Siddheshwar Temple near Machnur Fort near Mangalwedha on the way to Solapur

Wednesday, November 23, 2016

Siddheshwar Temple in Machnur is located around 37 KM away from Pandarpur. One has to travel on the Bijapur Umadi Pandarpur Road to reach Mangalwedha. From Mangalwedha one has to travel on the Sangola - Mangalwedha - Solapur Road to reach the temple

Siddheshwar Temple and Machnur Fort are both located in Machnur.

Entrance to Siddheshwar Temple in Machnur Village

The temple premises was flocked with devotees who had come from all over Maharashtra.

As I entered the Temples premises, I heard a megaphone playing devotional songs.

Old temples in Siddheshwar Temple premises in Machnur Village

There are many small temples in the Siddheshwar Temple premises. All the temples are historic.

I located four diya stands and they were very beautiful. I have seen beautiful diya stands at Achara near Malvan too. And the tallest of them all at Shankaracharya Mandir in Vasai.

Diya Stand at Siddheshwar Temple premises in Machnur Village

Diya stand at Siddheshwar Temple premises in Machnur Village

At the other end of the Siddheshwar Temple premises there is another door. there are stairs leading to the riverbed. River Bhima. As it had dried up, one can visit the temple premises. This temple is also historic, most of the time I believe it is submerged under water, like the Palasdeo Temple.

Old temple in Siddheshwar Temple premises in Machnur Village

Nandi wilt horns of Gold atSiddheshwar Temple premises in Machnur Village

There are no hotels here. Most people who visited the temple travel in private vehicles. Could not spot shared rickshaw nor State transport bus here.

The temple is made of black stone The same stone is used in the construction of the Machnur Fort.

Old temples in Siddheshwar Temple premises in Machnur Village

Of of Siddheshwar Temple premises in Machnur Village, from River Bhima

The Siddheshwar temple walls are designed like a fort walls. The carving on the temple was beautiful. I saw a statue of Nandi, but the horns of which where made of Gold like metal. I have seen statues of Nandi, but this one was quite unusual.

Devotees at Siddheshwar Temple premises in Machnur Village

We then headed off to see the Solapur Fort in Solapur. 

Please do click on the highlighted words above to read about those explorations.