To read the previous blog on Day 02: Lonar, click here.
Day 3: Lonar to Chalisgaon (Patana)
After breakfast at MTDC Lonar, we headed to Chalisgaon, reaching Shree Kamalshanti Palace by noon. It is basically a wedding resort. It is pet friendly as well. They have a pure veg restaurant on the ground floor. They also have a party lawn and parking facility. Its location is on the highway itself. The rooms are spacious and their service is great. This lavish hotel in a rural area came as a pleasant surprise to us.
After checking-in, we went down to have a steaming hot lunch in their restaurant which consisted of Bharwa and roti. The food was freshly prepared for us.
The afternoon was spent visiting Hemadpanthi Mahadev Temple and the Patanadevi Temple. While going towards the Patanadevi Temple, after passing through the Forest Department gate, about 1 kilometer ahead on the right side, a signboard reads:
“Ancient Hemadpanthi Mahadev Temple.“
A short walk from this signboard leads to an impressive, 10-foot-high platform where you’ll find the east-facing temple standing tall. The architectural layout of the temple includes a main hall (mukhmandap), assembly hall (sabhamandap), inner chamber (antaral), and sanctum sanctorum (garbhagriha).
The assembly hall is supported by 24 intricately carved stone pillars. Each pillar is proportionate and beautifully decorated with fine carvings. On the left side of the inner chamber, a stone inscription can be found. However, some parts of it have been worn out over time. In the sanctum, a Shivling is enshrined facing south.
The temple surroundings are peaceful and picturesque. Since it is located within a forested area, there is often a large population of monkeys in the temple premises, so visitors should take care of their belongings. The temple complex seems to have housed several other temples in the past, as large stone plinths and scattered idols can still be seen. These remnants suggest that in earlier times, this place was likely a major cultural and religious center.
We visited the Chandika Devi Mandir also known as the Patana devi mandir – a tranquil shrine amidst lush greenery.
The Chandika Devi Temple is a well-known and active Shakti Peetha (seat of divine feminine energy) dedicated to Goddess Parvati. It is located on a hill by the riverbank near Ghatwatirtha. According to mythology, when Sati (an incarnation of Parvati) immolated herself in her father Daksha’s yajna due to his insult toward Lord Shiva, she gave up her physical form, leaving only her cosmic energy.
While Lord Shiva was carrying her lifeless body in grief, Lord Vishnu used his Sudarshan Chakra to calm Shiva’s anger and cut Sati’s body into 108 pieces. Wherever these parts fell, a Shakti Peetha was established. It is said that at this very location, the palm of her hand fell, making it a powerful Shakti Peetha.
A devout follower of the Goddess, Govind Swami, used to regularly worship her here. As he aged, he prayed to the Goddess to reside at the base of the hill for easier access. Answering his prayers, the Goddess settled at the foot of the hill, and in the 12th century, a temple complex was established in the historic town of Vijalgaon, including the Panchkaleshwar Shiva temple along with the shrine of the Goddess.
The day ended with a sumptuous dinner and restful night at Shree Kamalshanti Palace.
To read the next blog on Day 04 : Sangamner, click here.
Where did we stay ?
Shree Kamalshanti Palace & Restaurant & Lawns, Chalisgaon.
Where did we eat ?
Shree Kamalshanti Palace & Restaurant & Lawns, Chalisgaon.
