Description:
Pune being the cultural capital of Maharashtra has many temples, old and new. Prominent among them are some Hanuman and Ganesh temples.
The 400 year old Kasba Ganapati temple is situated in the heart of the city and is known as the deity of the city, who controls and protects the people of the city. The legend goes that when Pune was going through a bad patch, a person named Bhatt saw the God in his dreams and the God told him His whereabouts. The place where the temple stands was the place he found the idol. After the installation in 1626, Pune's economic and political conditions changed and therefore this Ganapati is called the protector of the city. The temple built by Shivaji's mother build a temple for it which still stands tall and erect.
The Trishundya Ganapati idol is different and beautiful. The God has three trunks and is sitting on a Peacock. The temple built in 1726 still stands without any changes.
On a small hillock near the city is the Parvati Ganesh temple. It has 108 stairs and one can get a beautiful view of the Pune city from the top. This hillock has a small temple of Ganesh built by the Peshwas in 1749. It is a beautiful marble idol. There is also a small museum on the top displaying the artifacts of the Peshwa clan. Inside the temple there is a small tunnel with three outlets. One goes down the hill, another to the Chatuhshrungi temple, nearly 7 - 8 km away and the third in the valley of death to dodge the enemy.
The popular temple of Goddess Chatuhshrungi considered as the reigning deity of Pune is situated on the slopes of a mountain, northwest part of the city. An ancient temple during the era of Shivaji, the goddess also known as Mahakali, Mahalakshmi, Mahasaraswati and Ambareshwari, was worshipped by Shivaji also. This temple is ninety feet high located midst of nature's scenic beauty.
This 8th century rock cut temple of Pataleshwar, is hidden in the heart of the city in amidst the modern buildings and structures. Reminiscent of Ellora, the temple has been carved out of a single boulder of awe inspiring size which includes massive pillars. The temple dedicated to Shiva and a Nandi bull is thronged by devotees even today.
