, gurgling rivers, waterfalls, forts and temples from the past.

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The temperature in Mahabaleshwar remains pleasant all around the year, so do not delay your trip any further and visit the town’s most beautiful religious sites for a uniquely refreshing experience.

1. Krishnabai Temple

Krishnabai Temple is one of the oldest temples in Mahabaleshwar dedicated to the worship of Lord Krishna. The beautiful temple is nestled on a hilltop offering breathtaking views of the gorgeous Krishna Valley. The temple is widely believed to be the origin point of the river Krishna. To reach this beautiful spot, one has to take a small trek through the charming woods to reach the hilltop. Its quaint charm makes it one of the biggest attractions for travelers. Famed for its scenic beauty one of the best times to visit this temple is during the monsoon seasons; when everything is fresh and green with cool breezes making this sacred spot one of a kind.

The temple houses a magnificent idol of Lord Krishna and a Shiva Lingam. The temple also has intricate and interesting carvings, but unfortunately, most of them are decaying with time. The architecture bespeaks of the temple’s ancient establishment, and it is mostly believed to be in existence from the era of the Pandavas. But one of the major attractions of the temple is the carved Gomukh, the face of a cow through which water from the temple flows into a connected water tank that joins the tributaries right into the river Krishna. Feel free to visit the temple, sit and meditate while the surrounding scenery and calm of the temple soothes your soul.

2. Panchganga Temple

Panchganga Temple is one of the most important religious sites in Mahabaleshwar, holding paramount spiritual significance. The temple is located right at the point where the five rivers Krishna, Savitri, Koyna, Veena, and Gayatri merge their waters. It was built by the ruler Raja Singha Deo, King of the Yadavs of Devagiri. All throughout the year the temple witnesses heavy footfall from locals and tourists alike. This magnificent temple has a splendidly carved Gurmukhi; from the foot of the gaumukhi, the five rivers start flowing.

You can also bring back beautiful souvenirs from the handicrafts shops dotted all across the temple vicinity. Panchganga Temple is without a doubt one of the most peaceful destinations to witness in your journey to Mahabaleshwar.

3. Mahabaleshwar Temple

The Mahabaleshwar Temple is one of the most pious and sacred religious sites in India. It is regarded as the epitome rightly representing the glory and rich heritage of the Maratha Empire that reigned in the 16-century. The temple is situated 6 kilometers away from the Mahabaleshwar city and is popularly referred to as the Mahabali. The Mahabaleshwar Temple is dedicated to the worship of the Hindu deity Shiva and was constructed by the ‘Chanda Rao More’ dynasty. The temple is encircled by beautifully carved 5-feet long walls and is divided into two sections. The inner part of the temple houses the sanctum sanctorum with the idol of Lord Shiva. The greatest attraction of this temple is the Shiva Lingam that is 6-feet long. The temple’s architecture reflects the Hemadant architectural style from South India.

The ambiance of the space is uniquely crafted by storing all the belongings of Shiva, as believed in the Hindu mythology; such as his Damru, Trishul, his Sacred Bull, and the sculpture of his devotee and protector, Kalbhairav. The aura of the temple attracts people from all backgrounds to visit the Shiva Lingam.

4. Bhushan Mahamuni

Although not a temple, Bhushan Mahamuni is considered to be a significant religious site to visit in Mahabaleshwar. Located at the northern parts, Bhushan Mahamuni religious site is also called the Shree Kshetra Mahabaleshwar, which means a temple of a holy place.

Bhushan Mahamuni is dedicated to the worship of Lord Shiva and one of its major significance is that it is the base of a Swayambhu (meaning self-originated) Shiva Linga. It is also the merging point of the five major water reservoirs in the city such as Krishna, Gayatri, Savitri, Koyna, and Venna.

Bhushan Mahamuni remains open every day of the week from morning 6:00 am till night at 10:00 pm.

5. Shankar Temple

The Shankar Temple is a very significant spiritual spot in Mahabaleshwar and people flock to visit the swayambhu Shiva Linga, very pious, especially to the Hindus. The Shankar Temple is also popularly known as the Trigunatmaka- trio of the deities Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheshwara. These deities are carved and embodied in the Shiva Linga and are also worshipped besides Shiva.

Another key feature attracting people to this temple is the uniqueness of the Shiva Linga, referred to as the Mahalinga. It resembles the shape of a Rudraksha revered symbol in the Hindu scriptures and the twelve Jyotirlingas of the country. The uppermost part of the Shiva Linga has carvings of the Panchaganga Rivers.

Many people associate this place to the story of the famous ruler Shivaji who was believed to visit here with his mother, Jeeja Bai.

Besides these most beautiful and popular temples visited in Mahabaleshwar, the hill station also has other known temples like the Maruti Temple and Shri Janni Mata Mandir. You will be left with no dearth of sightseeing and activities to do in the beautiful lush green hill station of Mahabaleshwar. And for bringing solace to your inner spirituality Mahabaleshwar will welcome you to its home of age-old magnificent temples that you shall never forget.