Chaturshringi Temple

The Chaturshringi Temple is a Hindu temple in the city of Pune, Maharashtra, India. The temple is located on the slope of a hill on Senapati Bapat Road. It is said to have been built during the reign of the Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji Raje Bhosle. The temple is looked after by Chaturshringi Devasthan (Temple) trustees, with full dedication.
Chaturshringi (Chatur means four) is a mountain with four peaks. The Chaturshringi temple is 90 feet high and 125 feet wide and is a symbol of power and faith. One has to climb more than 100 steps to reach the shrine of Goddess Chaturshringi. In the temple premises there are also temples of Goddess Durga and Lord Ganesh. This includes eight miniature idols of Ashtavinayaka. These small temples are located on the four separate hillocks.

The Legend:
The legend associated with the construction of the temple is worth noting here. A moneylender and mint owner called Durlabhdas who used to offer his services to the Peshwas was a great devotee of Goddess Saptshrungi of Vani, a place near Nasik. Every year in the month of Chaitra on the full moon day he would go to Vani to bow down before the goddess. But by and by he grew older and it became impossible for him to venture so far to Vani. He prayed and pleaded to the goddess for the solution to his problem. The goddess is said to have appeared before his eyes and told him that he need not come all the way to Vani from Pune and she would come on the mountain top in the northwest of Pune for him. The place told by the goddess was traced later and the swyayambhu idol of Hers was found on the mountain. Durlabhdas celebrated the coming of the goddess for him by minting a ‘Chatushrungi’ rupee. Later the temple was constructed on the place.

Other Attractions:
Chatushrungi is actually a sacred place and certainly not a picnic spot. Still those who want to please their palate can enjoy variety of dishes at the snacks stalls at the foothill. You can also see and buy different varieties of handicraft items, footwear and gift articles at the stalls here. All in all it’s fun.

How to reach:
Chatushrungi is one of the very important places in Pune and it is always crowded with devotees. This is the reason why regular bus service is available to this holy shrine from different spots in the city like Deccan, Swargate and Malwadi.