7
Dec 2011
Dhokeshwar Mahadeva Cave Temple
Dhokeshwar Mahadeva temple is located around 2-3 kms from village Takali (near Shirur on Pune-Ahmednagar highway after one takes the road for Ralegaon Siddhi village).The temple is located on a hillock and has been carved out in a cave. One has to climb several stone steps to reach the top.The cave has a fortification around it possibly built in the 18-19th century. The cave itself is said to have been built sometime in the 5-6th century AD.The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and its walls are adorned with beautiful sculptings of ShivaParvati Ganesh and other celestial beings besides motifs and animal figurines.The Gabhara is a room housing the Shivalinga and has a dark passageway (circumambulatory) around it .There are two huge dwarpal sculptings at the two sides of the door frame of the gabhara which immediately catch the eye.There is a Nandi idol situated on the right hand side of the passage besides the main Nandi statue in the antarala.