Located in the heart of the city of Pune in Maharashtra, Pataleshwar is the rock cut cave temples dedicated to the Lord Pataleshwar (God of Underworld). Carved out in the 8th century in the Rashtrakuta period, the temple has been declared as a protected monument by the government.

location Maharashtra, Pune, Mumbai

Architecture

Pataleshwar cave temple is made of basalt rock. The main attraction of the cave are the shrines of the Lord Shiva and Nandi bull. The sanctum is a cube-shaped room about 3-4 metres on each side houses a linga and there are two smaller cells on each side. In front of the cave is a circular Nandi mandapa, its umbrella shaped canopy supported by massive square pillars. The cave is located at a lower level than the present level of the road and the cave complex. There is an exquisitely carved circular Nandi shrine in the huge courtyard of the cave. The main cave is rectangular on plan and has a pillared porch. There are three sanctums in the cave temple and the central one houses the Shivalinga. There is a circumambulation path provided in the cave where one can see the unfinished part of the cave temple.

Culture

Pune exemplifies an indigenous Marathi culture and ethos, in which education, arts and crafts, and theatres are given due prominence. It is the birthplace of the poet-saint Tukaram (in Dehu) and Jnaneshvara (in Alandi), the author of the well-known commentary 'Jnaneshwari',on the "Bhagavad Gita". It is the home of great freedom fighters like Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Agarkar and Gopal Krishna Gokhale. Jayant Narlikar, the famous contemporary scientist, is from Pune. Pune is the seat of North Indian Classical music. Annually, in the month of December, it hosts a three nightlong cultural program of vocal and instrumental classical music, called "Savai-Gandharva". Pune has been an example for the blending of the culture and heritage with modernisation and its side effects. Pune is the cultural capital of the Maharashtra.

Darsan Info

08:30 AM - 05:30 PM (All days of the week)

Darsan Dresscode

Tourists are requested to wear the decent clothes while visiting the temple, as the people are still conserve in the area and the place is sacred among the Hindus.

Temple Rituals

No riturals are performing right now in this temple

Additional Info

 

Hotel Panchali, Barbeque Nation, Little Italy, Shabree Restaurant

  

 Supermarket : Available