The vibrant city of Pune, which is also known as the Oxford of the East, is the cultural capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. The city is a melting pot of cultures, traditions, art, and religion. The city boasts of numerous historical monuments and structures, and among them are many temples which attract thousands of people from all over the city, the state, and the country every day.
Pune’s temples take you back to the past and most of them were built during the era of the Peshwas. Pune has changed at a very fast pace in the last few decades, but it still holds pride in its heritage of these old monuments and temples.
If you are planning to visit the city soon and are looking at getting some divine intervention, head over to these temples to seek the blessings of the Almighty.
Top 11 Famous Temples in Pune Worth Visiting
1. Dagadusheth Halwai Ganapati
Come Ganesh Chaturthi and the city of Pune is decked up in all sorts of festivities. The Shrimant Dagdusheth Halwai Ganapati Temple is one of the most visited temples during this festival. It is known for its décor. It is one of the few temples, where the idol and the inner sanctum are visible from the outside.
The Ganesha idol is adorned with 40 kg of gold and sees thousands of visitors seeking blessings daily. This famous temple is in the Budhwar Peth area of Pune and its inception took place over 125 years by a sweet-seller named Shri Dagdusheth Gadve and his wife, Lakshmibai. They built the temple as a way of healing as they were grief-struck after losing their son to a fatal illness.
You can visit the temple from 6.00 am to 10.30 pm.
2. Parvati Hill Temple
Situated 2100 feet high on a hill is the Parvati Hill Temple. There are five temples located on the top of the hill—Ram Temple, Vishnu Temple, Vitthai Temple, Kartikeya Temple and the Devdeveshwar Temple.
To seek divine intervention, one must climb a total of 103 steps to reach these peaceful temples of Pune. You can only find your spiritual calling here, but also find calm and peace looking at the stunning views of Pune city.
You can visit this temple from 5.00 am to 8.00 pm.
3. Omkareshwar Temple
One of the most ancient temples in Pune, this temple was built under the Peshwa rule. One of the biggest temples in the city of Pune, this temple has intricately carved details and domes and its architecture catches your eye.
Situated near the Balgandharva Rangmandir and on the bank of the river Mutha, this temple has a Shivlinga in the main temple and the other smaller temples have idols of Lord Ganesha, Goddess Durga, Lord Hanuman, Lord Shani and Lord Vishnu.
You can visit this temple from 5.30 am to 11.00 pm.
4. Kasba Ganpati
The manacha pahila Ganapati, Kasba Ganapati, was built by none other than Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s mother, Queen Jijabai. The temple was visited earlier, but gained more popularity after Lokmanya Tilak made Ganapati celebrations public and started celebrating them here during the freedom struggle.
You can visit this temple from 6.00 am to 9.00 pm.
5. Chaturshringi Mandir
This temple located on the Senapati Bapat Road, is one of the most revered temples in Pune. The word Chattu means a mountain with four peaks. It represents faith and power. There are idols of Goddess Durga and the Ashtavinayaka in this temple.
One must climb around 100 steps to reach the temple. You can visit this temple from 6.00 am to 9.00 pm.
6. Sarasbaug Ganpati Temple
This temple is located inside the Sarasbaug and has the idol of Lord Siddhivinayak. This temple was established by Shrimant Sawai Madhavrao Peshwa in the year 1784.
This temple was said to be a place where secret meetings of the Peshwas were held and is situated at the foot of the Parvati Hill.
You can visit this temple from 5.30 am to 8.00 pm.
7. BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir
Located on the Narhe Ambegaon Road in Pune, this temple is known for its cleanliness and is very well maintained. The devotees have to follow certain rules and protocols before entering the temple.
This temple has beautiful gardens and lawns and the main temple is made from red stone. You must visit the temple during the daily bhog or aarti time.
You can visit this temple from 7.30 am to 12.00 pm and 4.00 pm to 9.00 pm.
Read In-detail about – Swaminarayan Temple Pune
8. Neelkantheshwar Temple
The Neelkantheshwar Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Said to be one of the most beautiful temples in Pune, this temple is situated on the top of a hill, 900 feet above sea level.
Situated in Kondhur, this peaceful temple also offers breathtaking views of the surroundings, which makes the steep climb worth it.
You can visit this temple from 5.00 am to 9.00 pm.
9. Shri Mahalaxmi Mandir
Located at the foot of the Parvati Hill, this temple is dedicated to the Goddess of Wealth, Goddess Mahalaxmi. Its architecture and the beautiful idol that it hosts will leave you awestruck.
It is located just opposite the Sarasbaug Ganpati and the temple was built in the year 1984 by the Bansilal Ramnath Agarwal Charitable Trust.
You can visit this temple from 6.00 am to 9.00 pm.
10. Bhuleshwar Temple
Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the Bhuleshwar Temple is one of the oldest temples in Maharashtra. Built in the 13th century by the Peshwas, this temple is located 45 km away from the city of Pune on a small hill of a village called Yavat.
This holy site has five Shivalingas and houses the idols of Lord Ganesha, Lord Vishnu, and Goddess Lakshmi. This temple has unique architecture and apart from devotees, it is also visited by historic researchers and architecture enthusiasts.
You can visit this temple from 4.00 am to 8.30 pm.
11. ISKON Temple
Spread over a vast area, this temple is located on the Katraj-Kondhwa Road. The ISKON Temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna and Radha and you can hear the chanting of Krishna and Radha along with musical instruments such as the mridangam.
The temple is surrounded by lush green hills and the idols of Lord Krishna and Radha are captivating. The idols are adorned with colorful and beautiful attire and garlands. The temple also has a Go-Seva center to feed and look after the cows.
You can visit this temple from 4.30 am to 8.45 pm.
