Bhuleshwar Temple

History

Maharashtra Tourism describes Bhuleshwar as a tranquil Shiva temple amid lush greenery east of Pune.

The shrine is often paired with Jejuri Khandoba and Pune Ashtavinayak day trips.

Stories

A hill temple on an old fort

The Bhuleshwar temple stands on a hill about 45 km from Pune, near Yavat. It is a Shiva temple with carved walls and has been declared a protected monument. The hill carries the Daulatmangal fort, also called Mangalgad. Dates given for the temple vary. One account places it in the 8th century and says it was restored under the Yadava rulers in about 1230 CE. These claims are not settled, and the temple's builder is not securely known.

Sweets that vanish and the Ganesha in a sari

A folk tale says that when a dish of pedha sweets is offered to the Shiva linga here, one or more of them disappear. Local belief also says the Pandavas built the temple, though there is no record for that. The temple also has a female form of Ganesha, shown in a woman's dress and known as Ganeshwari or Lambodari. Along with her are female forms of Shiva and Kartikeya.

Good to know

Hill Shiva temple — Maharashtra Tourism Dharashiv listing

Black-stone medieval architecture

Near Yavat on Pune–Solapur corridor

Getting there

Nearest airport: Pune (PNQ). About 50 km east of Pune via Saswad–Yavat road; plan half day from Pune.