Krishnabai temple, the hidden gem of Mahabaleshwar
13 Jul 2022 17:33:44
Mahabaleshwar in the monsoon is something else. And one might think that one has discovered everything that is to be discovered about the town, but there is one temple here which still remains hidden to many to this day, and is definitely worth the visit – for both, the spiritual experience and the amazing views!
Follow the trail which will take you through the forest to the ancient temple, giving you a panoramic view of the hillside. Bring your camera to capture the amazing beauty in a picture. You can listen to the priest explaining how the first sunrays fall on the shiv lingam and energize the entire complex. According to legend, the reason that no electricity exists in the temple, is that this same energy destroys the light bulbs. What history and stories this magnificent temple hides is known to none, as it remains a silent witness to the differect eras.
At a distance of 300 m from Mahabaleshwar temple and about 6 km from the Mahabaleshwar Bus Stand, you will find the Krishnabai Temple, which is an old temple situated a few meters away from Panchganga temple in Old Mahabaleshwar. The Old Mahabaleshwar is also known as "Kshetra Mahabaleshwar". It is one of the more known tourist places in Mahabaleshwar, but can still be considered as hidden, compared to some other spots. This makes the temple more special, and not a lot is known about it.
Krishnabai temple is supposed to be source of the Krishna River. It is said that the temple was built in 1888 by a ruler of Ratnagiri, on a hilltop that overlooks the Krishna valley. The temple has a Shiva lingam along with a stunning statue of the Goddess Krishna. A small stream of the river flowing from a Gomukh, falls in a kund also known as a water tank, which is the source of might River Krishna. In the monsoons, the temple makes for not just a very rewarding visual experience, but also a spiritual one.
Some of the unique details of the temple include the stone carved columns and ceilings. These details also showcase the an ancient architectural style. The temple looks very old and is mostly in ruins, but still has its charm intact. It seems that the beautiful carvings on the temple faded away with time. According to the local legends here, the temple was built way back in the Pandava Era.
Located just a few meters away from the Panchganga temple or the Convergence of five rivers – Koyna, Krishna, Venna, Savitri, and Gayatri, the Krishna Temple, is a Shiva temple and is built in the Hemadpanti style of architecture – this style incorporates black stone and lime without using any mortar using the technique of mortise and tenon joint.
The year of construction is unknown but some say it is 1000 years old while others say it to be 5000 years old! The temple has an arcaded court though originally might have been an open one with the addition of a roof later on with a high stone on the rear.