In Pune, nestled amidst the hills of Saswad near Bopgaon, lies the Kanifnath Temple dedicated to Saint Kanifnath, one of the nine Nath Sampradaya yogis. Apart from Saint Kanifnath, the temple complex also houses shrines dedicated to Lord Ganesha, Vithoba-Rukmini, and Lord Hanuman, along with many other deities.
The Kanifnath Temple Pune also houses statues of all nine Mahayogis of the Nath Sampradaya. The entire premises of the temple are well-maintained and beautiful.
While one can easily reach the temple atop the hill by car or motorbike, most visitors prefer trekking to reach the temple. The trek to the Kanifnath Temple from Pune-Saswad Road takes around 40 to 45 minutes on foot. This short but steep climb offers a fantastic trekking route with beautiful natural scenery. The view of Pune city from the temple is also impressive. Often, deer can be spotted amidst the lush green hills surrounding the area.
It is believed that Saint Kanifnath was born from an elephant’s ear. To depict this, a statue of an elephant has been erected near the Kanifnath Temple Pune. At the entrance of the temple, there is a statue of Betal Baba.
A unique feature of the Kanifnath Temple Pune is a small window-like door to enter the main building, which is approximately 1 x 1 foot in size. Due to its small size, entering through it requires some effort, but by positioning oneself in a particular way, one can manage to get inside.
The priests of the Kanifnath Temple Pune assist visitors in entering through this door. Only men are allowed to enter the main sanctum of the temple after removing their upper garments. The priests help facilitate this. The view of both sunrise and sunset from the Kanifnath Temple is also quite breathtaking.
Within the premises of Kanifnath Temple, there are many shops and stalls offering food and drinks where you can find items like juice, Misal Pav, Vada Pav, and more. The Misal Pav here is particularly delicious. Near the temple, a large saffron flag has been hoisted, which can be seen from a great distance.
Although the trekking path to the Kanifnath Temple is short and easy, there are some places with steep and straight climbs where one needs to be careful. While trekking, there are many spots from where beautiful photos can be taken. This trek to Kanifnath Temple is a good place for photography enthusiasts and nature lovers. Being quite far from the city of Pune, the temple sees a significant crowd during weekends. If you prefer fewer crowds, visiting on weekdays would be a better choice.
I really enjoyed trekking to Kanifnath Temple. It’s suitable for those who want to experience nature, religion, and spirituality up close in a short span of time. My suggestion would be to avoid weekends and start the trek to Kanifnath Temple at 6 in the morning on any other day. This way, you can enjoy the sunrise and the pleasant morning weather, making the trek even more enjoyable.
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➝Trekking Time: Approximately 40-45 minutes.
➝How to reach Kanifnath Temple via trek: From Pune’s Kondhwa, one can easily reach the Kanifnath Temple Pune via car or motorcycle through Bopdev Ghat. This distance is approximately 12 kilometers. Another route is from Hadapsar via Fursungi, Saswad Pune road towards Dive Ghat to reach the trekking path of Kanifnath Temple, which is about 18 kilometers away.
➝Best time to trek to Kanifnath Temple: After the monsoon, from September to February. However, one can visit Kanifnath Temple Pune by car throughout the year.
➝Time required for the trek to Kanifnath Temple: 1 day. Starting the trek at 6 in the morning would be ideal. The trek itself takes around 40-45 minutes one way.
➝Essential items to carry for the Kanifnath Temple trek: Trekking shoes, raincoat, extra clothes, cap and sunglasses for sun protection, water bottle with glucose, camera, pain relieving spray, snacks, and photo ID.
Information Source: Authentic information sources available on internet, Various Articles and books on the subject & Interaction with local public.
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