Bhuleshwar Temple, Saswad | An ancient Architectural marvel near Pune

Bhuleshwar Temple, Saswad Pune

Temple view from Entrance

It was all of sudden plan on Sunday afternoon, me and my wife, Anu decided to visit Bhuleshwar temple Saswad. I had heard about the temple quite a few times and wanted to visit it.

It is one of best places to visit near Saswad Pune and also a popular destination near Pune.

We started from VimanNagar at around 3 pm in afternoon by car and reached Bhuleshwar by 4.30pm.

How to reach Bhuleshwar Temple (Pune to Bhuleshwar):

Route from Pune – Swargate – join Pune-Solapur highway – Hadapsar – After Magarpatta Chowk do not take Flyover – Take a right turn on flyover for Saswad road (New flyover to take right is completed) - Dive ghat – Saswad.

Distance of Bhuleshwar Temple from Pune :

Bhuleshwar temple is around 55km from Pune and is located on Pune Solapur highway and takes 1 hr 30 min to reach the destination.

There are no direct public transport available to the Bhuleshwar temple. Although there are buses from Swargate to Saswad,we need to get down at Malshiras and from there private jeeps are only option.

Most people travel from Pune to Bhuleshwar Temple either by bike or car. Best way to travel would be private transport.

Note: Just 2km before reaching temple, there is a right turn that needs to be taken.

There is also board stating Bhuleshwar just at the turn.
If you happen to miss this, don't worry there's another route. Just before the next village, you would have to take a sharp right turn and then straight to the temple.

Best time to visit Bhuleshwar Temple

Although this place can be visited anytime of the year but to enjoy the surrounding scenery more, visit after rainy season or during rainy season.

Bhuleshwar Temple history

This Hindu temple is said to have been built in 8th century and the surrounding brownish basalt wall is supposedly built around 12th century and dedicated to Lord Shiva.

The Bhuleshwar temple is located on a hilltop fort called Daulat Mangal fort. It's believed to have been constructed by Murar Jagdev in 1630.

It is said that the temple was destroyed by the Mughal and Deccan rulers/invaders.

Apart from the history, the temple also has mythological significance, which I got to know after we came back. It is said that Parvati had danced here for Shiva, they later went to Kailash and got married.

Marvelous carvings on Temple top

Bhuleshwar Temple Architecture :

Most striking thing of the temple is its architecture and the beautiful carvings on the walls.The entrance to the main shrine is the first thing you notice.

When you enter the temple, you find an empty mandap inside, making you think if this is it of the temple. But then you realize, there are two separate ways towards the main shrine where Shiva linga is present.

The attacks by invaders was cited as main reason for such a secretive design of temple.

There is also a huge Nandi in the Main mandap.

This temple is famous for its secretive design of its mandap and the classical carvings on walls. When you see it, you truly feel the significance of it.

Sadly, because of continuous attacks by invaders, the temple shrine was completely destroyed. You would see broken structures in each carving. During the Maratha rule, the temple shrine was rebuilt, the one that we see now.