Baneshwar is a
temple
A temple (from the Latin ) is a building reserved for spiritual rituals and activities such as prayer and sacrifice. Religions which erect temples include Christianity (whose temples are typically called churches), Hinduism (whose temples ...
of
Shiva
Shiva (; sa, शिव, lit=The Auspicious One, Śiva ), also known as Mahadeva (; ɐɦaːd̪eːʋɐ, or Hara, is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. He is the Supreme Being in Shaivism, one of the major traditions within Hindu ...
located in the village of Narasapur about 36 km southwest of
Pune
Pune (; ; also known as Poona, (List of renamed Indian cities and states#Maharashtra, the official name from 1818 until 1978) is one of the most important industrial and educational hubs of India, with an estimated population of 7.4 million ...
. It is a pleasant and calm place amidst a
jungle
A jungle is land covered with dense forest and tangled vegetation, usually in tropical climates. Application of the term has varied greatly during the past recent century.
Etymology
The word ''jungle'' originates from the Sanskrit word ''jaṅ ...
. It was recently discovered and hence declared as a small
bird sanctuary hosting a decent amount of rare birds with many
Malabar grey hornbills seen.
Legend
Baneshwar temple architecture is from the
medieval period
In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire a ...
. The temple was constructed in 1749 by
Balaji Baji Rao, son of Peshwa Bajirao I.The total cost of construction was 11,426
Rupees
Rupee is the common name for the currencies of
India, Mauritius, Nepal, Pakistan, Seychelles, and Sri Lanka, and of former currencies of Afghanistan, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, the United Arab Emirates (as the Gulf rupee), British East Africa, B ...
, 8
Aane, 6
Paise.
The temple hosts an important bell which was captured by Chimaji Appa after defeating the
Portuguese in the battle of Bassien in 1739.
The bell has the year 1683 and a
Cross
A cross is a geometrical figure consisting of two intersecting lines or bars, usually perpendicular to each other. The lines usually run vertically and horizontally. A cross of oblique lines, in the shape of the Latin letter X, is termed a sa ...
on it, which depicts that the bell belonged to a church and was transported as a token of victory. Same kind of 4 more Portuguese bells can be found at
Bhimashankar Temple
Bhimashankar Temple is a Jyotirlinga shrine located 50 km Khed taluka (alias Rajgurunagar), near Pune, in Maharashtra, India. It is located 127 km from Shivajinagar (in Pune) in the Ghat region of the Sahyadri Mountains. Bhīmāsha ...
, Omkareshwar temple- Pune, Shiva temple(
Menavali-Wai) and Ramling temple(Shirur) too.
Surroundings
Baneshwar is a conserve forest area and wildlife sanctuary where a variety of birds, flowers, plants can be seen. Baneshwar is worth visiting for jungle lovers and trekkers as well as for pilgrims.
This temple is very famous in Pune and people from all around come to visit this temple. The
Red-eared slider and soft shell turtle can be seen in the holy pond in the temple.
There is a scenic waterfall behind the premises of the Mandir.
Transportation
Baneshwar is approximately 37 km from Pune and 200 km from Mumbai. From Pune Government
MSRTC buses are available at a regular frequency.
Visit period
The best time to visit is between August and February. Though any time of the year is good to visit, it is better to avoid visiting during summer. Similarly during monsoon unless one likes trekking, it is better to avoid. That leaves the best period to seven months between August and February.
References
Gallery
File:Baneshwar 11.JPG, Baneshwar Temple Entrance
File:Baneshwar Entrance.JPG, Baneshwar Temple Entrance
File:Baneshwar 12.JPG, Bell at Baneshwar Temple
File:Baneshwar Waterfall.jpg, Baneshwar Waterfall
File:Baneshwar 03.JPG, Baneshwar Temple
File:Baneshwar Jungle.jpg, Baneshwar Jungle around the temple
File:Baneshwar Garden.JPG, Baneshwar Garden
File:Baneshwar 08.JPG, Baneshwar Temple Entrance
External links
{{Hindu temples in Maharashtra
Shiva temples in Maharashtra
Hindu temples in Pune district
Hindu pilgrimage sites in India