The Pataleshwar Cave Temple (also called Panchaleshvara or Bamburde) is a rock-cut cave temple, carved out in the 8th century in the Rashtrakuta period. It is located in what is now Pune, in the state of Maharashtra, India. It was originally situated outside the town, but the city limits have expanded so that it is now located on the downtown Jungli Maharaj Road.
The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The central shrine houses a linga and there are two smaller cells on each side. In front of the cave is a circular Nandi mandapa, its umbrella shaped canopy supported by massive square pillars. This mandapa is one of the peculiar structures of Pataleshwar.
The temple was left incomplete, possibly because of a fault line found at the back of the sanctum sanctorum, which made the further sculpting unsafe, or political upheaval resulting in loss of patronage.
NOTE:
There are no official employees who watch over the footwear of the devotees while they go inside the temple for darshan. Devotees are adviced to wear simple footwear or assign one of your group members to watch over the footwear as thieves are known to run off with them. Branded shoes are a favourite among them.
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Last updated on Friday September 26, 2008 at 11:43:22 PDT (GMT -0700)
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