September 12, 2015

My TripAdvisor Review No.118: Lord Shiva Temple, Harihareshwar, Raigad District, Konkan, Maharashtra.

“Holy Shiva Temple by the Sea.”
4 of 5 starsReviewed 11 September 2015NEW
This temple is beautifully located at the edge of the Arabian Sea at the southern end of Raigad district in Maharashtra. The temple and the beach together make Harihareshwar a must visit for the spiritually inclined tourist. It is 18 km from Shrivardhan town.

There is a narrow road leading to the temple entrance, and there is a parking lot about 100 metres before the temple gates. The road is lined with a row of shops and eateries. One can buy temple offerings and souvenirs from some of the shops.

The temple has a simple construction with a tiled roof. There are actually two small buildings, one housing the Kal Bhairav mandir, and the other is the main Shiva temple with the stone Shivling. One has to enter the Kal Bhairav temple first and then the Shiva temple.

After a visit to the temple many of the pilgrims do a ‘pradakshina’ or circumambulation of the temple which takes them around the hill at the base of which this temple is located. One has to climb the hill till they reach a cleft in the hill, known as ‘Ganesh Gully’. Then there are steps leading down to the sea and it is believed that there is a Ganesh idol about 30 feet below sea level which can be seen during low tides. The ‘pradakshina’ is a small adventure by itself, and a good way to get a bird’s eye view of the beautiful beach and landscape around the temple. However it is a bit risky to do it during the monsoons and high tides.

Do visit the 2 km long beach after a darshan of the temple. There is also a viewing platform near the temple if the weather is too rough to venture onto the beach. It is fascinating to watch the approaching storm clouds from here during the monsoons.
Visited August 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

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