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| Shri Mahabaleshwar Temple |
Shri Mahabaleshwar Temple is an attractive place to visit in Satara by both religious travelers and tourists. If you are a Hindu religious history lover then this temple is like heaven for you.
Not only this temple but also the
natural beauty of this place attracts everyone towards it. This temple is
situated in a very quiet place that provides you with a different level of
spirituality. This temple is an ideal place for those who want to calm their
mind from the busy metro life.
Mahabaleshwar is the largest hill
station in the Satara district of Maharashtra. It is situated at an altitude of
1372 m from sea level.
Mahabaleshwar town name is based on the very famous historical Mahabaleshwar Shiv temple. Temple has situated about 6 km from the main Mahabaleshwar city
in old Mahabaleshwar. The temple area is known as Shri Kshetra Mahabaleshwar.
Every year thousands of tourists
from nearby cities come here for the Mahabaleshwar trip. There are many tourist
places in Mahabaleshwar city but the main Hindu religious top tourist
place is the Shri Mahabaleshwar Shiv temple.
Tourists visit this temple with
their family members or friends. This place is naturally beautiful so you can
take some attractive pictures clicked here with your loving ones.
I am sure that the visit to Mahabaleshwar
Temple can prove memorable for everyone. If you want darshan easily
without waiting in the queue then you have to go to the temple in the early
morning.
Mahabaleshwar Temple History
The Rudraksha shape Shiv Linga at Mahabaleshwar temple is billion years old. In comparison to Shivlinga temple is new and only 800 years old.
The history of this temple found in Skand Puran's second chapter where the
story related to Atibal and Mahabal.
According to the story, a billion years ago there were two demon
brothers named Atibal and Mahabal. They disturb the good peoples, Rishi Muni,
etc. All the peoples of the Earth were very unhappy.
Then peoples request gods to protect them from the Atibal and Mahabal.
For protecting the people from the demons, Lord Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahesha
come to Earth for killing both brothers.
But both demon brothers were very powerful and Mahabal had the power of
self-willing death. During the fight, Lord Vishnu killed the Atibal but they
unable to kill Mahabal.
Then all Gods prayed to Adimaya to give a solution and help them. Then
Adimaya after understanding the situation hypnotized the Mahabal and gives
suggestions to ask for a blessing from the Gods.
Then Mahabal asks a blessing that he can be killed only by the hands of
Gods. But Mahabal also asks a blessing that the places where they will kill by
Gods, at that place Gods have to live with the names of their names.
God accepted their wish. Since then Lord Shiv knew as Mahabaleshwar, Lord
Vishnu is known as Atibal and Lord Brahma popular as Koteshwar here.
This place is very popular as Trigunatmak Lingam represents all three
Gods here. Mahabaleshwar Shivling is a self-created rough-shaped Rudrasks.
Mahabaleshwar Shiv temple is very popular in Maharashtra for ages
that's why very famous Maratha King Shri Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj arranged
his mother's 'Suvarna Tula' (Golden balance) in this temple on 6th January
1665.
Mythology Related to Mahabaleshwar Temple
There is mythology here that every night lord Shiv sleeps here. There is
a bed near the Shivling that is appeared crumble every night. That indicates
that the deity had slept on it.
Mahabaleshwar Temple Architecture
Mahabaleshwar temple was built in the Maratha periods so it represents
Maratha heritage. Temple was constructed in the 16th century.
You can see here
a square platform at a height that was donated by the great Maratha ruler
Shivaji inside the temple was equal to the weight of his mother Jijabai.
For the construction of the temple, stones were used and the temple
architecture exhibits the Hemadant architectural style.
The main attraction of the Mahabalesh temple is its about 5 feet long
rudraksha shape Shivling that is circular in shape. The Shivling is not much in
height.
Near the Shivling there are Damru, Trishool, and the bed for resting of
Lord Shiva. The temple is not so big but has sufficient space for everything.
As you
enter inside the main temple you can see the large statue of Nandi (Bull) in
front of the main Rudraksha-shaped Shivling.
Festivals at Mahabaleshwar Temple
Mahashivratri is the major festival that is celebrated at the grand level
at every Shiv temple. Here Mahashivratri and Navratri are the two festivals
that are celebrated at a very big level.
Other Hindu festivals such as Janmashtami, Nagpanchami, Ramnavmi, Ganesh
Chtuthati, etc also celebrated here.
