Pandharpur tourism and travel guide

How to Reach Pandharpur by Airways: Nearest Airport is located near Pune (212 km) and further shuttling is done in taxis and cars (Rs 2500 to Rs 3000).

How to Reach Pandharpur by Train: Pandharpur Railway Station at Kurduwadi located at a distance of 52 km is the nearest railway point but has limited trains, However, Solapur is the best convenient with a broad gauge and more connectivity. Solapur is located 74 km from the town of Pandharpur. The taxi charge is about Rs 1,000.

How to Reach Pandharpur by Road: The National Highway 9 is connected Pandharpur to Solapur. A number of buses ply from Solapur to Pandharpur on an interval of 15 minutes. Similarly, there are buses from Mumbai, Pune, and Dadar.

Pandharpur is a century-old sanctum in Maharashtra, dedicated to Lord Vithal. Millions of pilgrims visit Pandharpur and the pilgrimage destinations dotted around it. The Pundalik Temple, Rukmini Temple, Vishnupad temple, and Pandurang temple are the well-known attractions of the region which can be visited by the travelers while on a tour to Pandharpur. The nearest airport to Pandharpur is at Pune which is just 203 km away from this holy city. The travelers who want to travel to other cities in the Pandharpur region can choose Kuruduwadi railhead station. This railhead is 73 Kms away from Pandharpur and can easily be reached by boarding auto-rickshaw, taxi or bus. The state-owned transport buses also provide their services from Pandharpur to other destinations girdling it. NH 9 and NH 13 are the Key links which connect Pandharpur with Mumbai, Pune, Ahmednagar and various regions of Gujarat.

Festivals: Pandharpur Vithoba Shrine of Lord Krishna is a godly place where numbers of festivals are observed every month and year to pay reverence to the Lord. Ekadashi and Palkhi are two major festivals of the Pandharpur shrine that are observed weekly and annually. 

Palki Procession: At Pandharpur Temple, every Wednesdays is regarded as the most auspicious day in the Week after ekadashis, often the most auspicious couplet days in the month according to the Hindu calendar. Pandharpur Temple hosts four important religious yatras in a year. Out of these four Yatras, the three Aashadi Yatra, Kartiki Yatra, Magh and Chaitra Ekadashi’s are processional festivals celebrated annually. Aashadi and Chaitra Yatra are more popular with the crowd and are attended by more than 8 to 10 lac people. Pandharpur Palki festival is celebrated in full pomp and gaiety accompanied by small and big palanquins of renowned saints of India. The colourfully ornate palanquins are first gathered at Wakhri, 5 km before Pandharpur. After Wakhri, pilgrims take bath in the river water of Bhima and proceed to have a darshan of Lord Vitthal.

A 1000-year-old tradition, Palki Festival commences in the month of Jyestha of Hindu calendar. Preparations for the festival start a month before the date of Palki Festival when Palanquins are constructed in beautiful wooden frameworks and painted in various shades. Before carrying out the procession, the idols of Saint Dyaneshwar and Tukaram are kept inside the palanquin. The procession euphoria along with the temple lasts for 3 weeks. Over more than sixty Palkhis from all over the Maharashtra gather at Wakhri to participate in the Pandharpur procession. The Palanquins of Dnyaneshvar sets out from Alandi while that of Tukaram from Dehu, of Nivrittinath from Tryambakeshwar, and of Ekanath from Paithan. All the Palkhis reach to Pandharpur during the 2st half of the 11th day in the Hindu month of Aasadh. The final day of the Palki is ever most enchanting wherea union of all pilgrims hallow the air with the chants of Jai Vithoba Jai Rukmini!

Pandharpur witnesses different types of weather conditions. Summers, monsoons and winters are the three seasons of this region. More details on weather conditions of Pandharpur are as follows:

Summers: The Summers in Pandharpur are hot. The temperature during this season ranges from 31 degree Celsius to 40 degree Celsius. March to June are the hottest summer months of the season. The travelers can avoid going to this place during this season.

Monsoon: During the monsoons, the entire region gets draped in the lush green beauty. Pandharpur receives heavy rainfall during the monsoon season. July to September are the three months when the travelers can plan to arrange the short trips.

Winter: Winter season is the most appropriate time to visit the Pandharpur region. October to February are the 5 months best suited to visit this holy place. The temperature in the winter season range from 25 degree to minimum 15 degree Celsius.

State: Maharashtra

Important temples: Vittthal and Rukmini Temple, Vishunupad Temple.

Location: In Solapur in South-Eastern Maharashtra, Pandharpur is situated by the banks of the vast Bhima, a tributary of the River Krishna.

