Visiting Lesser Known India - the City of Baramati

[Surbhi Bansal]

Wikipedia

Interested in exploring off-the-beaten-path India?  One place that should be on your list is the city and surrounding area of Baramati, in Maharashtra state, five hours east of Mumbai (Bombay) and two hours from Pune. Located on the banks of the Karha River, it's known among Indians as the birthplace of a famous poet, Kavi Moropant (and more recently, of the inventor of the CO2 laser, Kumar Patel!). Ruled from 850 to 1334 by the famous Seuna dynasty (better known as the Yadavas of Devagiri), it has a number of fascinating sites to offer visitors - most notably a pair of fascinating temples that are among this country's most ancient, whose presence makes the city something of a pilgrimage destination for Hindus.

Shri Kashivishveshwar Temple

This brilliant piece of architecture and mystic divinity is located on the west bank of Karha, flowing at the foot of Mt. Purandar.  Built around 750 AD, the temple is dedicated to Lord Ganesha, the ever so reverent and famous "Vighnaharta" – meaning remover of hurdles, and is mentioned in a famous epic poem of the 18th century, Shivlilamrut. Visiting this architectural masterpiece, you may find such sense of peace as is rarely found anywhere else.


Shri Siddheshwar Temple


On the east bank of Karha, Shri Siddheshwar has close connection to Lord Shiva from Indian mythology, and was also built around 750 AD and mentioned in Shivlilamrut. It's associated especially with Nandini, the holy cow that was the mount of the great Lord Shiva - represented by a splendid sculpture. 

Wikimedia

Bhigwan Birdwatching

Outside Baramati, Bhigwan is a small town on the Pune-Solapur Highway which is home to two marvelous bird sanctuaries - Diksal and Kumbharwadi - where birders can spot hundreds of species - especially migratory birds, and most famously, more than a thousand pink flamingoes. The time to go is migration season, between December and March. Best part of Bhigwan birding is the boat ride from Kumbhargaon, which simply doubles the fun. 

About Us: Jakson Inns

Located in the town of Phaltan, Jakson Inns is one of the hotels near Baramati, a modern, 69-room hotel with world-class amenities, warm hospitality, and an emphasis on sustainabiity (it's India's first LEED Platinum-rated lodging). Notable features include a swimming pool, gym recreation center, and the Kundalini therapy room, with a wonderful menu of rejuvenating massages and home-made scrubs. Then of course there's our on-premises restaurant, Green Bean, serving a sophisticated menu of Indian and international cuisine, and our swanky Fulltoon bar, with a wide range of excellent wines, beers, cocktails, and mocktails. We're also especially proud of our organic garden, which provides farm-to table produce and where you can even pick your own and have our chefs prepare you a customized salad from it. 

One particularly notable innovation is our "Single Lady Traveler" rooms, designed with the seciurity of female guests in mind, with features such as a door camera and speaker. Another is the beds in all rooms - memory foam, fire-retardant, and bed bug repellent.

Come visit us, and Baramati!