Best Time to Visit Mahabaleshwar
If we consider the season, the Best time to visit the Mahabaleshwar temple
would be the winter season from October to April. I had visited this place in
the first week of March.
During winter the weather is very pleasant to enjoy here and seeing
nearby tourist places also. During summer the weather would be warmer here and
not much suitable to visit here.
Mahabaleshwar is a hilly area so it is better to avoid the monsoon or
rainy season to visit this place. Hilly areas always at risk of landslides
during rainy seasons and roads also very slippery to drive.
If you go to Mahabaleshwar after the monsoon season you will be attracted to its
lush green natural beauty.
The best time to visit any temple is morning. Visiting the Mahabaleswar
temple is in the morning would be the best time to get darshan. Temple also
closes during the afternoon for 2-3 hours.
If you are lived near Mahabaleshwar you should visit at the time of
Mahashivratri, the view of the temple is really mesmerizing. Temple would
beautifully be decorated and lots of traditional religious activities running
the whole day in the temple.
Timing Mahabaleshwar Temple
Temple opens daily in the early morning at 05:00 am and closes in the evening
at 09:00 pm.
Temple is also closed for four hours in the day time in the afternoon
from 12:00 pm to 04:00 pm
So plan according to reach here get Darshan easily.
Visiting Time Duration
Temple is no so big so you don't have to spend much time here and you can
easily get Darshan within one hour on normal days.
If you did Parikrama of the temple it may take some time. It depends on
you how many Parikrama would you like to do.
If you go in the peak season or any festival time then time would be
increased that depends on how many people in the queue.
Facilities at Mahabaleshwar Shiv Temple
Mahabaleshwar temple area is sufficiently developed that has many
facilities for tourists and devotees who come here.
- Paid parking stand is there that takes normal charges for your two or four-wheel vehicles.
- Prasad shops are lots of there.
- Snacks food stalls and all other types of food restaurants are also available here.
- Drinking water, washrooms are available at the temple campus area.
- Priests are near the Shivlinga that collect prasad from you and after offering to Shivling returned back you.
How to Reach Mahabaleshwar Temple
Mahabaleshwar Shiv temple is situated in the old Mahabaleshwar area that
is popular locally as Shri Kshetra Mahabaleshwar. There are direct city bus
services from the MSRTC bus stand to the temple but very limited and frequency also
less.
The easiest and convenient way is that you will get lots of private taxi
operators at the bus stand they will have the full package of tourist places
that you have to visit. You have to select the Mahabaleshwar temple package.
If you have your own vehicle then that will be the best option and you
will visit all the tourist places as per your choice and convenience. Mahabaleshwar town is 260 km from Mumbai and120 km from Pune.
Mahabaleshwar is connected by NH 4.
It is well connected by bus services either state MSRTC buses or private
organizations bus services to Pune, Mumbai, Mahad, Sangli, and Satara.
Pune to Mahabaleshwar is the best route for the tourist because it is the
shortest and only takes 3 to 4 hours the journey by bus or private vehicle.
I used the state-run MSRTC buses to visiting this temple from the Mahad.
Mahabaleshwar's nearest railway station is in the Satara district and the nearest major railway junction is in Pune. The nearest airport is in Pune and Mumbai for the Mahabaleshwar.
TouristBug’s Recommendations
- If you are going by own vehicle then drive slowly because it hilly area and roads are circular and slippery.
- Don't carry pets with you here because pets are not allowed in the temple premises.
- You should keep a good camera for photography. There are various beautiful photographic locations for photographers. But inside the temple campus photography is prohibited.
- Temple is so crowded to keep your kids with you to avoid losing them.
- Be careful inside the temple campus because the temple is made of stones and it may be slippery.
- Keep sufficient cash with you, the temple area has not many ATMs.
- If you come the first time here I highly recommend that you must visit Krishnabai and Panchganga temples are situated near the Mahabaleshwar temple.
- Mahabaleshwar hill station is also popular for very tasty strawberries so if you come here you must try it and carry some strawberries with you.
Nearby Tourist Places to Visit in Mahabaleshwar
Old Mahabaleshwar Shiv temple has various nearby tourist places to visit
such as Panchganga temple, Krishnabai temple. Every year thousands of tourists and honeymoon couples come to see various sightseeing places at Mahabaleshwar like Arthur point, Venna Lake, Dhobi Waterfall, Wilson Point, Panchgani, Lingmala Waterfalls, Elephant's Head Point, 3 Monkey Point, etc.