10 Most Famous Mahadeva Temples Near Pune

As Maha Shivaratri is around the corner, devotees across the globe seek divine blessings from the Lord Shiva for their well-being and prosperity. According to mythological stories, this was the sacred day when Lord Shiva married Goddess Parvati and performed his divine dance called the “Tandava.”

Devotees visit the nearest Shiva temples and worship Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. They also offer water, milk, and Belpatra. This Shivaratri Team NRI takes you across the 10 most famous Mahadeva temples near Pune to explore the spiritual realm.

10 Most Famous Mahadeva Temples Near Pune

Here are the top places near Pune that you can visit on this Maha Shivaratri. These Shiva temples are not just venerated but are also one of the most famous Mahadev temples in India.

1. Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga

Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga is beautifully nestled near the ancient village of Bhojgiri near Pune. It is merely a distance of three and a half hours from Pune.

Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga is one of the 12 primary Jyotirlingas in Hinduism. If you locate it, it is located in the Ghat region of the mountains of Sahyadri. The mesmerizing surroundings and location of this temple make it one of the best places to visit near Pune.

Best Time to visit: August to February

Distance from Pune: Around 106 km

Travel Time by Bus from Pune: 4hrs

Travel Time by Car from Pune: 4hrs

Darshan Timings: 5 am to 8 pm.

Best Places to Explore Nearby: Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary, Bhimashankar Trek, Hanuman Lake, Ahupe Waterfalls

2. Trimbakeshwar Temple

Trimbakeshwar Temple is located amidst a beautiful hill station The temple is blissfully located on a verdant mountain which is very close to the source of origin of the river Godavari.

The extraordinary feature of the Jyotirlinga located here is that the Linga in the temple is in the form of a three-faced embodying Tridev, Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu, and Lord Shiva. The location of this temple is very mesmerizing.

Best Time to visit: November to February

Distance from Pune: 242 km

Travel Time by Bus from Pune: 5 hrs

Travel Time by Car from Pune: 5 hrs

Darshan Timings: 5 am to 8 pm.

Best Places to Explore Nearby: Anjaneri Fort, Brahmagiri Hill, Gangadwar, Kushavarta Kund, Bhandardara, Panchavati

3. Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga

If you are planning to visit a Mahadev temple near a historical site near Pune then Grishneshwar temple is the place for you. It is situated in Aurangabad, Maharashtra, and is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas.

It is merely one km from the historic Ajanta and Ellora caves. So, you can plan a short trip near Pune easily. Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga is also one of the most sacred and revered temples in Maharashtra.

Best Time to visit: June to August, November to February

Distance from Pune: 260 km

Travel Time by Bus from Pune: 5 hrs

Travel Time by Car from Pune: 5 hrs

Darshan Timings: 5 am to 8 pm.

Best Places to Explore Nearby: Ellora Caves, Aurangabad, Daulatabad Fort,  Grishneshwar Village, Bibi Ka Maqbara, Ajanta Caves

4. Kailasa Temple

The world-famous Kailasha temple is situated in Aurangabad, Maharashtra. It is located not very far from the Ellora Caves.

What makes it stand out is that it was carved out of a single rock. Even modern technology may not be able to construct this kind of marvel. There are a total of 34 temples within the complex.

Best Time to visit: December to February

Distance from Pune: 260 km

Travel Time by Bus from Pune: 4hrs

Travel Time by Car from Pune: 4hrs

Darshan Timings: 5 am to 8 pm.

Best Places to Explore Nearby: Khuldabad, Ajanta Caves, Ellora Caves, Panchakki (Water Mill)

5. Nageshwar Jyotirlinga

Nageshwar Jyotirlinga is one of the best Shiva temples to visit near Pune. Being one of the 12 Jyotirlingas, Nageshwar Jyotirlinga is venerated to a great extent in Hinduism.

Nageshewar Jyotirlinga also has a specific dress code in place, that is, you need to wear clothes below knee length for people of all genders.

Best Time to visit: October to February

Distance from Pune: 432 km

Travel Time by Bus from Pune: 7 hrs

Travel Time by Car from Pune: 7 hrs

Darshan Timings: 5 am to 8 pm.

Best Places to Explore Nearby: Dwarkadhish Temple, Bet Dwarka, Rukmini Devi Temple, Gomti Ghat, Dunny Point, Beyt Island

6. Omkareshwar Temple

Omkareshwar temple is located on an Island in Madhya Pradesh.  If you are bored with the humdrum of life and are craving to explore different cultures and traditions, then Omkareshwar Temple should be the best place to visit.

