Written by: ARYESH CHAKRABORTY
3 min readMar 6, 2025 06:59 PM IST
First published on: Mar 6, 2025 at 10:47 AM IST
Situated 640 meters above sea level, the Parvati Hill Temple in Pune is not just a place of worship but an iconic landmark offering a panorama view of Pune. The centuries-old temple complex, with shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva, Goddess Parvati, Lord Ganesh, Lord Kartikeya, Lord Vishnu, and Lord Surya, has been undergoing renovation since 2024, aimed at improving infrastructure and enriching the visitor experience.
The temple underwent a major expansion during the time of Balaji Baji Rao, also known as Nana Saheb Peshwa, in 1749 to fulfill the wish of his mother, Kashibai who was suffering from pain in her right foot. She prayed at the temple and got herself miraculously cured. The family then undertook its expansion.
Centuries later, the temple is undergoing significant transformations. Pushkar Peshwa, a descendant of Nana Saheb Peshwa and temple trustee shared details of the efforts undertaken to renovate the site.
“The work focuses mainly on infrastructure and new features for visitors. We have installed the first-ever statue of Nana Saheb Peshwa in Pune, possibly in India. It is placed at the beginning of the hill to highlight the historical significance of the temple,” he said.
The temple walkway has also been reconstructed using local Maharashtrian stones with assistance from heritage funds. A newly installed Tulsi Vrindavan (a small stone or cement altar that holds the holy tulsi plant) is built along the path, incorporating sacred soil from the historic third battlefield of Panipat. “We are developing this as Panipat Chowk, highlighting Maratha history,” he added.
A major part of the renovation is the installation of murals depicting key battles and victories of the Marathas, with an eighth one in progress covering the Satavahana era up to the 1900s. “Each mural will soon feature a QR code allowing visitors to access the details of the historical context in both text and audio formats,” Pushkar Peshwa explained.
Washrooms and new water tanks are being built to give relief to visitors making the steep climb of 108 steps. These works are expected to be over by May.
However, accessibility remains a challenge. Pushkar Peshwa stated that since the temple is situated atop a hill, transporting raw materials and arranging manpower is a significant challenge.
“This makes the renovation a slow and ongoing process. That is why the authorities haven’t set a fixed completion timeline,” he explained.
The temple trust is also planning to develop a ropeway system. “It requires significant investment and funding. We hope to secure resources to make this a reality,” said Pushkar Peshwa.
“The newly installed murals are already drawing more visitors. Plans are also in place to strengthen the temple’s structure and refurbish its museum, further enriching the experience for devotees and history enthusiasts alike” he said.
A major part of the renovation is the installation of murals depicting key battles and victories of the Marathas. (Express Photo) 
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