Akkalkot Swami Samarth Temple Information (2024)
The Akkalkot Swami Samarth Temple has religious and tourist significance. It is also known as Vatavriksha Swami Samarth Temple, Akkalkot. The temple is in the Solapur district of Maharashtra. The place gains religious importance because it has the samadhi of the Swami Samarth Maharaj, who devotees believe is the reincarnation of Lord Dattatreya. Swami Samarth lived in Akkalkot for close to 22 years.
The Swami Samarth is immensely popular saint in Mumbai and Maharashtra. You will see several of his devotees all over the city. Their shops and residences have the Swami’s photograph prominently displayed.
The Akkalkot Swami Samarth Temple Experience
The Akkalkot Swami Samarth Temple premises today are a large one, and thousands of devotees come for darshan daily. You see shrines of several deities of the Hindu faith here. You can see a Shivling as well as a Lord Ganesha idol. The main structure here has the padukas (footwear) of the Swami Samarth. Along with this, you can see a tall banyan tree inside the temple premises. According to legend, the Swami attained his Samadhi under this tree. There is an idol of the Maharaj in the temple premises, which is white.
You also see an idol of Dattatreya in the temple premises, flanked by another image of Shri Swami Samarth. The actual Samadhi of the Swami Samarth is about half a kilometer away from the Samarth temple. The visit to the Samadhi is a calming and serene experience as well.
There are several statues of the Swami, including a thirty-foot tall one, just outside the Akkalkot Swami Samarth Temple. Near the temple, you have the Swami Samarth Temple Ann Dhyana Kothi. You see some beautiful statues. One important statue here is the Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj sitting on a throne. Another aspect of note here is the architectural style, that is unique to this area of Maharashtra.
The Akkalkot Swami Samarth Temple and the surrounding premises are well taken care of, and visiting the temple is a comfortable and hassle-free experience. There are a mutt and prasadalaya that offers food to the devotees as well as accommodation.
The Akkalkot Swami Samarth Temple premises are well kept but are devoid of any carvings or sculptures that we are accustomed to seeing in the other Hindu temples. All through the day, you will see devotees settling down near the Banyan tree and singing bhajans and praying all the while, creating a calming and serene atmosphere all over the Swami Samarth Temple at Akkalkot.
If you are looking for economic budget places to stay, check out the Bhakt Ashram. Near the temple, you will see a Chhatrapati Shivaji memorial. The Chhatrapati memorial is different from the Chhatrapati statue that is along the way. It depicts Shivaji on a horse, along with two soldiers. The memorial has a garden with seating, which allows devotees to spend some time here.
Akkalkot is today a tourist place and one with religious significance. You will find several accommodation options. If you are booking online, make sure that you read the fine print and check out what is allowed and what is not. Since this is a religious destination, there is a good chance that the hotels and accommodations do not allow smoking and drinking within the premises.
Also, you are traveling to the interiors and rural areas of Maharashtra, so dress conservatively, and this suggestion goes for both men and women. The Samarth Mandir might be one of the very few temples that allow photography and videography.
Akkalkot is a place of religious and tourist importance, it is a fascinating experience to spend time not just in the temple premises but in the village itself. With the flux of tourists and devotees, the city has evolved, and it has spirituality in its DNA, making it a surreal experience for anyone visiting the Swami Samarth Temple and the nearby areas.
While traveling, also keep in mind that the weather in rural Maharashtra is punishing. Whether it is the summer or monsoon, make sure you have prepared for it. Locals in Maharashtra will tell you to wrap up your visit by early afternoon and not to venture out in the punishing heat of the mid-afternoon.
Places to Visit Near Akkalkot
You are in Akkalkot, so there are a few places that you can visit nearby to add some value to your outing. However, keep in mind that the places in the interiors of Maharashtra are quite far from each other. It will make sense for you to try to visit all the locations in a particular region only if you have a weekend with you. 
You can visit the Shri Siddheshwar Temple, another marvelous structure with a water body in its vicinity. If you would like to visit a historical location, go ahead to the. There is a garden near the fort, so you can spend some time around flowers and trees post your fort visit.
You can also spend some time at the Ujjani Dam, a place that is popular for its lush greenery and cleanliness.
How to Reach Akkalkot?
Address: 413216, Juna Adat Bazaar, Vidyanagar, Akkalkot, Maharashtra 413216
Akkalkot is a place of religious importance, and so it has good connectivity to all the major places in Mumbai and India. There is an airport in Solapur, but it is not functional now. The nearest airport to Solapur and Akkalkot is Pune.
Akkalkot is an hour’s drive from Solapur and about five hours away from Pune. Several buses connect Akkalkot to Pune. The total time that a bus takes to run from Pune to Akkalkot is around eight hours. Some trains connect Pune to Akkalkot as well. The train journey will take about eight hours.
