Town - Harihareshwar
District - Raigad
State - Maharashtra
Harihareshwar town is well known for quite a few tourist attractions, the main being the Lord Shiva temple due to which the town is called Dev Ghar , meaning House of God.
Visiting the temple and the beach is a must in a visit to this place, nestled in the Sahyadri ranges of the Konkan region of the state of Maharashtra.
The temple complex has a main Lord Shiv temple along with a Lord Kaal Bhairav temple that is to be visited first before taking darshan of the Shiv Linga in the main temple.
It is believed that Lord Shiva created Kal bhairav and blessed him with all the mantras.
The Shiv temple has idols of Goddess Parvati,Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma.
The linga is quite ancient and has historical importance. The temple architecture is in the Hoysala style. It was built by Veer Narasimha II.
There is a pradakshina path around the temple which the devotees can partake in, though it is not advisable during the high tide. One also has to beware of crabs on this path.
Behind the temple there is a huge rock boulder that appears to be broken into two parts.
It is believed that it was broken by the mighty Bhim, one of the five Pandava princes as it stood in the way of reaching the temple.
Quite a few stalls by the locals in the temple complex provide Maharashtra's iconic fast food, Vada pav along with cold drinks etc.
Local guides are also available for any interested tourists wanting to know the rich and ancient history of the temple.
Adjoining the temple is the Harihareshwar beach.
The beach is about 2.4 km long and one of the most underrated beaches of Maharashtra. The beach has black silt and rocky formations.
The beach is a haven for adventure enthusiasts for it offers a plethora of water activities and sports, ranging from motor boat rides, jet skiing, water scooters, banana boats, ETV ride etc.
Horse cart riding along the beach is also available.
The beauty of the Sahyadri ranges and the Arabian sea is a picturesque combination that enthralls the tourists.
Visiting Harihareshwar as a weekend getaway is very popular, especially for people of the metros, Mumbai and Pune. The Harihareshwar temple and its beach is a must-see in such a tourists itinerary.
Pictures - Trawell.in