It is home to the ancient Bhil tribes residing here for ages and is a sought-after destination near Pune.

Best Time to visit: October to March

Distance from Pune: 603 km

Travel Time by Bus from Pune: 12 hrs

Travel Time by Car from Pune: 12 hrs

Darshan Timings: 5 am to 8 pm.

Best Places to Explore Nearby: Mamleshwar Jyotirlinga (Amareshwar Temple),  Kedareshwar Temple, Sri Govinda Bhagavatpaada Cave, Satmatrika Temples,  Ahilya Ghat, Ahilya Fort, Maheshwar.

7. Murudeshwar Temple, the 2nd tallest Shiva Statue

Murudeshwar temple is well-known for its pristine natural beauty and geographical location. It is one of the best Mahadeva Temples to visit near Pune. The world’s 2nd tallest Shiva statue is situated in the Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka.

This is a 123-foot-tall statue. Having 20 floors, the temple Gopura, or the Raja Gopura is 237 feet tall. There are stairs and elevators to reach the top from where you can witness an amazing view of the grand Shiva sculpture.

Best Time to visit: October to February

Distance from Pune: 604 km

Travel Time by Bus from Pune: 12 hrs

Travel Time by Car from Pune: 12 hrs

Darshan Timings: 5 am to 8 pm.

Best Places to Explore Nearby: Raja Gopura, Murudeshwar Beach, Netrani Island, Bhatkal, Idagunji Ganapati Temple:

Jog Falls

8. Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga

Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga is situated on the banks of the river Shipra, in Ujjain city of Madhya Pradesh.

It is one of the 12 most significant Jyotirlingas as well as a Shakti Peeth. The Shivalingam in this temple is south facing which is the direction of Yamaraja, the God of Death. This feature is very unusual as compared to other Jyotirlingas.

Best time to visit: October to March

Distance from Pune: 666km

Travel Time by Bus from Pune: 14 hrs

Travel Time by Car from Pune: 14hrs

Darshan Timings: 5 am to 8 pm.

Best Places to Explore Nearby: Ujjaini Mahakali Temple, Kal Bhairav Temple, Harsiddhi Temple, Bade Ganeshji Ka Mandir, Chintaman Ganesh Temple, Ram Ghat, Sandipani Ashram

9. Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga

Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga is situated at Srisailam, Andhra Pradesh. It is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas and also one of the eighteen Shakti Peethas.

The temple is ancient and dates back to the 2nd century. Lord Shiva and Parvati stayed on this mountain in search of their son,  Karthikeya. The Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga and Bhramaramba Shakti Peeth are held in high esteem among the Shaivaites, that is those who are ardent devotees of Lord Mahadeva.

Best Time to visit: October to February

Distance from Pune: 765 km

Travel Time by Bus from Pune: 14-16 hrs

Travel Time by Car from Pune: 14-16 hrs

Darshan Timings: 5 am to 8 pm

Best Places to Explore Nearby: Bhramaramba Devi Temple, Akka Mahadevi Caves, Srisailam Dam, Sakshi Ganapati Temple, Srisailam Wildlife Sanctuary, Akka Mahadevi Wildlife Sanctuary

10. Adiyogi Shiva temple

Adiyogi Shiva Temple is a marvel as it boasts a bust of Shiva in Coimbatore which has entered the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest bust sculpture.

Thousands of tourists visit the Adiyogi Shiva Temple at ISHA YOGA Centre in Coimbatore every year. The surrounding green really calms the mind and the soul.

Best time to visit: December to February

Distance from Pune: 1093 km

Travel Time by Bus from Pune: 18-20 hrs

Travel Time by Car from Pune: 18-20 hrs

Darshan Timings: 5 am to 8 pm.

Best Places to Explore Nearby: Isha Yoga Center, Dhyanalinga Temple: Suryakund, Tribhuvanam, Velliangiri Mountains, Kovai Kutralam Falls, Siruvani Dam and Reservoir:

Wrapping Up

Not only these 10 Mahadev temples near Pune are highly revered, and calm your nerves but are also ravishing in their beauty. Each of these temples has its significance and a mythological story surrounding it mentioned in the great Epics and the Puranas. Most of these temples are best to visit in winter due to their geographical features and weather conditions.