Mahabaleshwar Temple, Mahabaleshwar: How To Reach, Best Time & Tips

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Mahabaleshwar Temple Overview

Known across the globe for its brilliant architecture and awe-inspiring majesty, Mahabaleshwar Temple is located on the outskirts of the Mahabaleshwar city. This place of worship happens to be an example of the glorious Maratha legacy. Popularly known as Mahabali, this temple gets heavy influx of devotees, who come here to offer prayers all over the year. The best part of this shrine is the sense of tranquility and serenity it offers. The deity in the temple is Lord Shiva and the temple dates back to the 16th century.

The temple of Mahabali is situated close to Satara and it was constructed by the Chanda Rao More dynasty. A wall of five feet height surrounds the temple and it has two sections. The inner section is known as Sanctum Sanctorum. You will find many belongings of Lord Shiva in the complex of the temple starting from his bed to his damru and from his sacred bull to his bodyguard Kalbhairav.

The main attraction of the Mahabaleshwar temple is the 6 feet long Shiva lingam, which depicts the stone incarnation of Lord Shiva. Tourists who come to visit this place find the place peaceful and they love to spend some time meditating on the premises of the temple.

How To Reach

By Air: The nearest airport to Mahabaleshwar Temple is Pune International Airport, which is located in the city of Pune. Once you reach Pune airport, you can take a taxi or bus to reach the temple in just 2 hours 30 minutes.

By Bus: Mahabaleshwar Temple has got amazing bus connectivity to all the major nearby cities of Maharashtra. You can travel overnight from any location and reach here early morning to experience the beauty and serenity of the temple.

By Train: The nearest railway station to Mahabaleshwar Temple is Wathar, which lies at a distance of 60 Km. The railway station connects all the major cities of Maharashtra to the temple. Once you reach Wathar railway station, you can take a local taxi to arrive at Mahabaleshwar Temple.

Best Time To Visit

Summers (March - June): In the hill station of Mahabaleshwar, summer seasons are not marked by extreme heat and humidity. The skies usually remain clear and weather remains pleasant, making the months of March to June an ideal time to visit Mahabaleshwar Temple.

Monsoon (July - September): You should avoid visiting Mahabaleshwar Temple in the rainy season from the month of July to September, as there are risks of frequent landslides and roadblocks. In this time, Mahabaleshwar receives heavy rainfall and tourism is just not possible.

Winters (October - February): As per tourism is concerned, the best time to visit Mahabaleshwar Temple is the months of October to February. Mahabaleshwar experiences a friendly climate for tourism in the winter season and invites host of visitors from across the globe.

Other Essential Information

1. Location: The Mahabaleshwar Temple is located in the town of Mahabaleshwar in the Indian state of Maharashtra. The shrine lies at an approximate distance of about 6 km from the city center.

2. Price: There is no entry fee for visiting this place.

3. Timing: Mahabaleshwar Temple is open for tourists from 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM. It usually takes 1 to 2 hours to tour in and around the temple.

History of Mahabaleshwar Temple

The very word ‘Mahabaleshwar’ comes from one of the names of Lord Shiva, Mamleshwar. The word ‘Mamleshwar’ means God of Mavalas. Mahabaleshwar was discovered by the Britishers as a hill station in the state of Maharashtra.

The very first mention of this place dates back to almost 1215 when the king Singhan of Deogiri had visited the place. He had built a small temple at that time in order to worship Lord Shiva on the banks of the Krishna River. This expanse flourished under the reigns of the Brahmin Dynasty around 1350.

In present day, the temple in Mahabaleshwar displays the exquisite beauty of Indian architecture and is believed to be the living space of Lord Shiva.

Places to Eat around Mahabaleshwar Temple

1. Mad Smoke House: Mad Smoke House is one of the best places in Mahabaleshwar to dine out with your loved ones. This place is just amazing for arranging small parties and get togethers. You will not only love the food but you will also fall in love with the quality of service offered by the staff. Tourists mostly appreciate the ambiance and wide-range menu of this place.

