PARVATI HILL & TEMPLE

Parvati Hill rises to 640 meters above sea level. Right in the center of the city, its summit offers a 360° view of the metropolis. Many people from Pune come here on weekends to get some fresh air or early in the morning to get some exercise. You have to climb 103 steps to reach the top and the 5 temples that occupy the hill. It is even said that Bajirao I climbed up here to witness the defeat of the British at the battle of Kirkee.

Devdeveshwar Temple: This is the main temple dedicated to Parvati and her husband Shiva. The term means "the God of gods". Legend has it that Nanasaheb Peshwa's mother was suffering from a leg and climbed this hill to benefit from the healing powers that the place supposedly possessed. Once he was healed, the Peswha ruler fulfilled his mother's wish and had the temple built. Built in 1749, it was chosen a local stone of black color, the trapp of Deccan. As tradition dictates, Shiva is represented by an oval-shaped lingam. The stone is said to come from the Gandaki River, a tributary of the Ganges, which has its source in Nepal. Legend also has it that the wooden sandals of Chhatrapati Shivaji's grandson are kept under the lingam. Much rarer, the temple contains a silver representation of Shiva, carrying his wife Parvati and their son Ganesh on his lap. This silver and gold statue was donated by the Peshwa at the inauguration of the temple on April 23, 1749. In 1817, as British pressure mounted, Bajirao II had all his wealth and the idol deposited at Sinhagad Fort. When the fort was taken by the British in 1818, they seized the booty. Once peace was restored, the British returned the statue to the temple. In 1932, it was stolen again and never recovered. A new bronze statue, a replica of the old one, was placed in the temple in 1936. It is this one that you can see today.

The other 4 temples are dedicated to Vishnu, Rama, Vitthal and Rukmini and to Kartikeya, the god of war.

Peshwa Museum: a small palace was built on top of the hill, next to the temple. A part of it has been transformed into a museum. It contains paintings that belonged to the Peshwa as well as their weapons, coins in use at the time. It is in this palace that the ruler Nanasaheb Peshwa died in 1857. His cenotaph is erected here and surrounded by paintings of the many Maratha battles.