The temple that has watched over Pune for seven centuries

As a result, the temple carries the architectural signatures of two different eras under one roof.

It is believed that the temple was renovated in the 18th century by Aba Shelukar, a wealthy moneylender.

As people sit in groups around the temple, it is possible to imagine another era – when there used to be a kunda or water reservoir, known as Nagatirtha on the premises. It was traditional for devotees to visit the temple before their pilgrimage to the Ganga in Varanasi and after returning, when they would pour the Ganga water into the kunda. The reservoir was sealed by the Pune Municipal Corporation several years ago.

The temple’s high cultural, spiritual and religious significance is found in its mention in Saint Namdev’s writings. According to the cultural datatbase Sahapedia, “It is believed that Sant Tukaram’s in-laws stayed in a village called Lohegaon near the Nageshwar Mandir. Whenever he visited them, he used to host kirtans (devotional songs) at the shrine. These performances were so popular that they drew crowds from surrounding villages.”

The temple was last restored by the PMC in the mid-2000s. Today, devotees offer their prayers to the main deity and the other shrines on the premises. Above them, in the main temple, are intricately carved ceilings, around them are fine wood carvings, beautiful deepstambhs and design elements such as banana flowers.