Pandharpur - a pilgrimage site in Maharashtra, India

 

Pandharpur, Maharashtra

Pandharpur is a major pilgrimage city in the state of Maharashtra, India.  It is located in Solapur district of the state. On occasion of Ashadhi Ekadashi it attracts more than half a million pilgrims from across the state and other parts of the country. Pandharpur is also known as Pandhari. The temple of Vithoba is the most prominent temple in Pandharpur. It is located on the bank of the Bhima river. The river is also called as 'Chandrabhaga' river. Vitthal, Pandurang and Pandharinath are other names of the deity of the temple. He is believed to be a form of Lord Krishna who himself was the incarnation of Lord Vishnu. There are idols of Vitthal and his wife Rukhmini also known as Rakhumai. Pandharpur temple has 11th century scripture. The temple is spread over a wide area and has 6 gates with eastern gate named Namdev gate.    
  
  There are other places of religious significance in and around it. Temple of Goddess Tuljabhavani at Tuljapur is one of them. Pandharpur to Tuljapur distance by road is approx. 111 km. Shri Shetra Akkalkot and temple of lord Dattatray at Gagapur are other place of religious importance near Pandharpur.

How to reach:

By road: 

Pandharpur is well connected by road to other parts of the state and the country. Many state run buses and other private vehicles are available from Solapur, Pune, Mumbai and other cities and towns of the state.

By train:

The city of Solapur is just 74 km away from it while it is about 210 km away from Pune. Kuruwadi serves as the nearest railway head to Pandharpur is just 52 km away from it. Solapur is also the major rail head and is well linked by many trains to other cities and towns of the state.  Considering of heavy rush on the occasion, every year railway department start special train for Pandharpur from almost every major city in the state like Amravati to pandharur, Khamgaon to Pandharpur, Mumbai to Pandharpur, Nagpur to Pandharpur 

By air: 

Pune airport at the distance of 204 kms away from Pandharpur is the nearest airbase. There are many of direct flights from other major cities of India. There are many of taxi and private buses available to reach Pandharpur but booking a taxi or cab in advance will save your time and money.