Introduction

Just 4 km from Deccan and 1 km from Swargate lie the Parvati temples - a legacy of the Peshwas. The 103 wide and not-so-steep steps - climbed by many Pune-ites on a daily basis - that lead to the highest point of the city, were made of a special weather-resistant black quarry stone that has braved the wear and tear of both time and elements of nature for more than 250 years now. The main temple of Lord Devdeveshwar was built in 1749 by the third Peshwa Shrimant Nanasaheb. It is believed that when the Peshwa's mother Kashibai was magically cured of her foot ailment upon visiting a temple located on top of a hill in South Pune, Nanasaheb kept his mother's promise by himself building another temple in the area. Made of blackstone, this temple of Devadeshwar (Lord of Lords), houses the deity of Lord Shiva. The imposing entrance, with a door as huge as a room, has the statues of two demi-gods as attendants on both sides. The original gold idols of Parvati and Ganesha were stolen in 1932 and were replaced with brass ones. The Kartikeya temple saw the light of day under Shrimant Raghobadada, Nanasaheb's elder sibling. Historically, a lot of mishaps has been associated with the idol that includes breakage, developing cracks, etc. In June 1869, a black stone idol of Kartikeya was installed. Women are not allowed entry into the temple of Kartikeya for fear of the bachelor god putting a curse of widowhood on them. To the south of the Kartikeya temple lies the Vishnu temple which is a contemporary of the main Devadeshwar (Shiva) temple. The exquisitely crafted idol made of dark black stone from the river Gandki is considered second only to the idol of Shri Vitthal at Pandharpur when it comes to beauty and intricacy of craftsmanship. On top of the hill lies the relatively modern temple dedicated to Lord Vitthal and Rukmini. The present idols were installed within the premises in 1989. There is a museum in the vicinity that commemorates the Peshwas and is full of manuscripts, portraits, weapons and currecies belonging to that period. The memorial of Nanasaheb Peshwa lies close by.

Special Attributes

The highest point of Pune

Nuisance

Beggars

Dressing restrictions

Dress appropriately, avoid wearing short or revealing clothes.

Connectivity

Auto Rickshaws, Buses, Private Taxis

Enjoyed by

All

Exposure

Since the temples are located at the highest point of the city, carry ample water, sunscreen and headgear during summer. During monsoons, waterproof clothing or umbrella is a must. Does get chilly after dusk. So, it is advisable to carry light shawl or scarf throughout the year.

Avoidable Season

Mondays in August, Tripuri Poornima (November)

Facilities

Basic, prepare accordingly.

Things Not Allowed

Women are not allowed to enter the Kartikeya temple for fear of being cursed of widowhood. Shoes need to be taken off when visiting the temples and the samadhi.

Tip

The oldest heritage structures of the city.

Type of site

One of the landmarks of the city, it comprises temples belonging to Shiva, Vishnu, Kartikeya and Ganesha located at the highest point of the city.