Hadshi Temple in Mulshi taluka of Pune is a great pick, if you are looking for a weekend trip from Pune that mixes a peaceful temple, green hills, and some fun activities. It sits on a small hilltop past Kolvan village, about 45–50 km from Pune city. That means a easy 1 to 1.5-hour drive, depending on where you start from. The most common route is Chandni Chowk → Pirangut → Paud → Kolvan → Hadshi, and the drive itself is half the fun — winding roads, lots of green fields, and hills all around as you get closer to Mulshi. Mulshi as a whole is also well known for camping, with several spots along the banks of the Mula river and around Mulshi Lake where you can pitch a tent for the night and wake up to the hills.
I had heard about this place from friends who called it “a temple with a fun park attached,” and that turned out to be true. Hadshi Temple is not just a normal temple visit — it has a shrine, a museum, an adventure park, and open lawns for a picnic, all in one big area. What I didn’t expect was how much my little daughter would love it. She spent most of our time there just watching the ducks and going back and forth on the jhulas, not bothered about anything else on our list.
➥The Hadshi Temple
Hadshi Temple is also known as Pandurang Kshetra. It was built by Mr. Shivaji B. Jadhav, who bought the land here in 2002 and built the temple on the guidance of Shri Satya Sai Baba. The temple was inaugurated in October 2009, and is now looked after by the Satya Sai Trust. The whole area covers about 300 acres, with a big lawn alone taking up 4 acres. It feels less like a small temple and more like a huge green park, surrounded by the Sahyadri hills.
What stayed with me most is how the temple sits right at the edge of the hill. With just open sky behind it, the temple looks really beautiful, especially in the soft light of early morning or evening. It’s a view worth stopping for before you go inside.
Before you reach the main shrine, you’ll see a large Ganesh idol near the entrance. From there, a short path with fountains and cow statues leads you to a pond full of lotus flowers, and then to the main two-storey temple. The upper floor has the idols of Vitthal and Rukmini, in the same style as the famous Pandharpur temple, while the ground floor has both Shirdi Sai Baba and Satya Sai Baba.
There’s also a quiet meditation room below the main temple if you want a few minutes of peace, and a lift for elderly or disabled visitors who can’t use the stairs. The temple is open daily from 7 am to 8 pm. Mornings are the best time to go — soft light, fewer people, and hills still covered in mist.
The garden right outside the temple is worth a mention too. It’s big, green, and very well kept, with enough shade and open lawn to sit down for a while. If you’re going with family or small kids, this is one of the best spots on the whole property for a relaxed picnic before or after your temple visit.
➥Sant Darshan Museum
Just near the temple is the Sant Darshan Museum, and it’s one of the best parts of the trip. It has over a hundred statues, and you walk through a tunnel that tells the stories of gods, saints, along with a huge Sai Baba statue and a large Shiv-Parvati statue. Entry costs around ₹200 per adult, with a lower price for kids, and you’ll need about 60 to 90 minutes to see it all. Photos are not allowed inside, so just enjoy it as you walk through.
➥Adventure Park
This is the part that surprises most first-time visitors. Right next to the temple is a full adventure zone, often called the Valley Adventure Park, with over 20 activities for all ages. There’s a zipline inside the park that both kids and adults enjoy, along with rock climbing, a rope course, and ATV rides over rough ground for those who want a proper adrenaline rush.
If you prefer something calmer, try archery, a bull ride, sky cycling, or a bounce ride, and for the little ones there are easier options like toy horse rides and a small water boat. Between the temple, the museum, and this park, families can easily spend half a day here, with the adults taking turns on the rides while the kids run around the lawns.
➥Boating and Ducks inside the temple premises
Right inside the temple complex, there’s a nice artificial pond where you can enjoy a short boat ride with the kids. This is also where you’ll spot the ducks swimming around — it’s a small, simple thing, but kids love it, and it was one of my daughter’s favourite parts of the whole trip. If you want to see more water and greenery, Hadshi Lake is a short 3.5–4 km drive away, with a distant view of Tikona Fort, and Pawna Lake is about 10–12 km further, known for its wide backwaters and popular camping spots with kayaking and bonfire nights.
➥Foods, facilities and Tips
The small shops near the temple serving simple, tasty food like poha, maggie, sabudana khichdi, and kanda bhaji — perfect with a hot cup of tea while you sit and look out at the lawns. I was pleasantly surprised by how good the food was for a place this remote. Network connectivity is good throughout the property, so you don’t need to worry about being cut off. Parking is free and there’s plenty of space for both two-wheelers and cars. Monsoon is the best time to visit thanks to the green hills and cool weather, though the last stretch of road can get a little bumpy, so drive slowly.
➥Final Thoughts
Hadshi Temple is one of those rare places near Pune that works for everyone — religious-minded people looking for peace and darshan, adventure lovers chasing the zipline and rides, nature lovers who just want to sit surrounded by green hills, and families looking for an easy day out with the kids. What makes it special is that none of these feel forced into the same space; you can spend the morning in quiet prayer and the afternoon laughing on a ride, all without leaving the property.
For us, it turned into one of those simple, unplanned-feeling trips that ended up being more memorable than half our “big” vacations — a mix of temple bells, green hills, and my daughter’s laughter as she watched the ducks. Whether you’re going for the darshan, the adventure park, the greenery, or simply a relaxed family picnic, Hadshi Temple Pune has a bit of everything, and it’s worth the drive.
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➜ Don’t Miss in Hadshi: The temple’s stunning hilltop view against the open sky, the Sant Darshan Museum with its hundred-plus sculptures, and the zipline and rides at the Valley Adventure Park. Don’t miss the pond with its ducks and boat ride, and the green lawns perfect for a family picnic.
➜ How to Reach Hadshi Temple: Hadshi is about 45–50 km from Pune, roughly a 1 to 1.5-hour drive via Chandni Chowk → Pirangut → Paud → Kolvan. Nearest railway station and airport are both in Pune.
➜ Best Time to Visit Hadshi Temple: Monsoon (June–September) is the most beautiful, with lush green hills and cool weather; winter (October–February) is also pleasant. Try to visit on weekdays or early mornings to avoid crowds.
➜ Time Required to Explore Hadshi Temple: A day is enough for the temple, museum, pond and to enjoy the adventure park and nearby lakes too.
Information Source: Authentic information sources available on internet, Various Articles and books on the subject, official sources of govt & Interaction with local public.
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