Distances: 212Km SE of Pune, 366 Kms of SE of Mumbai, 74 Km W of Solapur.

Route from Mumbai: Mumbai-Pune Expressway to Pune; NH9 to Shetfal via Indapur; district road to Pandharpur Via Ashti

Where to go: Any time of the year. If you wish to witness the tumultuous vari, then June to July is the best time to go, Fro a more peaceful darshan any other time is fine. The Chandrabagha is at its beautiful best soon after the monsoon.

Where to Eat: Pandharpur has small eateries without much to recommend. The restaurants at Hotel Aishwarya and hotel Shamiana serve South Indian and Chinese food.

Where to Stay: Hotel Aishwarya, Hotel Shamiana Bhakta Niwas , Gajanan Maharaj Sansthan and Mangal Niketan are the accommodations which the travelers can be availed by the travelers according to their budget.

A popular myth in Pandharpur narrates how Lord Vitthal got the name here. An avatar of supreme Lord Krishna, the god once visited the Pundalik, one of the residents of Pandharpur and a devout Lord Vitthal. When the god visited Pundalik he found his devotee serving his parents wholeheartedly. On hearing his name from the divine visitor Pundalik threw a stone, handy at the time, in the direction of his visitor requesting him to stand on it as he was busy. However, so engrossed was Pundalik that he forgot all about the visitor. Later, when he went out to check he saw that his divine visitor turned into the brick as the Lord wouldn’t have left without the permission of his staunch devotee. The Lord got his name from the Veet, meaning brick in Marathi, on which he stood. Since that time he came to be called Lord Vitthal. Thus, from that day Vitthal stands in the brick on the bank of Chandrabhaga River in Solapur. 

The temple structure defies the senescence but the witness to a two millennia-old temple is the scripture that was written in 1195. Exquisite carvings can be seen on the pillars and roofs of the temple. There is another shrine of Saint Namdeo, Lord Vitthal’s ardent devotee. Also, there is a small well called as Namdeo Payari constructed in the name of saint Namdeo. Recently renovated, the temple has a Darshan Mandap, built with the capacity to accommodate 80,000 devotees during the vari (Marathi) or procession. Inside there is another hall known as Solkhambi Mandap, a 16 pillared stone structure, constructed in 1802. All 16 pillars have intricate carvings and the innermost is made of silver. There is a custom among people to embrace the silver pillar before praying to the Lord. There is a total of six gates in the shrine and the eastern entrance is the main entranceway into the temple. Also, a total of 25 temples comprising shrines of famous saints are found in the temple. 

Temple Timings: 6am-10.45pm

The age of the temple is said to be more than 2,000 years old. The idol of Rukmini and Vitthal wear a splendid look and it seems that the Lord is staring at you with his consort. On special days such as during Vari (procession) time, the temple remains open throughout day and night. After a month-long procession, the temple is washed with water and the Sri Vitthal and Rukmini idols in the temple are bathed and a new diet of sugars and spices are offered along with a whole new set of clothes since it is believed that the lords get tired of the busy days. As a custom, one has to offer earnest orison to the Lord at ‘Pad Sparsh Darshan’, which is bowing and touching the feet of the Lord Vitthal. Irrespective of caste any devotee can enter the sanctum sanctorum and can place his/ her head at the feet of Vitthal. Pilgrims can participate in the Kakad Aarti (early morning puja), Mahapuja (Mega worship), Mahanaivedya (offering food to god), Poshak (offering of clothes to the lord) that are performed regularly. 

Timings: 4am-7pm

This temple is dedicated to Vitthal’s devotee Pundalik and the temple is managed by the fisher folks who live by the side of the sea. Devotees wash their feet at the warm water spring Outside the temple is a small stone boat 2-3 ft long and extremely heavy to lift. Miraculously, back in the days of yore, an abhang (a couplet sung in the praise of Lord) from Saint Tukaram made the boat afloat in water one evening. Additionally, a ferry across the river takes you to Gopalpur which is supposed to be the cattle grazing ground where Lord Krishna took his cows to. A small old dilapidated mandir here stands to evidence the fact. Adjacent to these temples is situated the ISKCON temple, a quiet place to pray, and Mhasoba Temple. 

Vishnupad is a rock in the center of the Chandrabhaga River and nearing this pious rock one gets a beautiful view of the river. It is also the best place to click a few snaps. 

Every year more than two lakhs of people set on to vari, the word which means something which should be done again and again, to Pandharpur to get the blessing of their Lord Vitthal.

Every year more than two lakhs of people set on to vari, the word which means something which should be done again and again, to Pandharpur to get the blessing of their Lord Vitthal.