Mandhardevi Temple, Maharashtra

Mandhardevi Kalubai temple is near Wai (Satara District, Maharashtra, India). Located on a hill 4,650 feet above sea level, the temple, some 20 km from Satara, overlooks the picturesque Purandar fort. Devotees attribute miraculous properties to a grove around the shrine. Local lore has it that the temple is more than 400 years old and was built during Shivaji’s Maratha rule; no definite date on the construction is available.
The title of the land is in the name of Lord Mandeshwar and Kaleshwari Devi. Most of the year there is little tourist traffic. The nearest primary health centre is six kilometres away and a major hospital is at Satara town.
The idol of Kalubai sports two silver masks and silk finery. The masks are carried in a procession by members of the Gurav family, seen as the hereditary custodians of the shrine. Members of this family take turns to conduct rituals.

Mandhardevi Temple, Maharashtra;

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However, there is no written evidence regarding the origin and construction of the temple yet it is believed that it was constructed centuries ago by the Maratha rulers. According to local people the temple is about 400 years old. These presiding deities of the temple are Kaleshwari Devi and Mandeshwar however; the main attraction of the temple is idol of Lord Kalubai. . Moreover, the temple is also renowned for its Kalubai Jatra pilgrimage, a ten days religious festival that mostly held in the month of January every year. Hence, during the festival time devotees from all over the state gather here to have sacred Darshan and blessings of Goddess.

Located 4650 feet above sea level, the temple is 20 km from Satara, overlooks the picturesque Purandhar fort. Devotees point out miraculous properties to a grove near the shrine. Local lore speaks that the Mandher Devi Temple, Satara is more than 400 years old and was built during the rule of great Maratha ruler, Shivaji. Though, the exact time and date of the temple’s construction is not known. The titular head of the land is in the name of Lord Mandeshwari and Kandeswari Devi. There is indeed very little tourist traffic during most of the year.

By Road: Wai is well connected by state road transport and private bus services. Regular bus services are available from Pune and Satara. Super-fast and Deluxe A/C buses are also available on this route. Private buses are also available.

By Rail: The nearest railhead is Satara which is on the Pune-Miraj section and is connected to Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Mysore, Baroda, Surat, Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Sangli-Miraj and Goa by express trains.

By Air: Pune’s Lohegaon airport is the closes airport at 88 km. After reaching airport local and MSRTC buses, Auto rickshaws and Taxis are available to reach wai.

You can visit the temple between 6 A.M. to 9 P.M. The temple is popular among Hindus who undertake the annual Kalubai Jatra pilgrimage over a ten-day period every January. The main event is a 24-hour-long festival on the day of the full moon that includes animal sacrifices to the demons of goddess whom she killed. The goddess is offered nivad of puran poli (a sweet) and curd rice. The religious event usually draws more than 300,000 devotees. The annual fair is in honour of Kaleshwari Devi, fondly called Kalubai by the faithful. Over 300 devotees died during the pilgrimage in a stampede in 2005.