Ahilyanagar: Day 3

To read the previous blog on day 2 of Ahilyanagar click here

Day 3: Wrapping Up with Caves and Temples

Our final day started with a visit to the famous temples of Parner which is just a 30 minutes drive form our resort. Approximately 1.5 km from Parner, at the confluence of two small streams, stand two Shiva temples locally known as Sangameshvara and Trimbakeshvara. These temples date back to the 12th century AD.

We visited Sangameshwar temple early in the morning. It is a beautiful Maratha style temple and it is not crowded at all.

The Trimbakeshwar Temple is located just across the road. It is very well maintained and clean temple located in a fenced plot. These temples, with their ancient architecture and peaceful surroundings, were a perfect start to the day. Dating back to the 12th century, this temple is currently under the protection of the Archaeological Survey of India. Like many other ancient temples, it is constructed entirely of stone without the use of mortar. In front of the temple, partially buried underground, lies a smaller, partially damaged life-size Nandi, intricately carved from black stone.

Entrance of Trimbakeshwar Temple, Parner, Ahilyanagar.

We proceeded to Siddheshwarwadi which is just a 10 minutes drive from Parner. The route to Siddheshwar temple is through mountains. This route is home to a lot of waterfalls in the monsoons. It is advisable to visit this temple in monsoon to enjoy the lush green views around. The temple is located in a valley. The plot has a lot of level differences. Hence the temple has been built at different levels above and below ground.

Sophie chased few resident goats in the temple.

A unique feature of this temple is that it houses one of the bells brought by the Marathas from the Vasai victory against the Portuguese. This bell is installed within a four-pillared structure.

Although the present temple dates back to the Peshwa era, the remains of the original temple and the four-pillared structure suggest that it might have belonged to the Yadava period. It is believed that the original temple may have been destroyed during foreign invasions and was later reconstructed during the Peshwa era.

Near the Siddheshwar Temple, there is a Maratha-period dharmashala (rest house) built with bricks. On the wall of the pushkarni (sacred pond) in front of this dharmashala, a Devanagari inscription is engraved. While the modern repainting of the current temple has altered its historical appearance, its grandeur remains evident.

The temple itself is simple in design, with no elaborate carvings inside. In the rear courtyard, old idols of Ganesha, Vishnu, Shiva, and Parvati are placed, suggesting that they might have belonged to the original ancient temple. The temple surroundings are peaceful and picturesque, especially during the monsoon season, when its beauty is truly captivating.

Next, we proceeded to Takli village which is 27kms from Siddheshwarwadi. By the time we reached Shri Dhokeshwar Mandir in the afternoon, the spiritual vibes of the place left us feeling calm and content. We parked the car at the base and started climbing the steps. It takes around 15-20 minutes to climb the stone steps and reach the cave temple. Sophie jumped like a kangaroo on those steps and rushed ahead of me. She enjoys treks and being outdoors. Once we reached the summit, Sophie and my husband waited outside the cave and enjoyed the panoramic views. I and my husband went one by one inside the cave. It has beautiful carvings depicting mythological stories. We could not visit Mahadji Shinde Fort as we were falling short of time.

Entrance steps of Shri Takli Dhokeshwar Mandir

Entrance of Shri Takli Dhokeshwar cave temple

In a shallow niche on the left side (south wall), there is a carving of the Saptamatrika, the seven mother goddesses, with Shiva-Virabhadra on one side and Ganesha on the other. Each goddess is seated on her own individual pedestal, beneath which their distinctive animal vehicles are depicted—except for Ganesha, who does not have one.

Relief of Saptamatrikas with a Ganesh sculpture painted in saffron color

We returned to the resort by 1 PM, tired and hungry but filled with memories. We quickly had a cold water bath, packed our luggage and checked out. Since we were supper hungry, we went to Phalke Farm pure veg which is just across the road. They have a beautiful open dining facility inside a Chikkoo farm. Their plot is huge. Parking and washroom facility is available. They have fixed unlimited thaali menu consisting of shev bhaji, boondi, jhoonka, pithla bhaakri and salad. Sophie enjoyed being offleash in the chikkoo farm. There is absolutely no restriction on movements of pets in Phalke Farms. Thats exactly why I prefer eating in local hotels. We enjoyed having the steaming hot desi food served with love by the villagers.

After lunch, we started our back journey to Pune. With Sophie enjoying the breeze from front window and our hearts full from the experiences of the past few days, we reached Pune by 6 PM, bringing our memorable Ahilyanagar adventure to an end.

Ahilyanagar, often overlooked by travelers, surprised us with its rich history, beautiful architecture, and quiet charm. It was a perfect getaway, made even more special with my husband and Sophie by my side. For those looking for a mix of history, spirituality, and nature, this city is definitely worth exploring!

What are some not-so-pet-friendly places that you should avoid visiting with pets?

Cavalry Tank Museum – Pet’s are not allowed inside display area but can use other open areas.
Ahmednagar Fort – It is open to public only on 15th Aug and 26th Jan.