Alibaug taluka boasts a culture steep in tradition. There are a few places to really get a feel of this, such as the ancient iconic temples scattered around the taluka of Alibaug. Kanakeshwar temple is a famous ancient temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is located in the Southern hills. The 1000-1200 year old architecture is beautiful.

Climbing the Hill –

One needs to ascend 3 km to reach the Kanakeshwar temple . There are 3 different trails through the mystic woods. The most popular trail starts from Mapgaon village while the others start from Bahirole and Zirad villages. There are 750 steps leading to the temple. The shadow of the trees cast over the entire path will give a calming effect. The path is divided into 3 sections. These sections will help to know your exact location in the trail. The initial trail is of climbing uphill, half a km distance. You may be exhausted by now. But the interesting chit-chat with each other will make the next 1 km stretch easy to go. After reaching Gaymundi, the trail passes through a flat plain. As you walk through the leafy green tunnel of trees listen to whispering winds through the branches. During the climb, there is a water reservoir to help refresh you. Now, the trail is pretty straightforward. After 15 minutes of climb, you will come across a plateau on which the temple is located. The plateau is covered with dense forest. What an enchanting view!

Bio-Diversity –

A best place to study biodiversity. A rich variety of trees are planted here with many having medicinal value. The dense forest makes home for rare bird species and is spread over 300-400 acres of land. Many bird-watchers and ornithologists visit this place to study these rare birds. The melodious chirping of the birds will relieve you from fatigue.

Bramhakund –

There is an arch shaped structure erected as an entrance to this beautiful world – Kankeshwar temple . As you enter through it, there is a small temple of Lord Hanuman. Adjacent to the temple is ‘Pushkarni’, well with steps built into the four sides that can be used to descend into the water. Especially in the monsoon it is filled with water. You can enjoy swimming in this fresh water.

The Temple –

As you move on, you will come across an artificial lake with beautiful architecture. The Kankeshwar temple of Lord Shiva is just next to the lake. The main sanctum of the temple is built during the Rashtrakutan dynasty while the Chalukya and Silhara dynasties have contributed in building the rest of its structure. The Kalash (the pointed dome) of the temple is 100 to 200 years old. The temple showcases contemporary work of architecture. The strategic design of the temple builds a serene and calm aura in the premises. The mandap or the hall was built under the able guidance of Shri Gurupad Swami, disciple of Shri Shridhar Swami. The Shivalinga inside the huge sanctum is coated with silver. A big idol of Nandi is seen standing in the door. There is an idol of Lord Ganesha to its right side. The Guravs or the priests worship the deities thrice a day with a continuous deep-prajwalan. Also there are temples of Ramsiddhivinayak (established/sthapana by Lambodar Swami) and Shri Krishna and Balaram in the vicinity.

Festivals & Tradition –

The major festivals at Kankeshwar temple are Kamalpoojan on Shravani Somvar (all Mondays in the lunar month of Shravan) and Maharudra in lunar month of ‘Paush’. On the day of Dassehra, palkhi (palanquein of the deity) and a tradition of exchanging ‘aptyachi paana’ is organised. These ‘aptyachi paana’ or leaves symbolise gold and the ritual is a symbolic representation of exchange of gold. Thousands of devotees attend the Maha Shivaratri, Shravani Somwar and Tripurari Pourima(full moon day of lunar month Kartik) yatra. Lodging facilities with high quality food are available in the area. Not only is the place visited by devotees but trekkers or health enthusiasts are also attracted to this beautiful temple situated atop the hill. The surrounding lush green forests provide a scenic view.
Worth a visit, isn’t it?

How to reach:-

• Alibag to Kankeshwar :-13 km
• Pune to Alibag: 145 km (Via Tamhini)
• Mumbai to Alibag : 100 km

Nearby Attractions –

• Khanderi Fort (13 km )
• Mandawa Jetty (10 km )
• Karmarkar Meuseum (10 km )