Parvati Hills.(Pune)

Parvati hills.

Parvati Hill

State:-Maharashtra

District/Taluka:-Pune/Haveli

Best time to visit Parvati :-

Any time you can visit Parvati hills.

Transport to Parvati :-

1) Way from Pune :-

There are buses from Shivaji nagar to Sahakar nagar (bus no:- 37) get down at Parvati hills.

Description of Parvati hills :-

Parvati hills are the highest points in the Pune it is around 2100 feet above the sea level. Parvati offers a panoramic view of the Pune city, Sunrise and the Sunset is even a great scene that can be viewed from the top and Parvati hills can be easily seen from the many parts of the city. It has total of 103 steps to reach the top of the Parvati hills many citizens from the nearby places even come to exercise by climbing the steps. It is an observatory place of the Pune from the top. Parvati hill comprise of one big temple and three small temples it also has a museum which shows many monuments of the rulers.

The steps are the example of fine works of the stone of the Maratha period to make this step a special type of black quarry stone was used. The specialty of the stone is that the stones are weather resistant and they have survived over two hundred and fifty years over wind, water and sun .The steps are wide enough that an elephant can walk through it.

History of Parvati hills and the temples is as follows :-

Parvati Mandir

The main temple on the Parvati hills was built by the 3rd Peshwa Shrimant Nanasaheb in the year 1749 A.D a story that is made about the temple is the mother of Peshwa ruler was suffering from a severe ailment in her foot her advisors told her about the goddess on south of the Pune famous for her miraculous healing power she went to the temple and prayed for the recovery she promised the goddess if she was healed with her ailment she would built the temple for the goddess she was blessed by the goddess and the temple was built by her son third Peshwa Nanasaheb  and  hence it became famous as the temple of the Parvati.

Nana sahib Peshwa was minister for the grandson of Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj the Chhatrapati Shri Shahu Maharaj who was a ruling king of the Maratha empire in those days Nanasaheb Peshwa won the confidence of the king with his faith and affection. When Shahu Maharaj died it was as if the loss of his father to the Nanasaheb Peshwa he brought 'KHADAWA,' the wooden footwear of the king and also brought an icon of the Shivlinga from Satara and kept them underneath the main temple of the Parvati.

Various places which are famous on the Parvati hill are :-

Vetal Chabutra :-

Vetal is a deity that was worshipped by the peoples who wanted to acquire evil powers the people were mostly uneducated and unaware would indulge in this tricks today there are no remains or ruins of the stone available on the hills they can be seen near the plot in the foothills.

Mangir Buwa :-

Mangir Buwa was a saint who had his influence on the particular community who believed him he used to settle the disputes and feuds between the communities this is a small place surrounded by a small encampment of huts.

The Math :-

Math is a dwelling place were a religious programs are taken a saintly person would used to stay, today this place has nothing but a few remains of the plinth trust of Parvati hills are looking forward to utilize the place.

Sati monument :-

‘Sati’ is a movement is a funeral ritual in which widowed woman immolates her, on the husband’s funeral pyre. There was a Brahmin priest whose name was Shri Mahadeo Shastri Dixit he was a great devotee of the lord on the Parvati hills. His wife Ramadevi was also a great devotee like her husband. When Mahadeo Shastri Dixit died, Ramadevi took sati on the funeral pyre of her husband. This place is built with the monuments in memory of this couples today this place offers a panoramic view of the Pune city.

Talim Kholi :-

Talim kholi is a place were in a room rulers with their friends would do early morning exercises. It is quite interesting that a care was taken regarding the education of physical development of the youngsters. Whereas in Peshwa rule in 1879 this room was used for the artillery, after which the room was emptied with artillery when Vasudev Balwant Rao Phadke launched attacked on the British using guerilla warfare.

Today this place is peaceful and can be enjoyed with family on weekends.