Sunday, November 6, 2016
Wai (to read about it click on Wai) was one of our best road trips, and it
was time that we head out for yet another memorable road trip. I asked Manohar
if he could take time out from his busy schedule so that we could plan yet
another trip. To which he readily agreed.
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| Pataleshwar caves |
We planned to cover Pataleshwar Cave in
Pune, Paladeo Temple located in the middle of River Bhima, Kugaon Killa, Akluj
Fort, Piliv Fort, Dhotri Fort, Solapur Fort, Siddheshwar Temple and Lake and
finally Naldurg Fort in Osmanabad in 3 to 4 days time. We were hoping to save
on time as we were traveling by car.
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| Statue of Nandi at Pataleshwar caves |
As decided we met at Ghatkopar Railway
station at 5:45 AM. As it was just the two of us, we headed off the Mumbai Pune
Expressway to Pune. As the roads were empty, and due to Manohar driving skills
we reached Pune at around 8:15 AM. From Ghatkopar Railway station to here it is
roughly around 152 KM.
At 8:15 AM we were greeted by the office
going crowd. It was the rush hour. Thanks to the GPS and the one way roads, we
were driving in circles. We finally asked a couple of locals who informed us to take the right turns to reach
the Pataleshwar Caves.
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| Statue of Nandi at Pataleshwar caves |
Pataleshwar Caves is tagged on Google
Maps, but the one way roads in Pune adds to the misery.
Pataleshwar Caves is located in the
premises of the Jungli Maharaj Temple. There are two ways to enter the caves.
One is from the temple and the other is from the road (Jungli Maharaj Road). We
skipped the temple and headed to the caves directly.
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| Pataleshwar caves |
A little bit of history. The Pataleshwar Caves
aka Leni are also called as Panchaleshvara or Bamburde Caves. The caves were built
in the Rashtrakuta Period. Dating back to the 8th century. The temple is made of basalt rock. Currently it is
surrounded by lush green trees and a white colored building.
As we entered the cave premises we saw a
statue of Nandi. A little ahead is a circular shaped caves. It is supported by pillars.
Inside it is another statue of Nandi which is worshiped by people. The face of
Nandi is towards the entrance of the
Caves.
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| Carvings on the walls of Pataleshwar caves |
Another Caves is located on the side,
though a small one, but nothing much to see in it.
Inside the main Caves is a temple dedicated
to Shiva. The pillars of the cave cum temple are in symmetry. It reminded me of
the caves in Jogeshwari near Mahakali Caves in Mumbai. (to read click on Jogeshwari and Mahakali, highlighted in red) At both the extreme
ends are huge carvings on the walls.
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| Pataleshwar caves |
There is a brass temple just near the Door
to the (Linga) Shiva temple.
There was hardly anyone in the caves
premises.
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| Pataleshwar caves |
I immediately started my photography
sessions to capture details of the caves. It took us just 15 minutes to explore
the caves in entirety.
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| Pataleshwar caves |
It was
time for breakfast, outside the Jungli Maharaj Temple premises are located a
couple of roadside eateries, we headed there to
have breakfast in the form of masala dosa and vada sambar, a common
breakfast dish for the two of us.
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| Pataleshwar caves |
Our next pit stop is Palasdeo Temple in River
Bhima.
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