The Tulja Bhavani Temple, Tuljapur Travel Guide (2024)
The Tulja Bhavani Temple is in Tuljapur and is in dedication to the Goddess Bhavani, the Goddess Parvati aspect of Goddess Durga. The Tulja Bhavani Temple has a historical connection as well as a religious one and is one of the most popular tourist locations in Maharashtra.
History of Tulja Bhavani Temple
The Tuljapur Temple is quite old, and experts say its year of building is sometime in the 12th Century. Religious authorities consider it to be one of the 21 Shakti Pithas, the shrines in Shaktism.
There is more about the Tuljapur Temple and its premises as well. According to legend, a sage, Kardam, and his consort, Anubhuti were residing in this area. After Kardam’s death, Anubhuti prayed to the Goddess Parvati, but a demon tortured her. Goddess Bhavani then defeated the demon and rescued Anubhuti.
There is a lot of lore associated with the Tuljapur Temple, and all of it makes for fascinating reading. The Tulja Bhavani Temple or Tuljapur temple is famous in Maharashtra because Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj visited it regularly to seek blessings of the Bhavani Mata. There are a couple of Tulja Bhavani temples in the area.
The Tulja Bhavani Temple gained importance in the history of the Maratha Empire as well. Experts claim that the Goddess gifted a sword to Chhatrapati, which he used during his war on the Mughals to save the Maratha empire.
The Tulja Bhavani Experience
There are three main entrances to the Temple, and they bear the names of the Sardar Nimbarkar, the parents of Shivaji Maharaj, Raja Shahaji, and Jijamata. You will also see a temple of the Markandeya Rishi. You need to climb down some steps to reach the main Tuljadevi Temple.
There are several other temples in the structure, including one dedicated to Lord Datta and another to the Siddhi Vinayak. You also see various teerths, the Gomukh Teerth, the Kalakh, and the Kallol teerth, which are shallow tanks of water. You also see the Amruth Kund, a body of water. The main idol is black and immensely decorated.
The Tuljapur Temple is a dominant structure and reminds you of the forts that exist in Maharasthra. The Temple’s building is also of stone and is gray. The only color you see is at the outer domes of the temples.
You can spend around an hour in the Temple, taking the darshan and then taking in the grandeur and architectural aspects of the Temple. The outer sides of the Temple domes have several small statues and carvings from Hindu mythology.
The Tulja Bhavani Temple or Tuljapur Temple is well maintained, and you will not feel hassled when you visit here. You see various people here, that is a surreal experience.
If nothing else, you can spend some time in the Tuljapur Village and look at how the villagers spend their day. It is a fascinating experience for anyone who has never been to a village in Maharashtra.
Also, keep in mind that the weather is very harsh in rural Maharashtra. If it rains, it will rain heavily, and the afternoons are punishing in terms of heat in the summer. So, make sure that you carry your sunscreen and anything that you require during summers. So, make sure that you pack an umbrella if you are looking to spend some time during the monsoons in rural Maharashtra.
Places to Visit Near Tulja Bhavani Temple, Tuljapur
Tuljapur is in Osmanabad, and there are some other tourist locations that you can explore while you are there.
You can spend some time at the Naldurg Fort, and then you can proceed to visit the Paranda Fort. Keep in mind that you will take a day to visit and explore the forts. They are at about three hours from each other. The distance from the Tuljapur Temple to Paranda Fort is about five hours. Therefore, to visit any of these places, you would need to plan for a whole weekend or more in Osmanabad. 
Apart from that, you have the Dharashiv Caves, which are around a one-hour drive from the Tuljapur Temple. These caves are ancient as well, with experts claiming that they exist since the 5th Century. 
You also have the Manjara Dam, the Khashi Kund, and the Saint Garoba Temple that you can visit.
Osmanabad and Tuljapur are religious tourism areas. So, you will find many accommodation options at economic rates. However, these might not offer you all the amenities and services you are accustomed to. Also, since these areas are locations of religious importance, there is every chance that the accommodations would not allow smoking and drinking on the premises. It is a good idea to book your accommodation online when traveling anywhere, but make sure that you read all the rules, regulations, and terms and conditions of the place. For example, some hotel will not allow pets, while others will not allow unmarried couples to stay in the same room.
How To Reach Tulja Bhavani Temple?
Osmanabad connects with all the major cities of India. There is an airport as well, so you can book flights from and to Osmanabad. The flight from Osmanabad to Mumbai takes roughly two hours. Currently, there are no direct flights from Pune to Osmanabad.
The time to travel from Mumbai to Osmanabad is about seven hours via road. From Pune, via road, you will take about five hours. Several trains connect Mumbai to Osmanabad. The duration of the journey is about seven hours to travel to Osmanabad by train as well. The bus journey from Mumbai to Osmanabad takes around ten hours. The train journey duration from Pune to Osmanabad is around six hours.