2. Bagicha Corner: Bagicha Corner is one more must-go location in Mahabaleshwar. It is known for its unique dessert delicacies and shakes. You will fall in love with the Mulberry with whipped cream, chocolate shake, strawberry shakes, and varieties of juices.

3. Farmhouse Bistro: If you are someone who loves to have Italian food, then a visit to the Farmhouse Bistro in Mahabaleshwar is a must. Here, you will get to have some organic delicacies made from farm-fresh ingredients that are high in nutrition. This iconic place has been serving high-quality Italian food since its inception and tourists love to have pasta, cheesy pizza, mocktails, Lasagne and Mushroom soup at this place.

Travelers' Tip before visiting Mahabaleshwar Temple

1. The roads to the temple are not in good shape. Therefore, you must be careful when driving through them and should not cross the speed limit.

2. You should not carry your pets with you to the temple, as they are not allowed in the temple premises.

3. It is highly recommended to avoid visiting the shrines at the peak rush hours.

4. You should not forget carrying cameras when visiting this temple or else you will miss out on capturing the majestic beauty of the nearby surroundings.

5. You can bargain at the nearby market to get better deals on the souvenirs.

Mahabaleshwar Temple FAQs

Why Mahabaleshwar is famous for?

Mahabaleshwar is widely known for its amazing scenic and picturesque beauty. The tranquil hill station is located in between five hills of the Sahyadri Mountain Range. The place attracts tourists from all over the country to get enchanted by its scenic beauty and strawberry farms. Mahabaleshwar happens to be one of the most visited places of tourist interest in the state of Maharashtra.

How old is Mahabaleshwar Temple?

Mahabaleshwar Temple is over 5 centuries old. As per the Hindu mythology, this shrine is believed to have been built in the 16th century by the king of More Dynasty. The Britishers, in the course of their rule in India, discovered Mahabaleshwar as a hill station in the state of Maharashtra.

Who built Mahabaleshwar Temple?

Chanda Rao More built Mahabaleshwar Temple back in the 16th century when he had been to this wonderful expanse of the state. Dedicated to the Hindu God Lord Shiva, this beautiful temple lures a host of devotees from across the globe.

Is photography allowed inside the temple?

Yes, photography is allowed inside the temple. There are a lot of things to be photographed in this place. The scenic picturesque surrounding makes available for great backdrops for picture-perfect portraits. Therefore, when coming to this place, you should not forget carrying your cameras.

How far is Mahabaleshwar Temple from Mumbai?

Mahabaleshwar Temple is located at an approximate distance of about 266 km from Mumbai. It takes about 5 to 6 hours to drive down the mountainous roads to reach this place from the city.Mahabaleshwar happens to be one of the most loved destinations for weekend getaways for the Mumbaikars. The Mumbai dwellers visit the place frequently to spend some time in the tranquil environment of the hills away from the hustle and bustle of the chaotic city life.

What are the timings of Mahabaleshwar temple?

Mahabaleshwar Temple is open from 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM, throughout the week. That being said, however, you should make sure that you do not reach the place at peak hours or else you will miss out on experiencing the true serenity of this place in the rush. Tourists love to spend some time in the peaceful environment of this place after visiting the shrine.

Is Mahabaleshwar a Jyotirlinga?

No, Mahabaleshwar is not included among the 12 Jyotirlinga in India. The twelve Jyotirlinga in India are as follows:
1 Somnath Jyotirlinga
2 Gujarat Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga
3 Andhra Pradesh Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga
4 Madhya Pradesh Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga
5 Madhya Pradesh Vaidyanath Jyotirlinga
6 Jharkhand Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga
7 Maharashtra Rameshwar Jyotirlinga
8 Tamil Nadu Nageshwar Jyotirlinga
9 Gujarat Kashi Vishwanath
10 Varanasi Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga
11 Nasik Kedarnath Jyotirlinga
12 Uttarakhand Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga, Aurangabad