Tourism in Maharashtra

 

Hindu places of pilgrimage

A number of temples such as Bhimashankar, Trimbakeshwar, Bhavani of Tuljapur, Shani Shingnapur, Jyotiba Temple, Ashtavinayaka Ganapati temples, Lord Pandurang temple at Pandharpur attract a huge number of Hindu devotees every year. Khandoba temple of God Khandoba at Jejuri in the Pune district attract pilgrims from all over the Maharashtra where worshipers shower each other with Bhandar (turmeric powder).< Saibaba temple at Shirdi is visited by an average of 25,000 pilgrims a day and during religious festivals, this number can reach up to 300,000.

Vithoba Temple, Pandharpur, is the main center of worship for the Hindu deity Vithoba, believed to be a local form of god Krishna or Vishnu and his consort Rakhumai. Vithoba devotees called Varkaris start marching from the resting places of Varkari saints from different regions of Maharashtra but mainly from Dehu, and Alandi to Pandharpur in huge processions to reach Pandharpur on Aashadhi ekadashi and Kartiki Ekadashi.Pandharpur and other places associated with the Warkari sect such as Sant Tukaram memorial at Dehu, and Samadhi of Sant Dnyaneshwar at Alandi remain popular throughout the year, and attract huge number of people from all over the state during religious observations.

Marathi Hindu families have a family deity called Kuldevta that they visit after many auspicious events. Important ancient Kuldevta temples that attract pilgrims in the state include:

Renukadevi at Mahur, considered a Shakta pitha, is located in the Nanded district.

Tuljapur-Temple of Goddess Bhavani

Kolhapur -Temple of Goddess Mahalaxmi or Ambabai

Ambajogai -Temple of Yogeshwari, one of the 3 1/2 Shakta pithas in the state.

Jejuri - Temple of Khandoba

Many temples or shrines of 19th and 20th century saints are very popular with pilgrims. The important ones include:

Shegaon, resting place of Gajanan Maharaj, the late 19th/early 20th-century religious figure

Akkalkot, Temple /Matha dedicated to 19th century Swami Samarth.

Shirdi, temple of Sai Baba - a hugely revered saint from late 19th/early 20th century with global following.

Gondavale, samadhi of Gondavlekar Maharaj

Other places popular with devotees and pilgrims include:

Mumbai, Temple of Siddhivinayak Temple, Mumbai

Mumbai, Mahalakshmi temple in south Mumbai

Shani Shingnapur, Temple of God Shani (Shanidev)

Ashtavinayaka, 8 Abodes of Lord Ganesha

Trimbakeshwar