Sundays are usually a lazy affair for me. This time I wanted to give this a miss and wanted to get up early and visit Pataleshwar caves. I have been toiling over the thought for some time and before hitting bed last night I said to myself that morning visit to this place is what I want to the first thing tomorrow.
Pataleshwar caves are located adjacent to Jungli Maharaj Samadhi mandir on the starting of JM road in Pune. Like me many must have passed by this road without making a note of this place. This place is a sort of blessing in disguise for the visitors. Once inside you get cut away from the traffic and urban life chaos and you enter into a place of calmness and tranquility.
It is a rock cut cave built on similar lines of Ajanta Ellora but of course it is not that big and grand.This temple complex is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. It was built during the 8th century during the Rashtakuta dynasty. The temple and the caves however are incomplete and it is believed that the while being carved out a fault line was noticed and was concluded that if further worked upon it would make the entire structure unstable.
This belief has been however proved wrong as the complex still stands strong. To access the complex you can either enter directly from JM road to the complex or you can enter from Jungli Maharaj Samadhi mandir and walk left to enter the complex.
Jungli Maharaj Samadhi mandir :
The first thing you notice at this place is the circular Nandi Mandap which is an umbrella shaped structure supported by strong pillars.
Nandi seated facing the scantum under the mandap.
The inner scantum houses the shiva lingam and has two rooms adjacent to it.
The inner corridors have beautiful pillars and morning sun rays light it up in a wonderful way.
This place is still in use as I can see people coming in to offer their morning players.
As a whole it was a nice trip in the morning and would definitely like to recommend to add this place in your list for the places to visit in Pune.
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