Away from the busy city life of Pune full of mundane hurries and worries, a place like Baneshwar offers you a chance to rejuvenate yourself so that you get back to your daily routine with redoubled vitality. Baneshwar is a place mainly popular for a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. Moreover, the greenery and the scenery make the place a touch me not beauty. People from and outside Pune often visit the place and experience the utmost serenity and tranquility the place offers.

Where is it located?
Baneshwar is around 35 km from Pune and this proximity to the city makes the place fit for a one day trip.

The Shiva Temple:
It will be interesting to note the etymology of the name ‘Baneshwar’. The temple is situated in the thick forest and hence the name ‘Baneshwar’. ‘Ban’ in Marathi means ‘forest’ in English.

The temple is the holy shrine of Lord Shiva. It has quite simple architecture but the sheer beauty of the construction lies in its simplicity.

Historical references say that Shrimant Balaji Bajirav, a Peshwa built this temple somewhere in the 17th century. Now the Baneshwar Temple Trust has been founded for the maintenance of the temple. Over the period of time the place has earned popularity as a tourist spot and hence the Trust has been providing many facilities to the tourists coming from all over the world.

As you come in from the main entrance you can experience the difference in the atmosphere. The hallowed presence of Lord Shiva can be felt.

In the sanctum of the temple you see five Shiva Lingas instead of one as we see otherwise. These Shiva Lingas are hidden in a trench and can be seen in light. The local priests offer pooja to Lord Shiva early in the morning. They decorate the Shiva Lingas with flowers in an artistic manner.
Idols of Goddess Lakshmi, Lord Vishnu and Lord Mahadev, too are beautiful.

A couple of water tanks beside the temple, the big light stand right in front of the temple, Dharmashalas and a big bell are the other attractions in the premises. People play and swim in the tank water and have fun.
A small garden at the back of the temple and a small stream beside add to the picturesque beauty of the place.

The silence of the place is striking which is broken only by the bang of the bell, sound of the stream water and the swaying of the trees. Otherwise the pace is so quiet that you can spend hours together here meditating and contemplating.

Waterfall:
Yet another attraction of the place is of course the waterfall. At a distance of around 1 km from the temple, the canopy of lush green trees gives way to this grand view of the waterfall. The site becomes an irresistible temptation for poets to write on, painters to depict on the canvas and for the photographers to capture in their camera. The beauty of the place is at its best during the monsoon magic.

How to reach?
The place is easily accessible both by public and private transport vehicles. Buses to Naraspur Junction from Pune are available frequently from the Swargate Station. From Naraspur, Baneshwar is just 3km away and hence a walk to Baneshwar is possible and a pleasure.

Food and Accommodation:
The place is located in the thick forests and hence in a remote area. No facilities of food and accommodation so to say are available. However, a few small restaurants here can serve you hot cup of tea and a few dishes as well.

Monsoon is the best time to come here as you can get drenched into the unparalleled natural beauty of Baneshwar. Just be careful about the muddy and slippery roads and treacherous rocks here.

So when are you coming to Baneshwar?
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Baneshwar in Pune on Map
Baneshwar in Pune