Pataleshwar Cave Temple
A Shiva temple cut out of a single rock more than a thousand years ago, right on Jangli Maharaj Road.
Quick facts
- Location:
- Jangli Maharaj Road, Shivajinagar
- Built:
- About the eighth century
- Looked after by:
- Archaeological Survey of India
- Timings:
- Check before visiting
History
Pataleshwar is a rock-cut cave temple of Lord Shiva, carved out of a single basalt rock in about the eighth century. It is one of the oldest monuments in the city of Pune.
What you can see today
- A large round Nandi mandapa, a pavilion for Shiva's bull, cut from the rock.
- The main shrine with its Shiva linga, and pillared halls.
- Some parts of the cave were left unfinished.
How to reach
The cave is on Jangli Maharaj Road, next to the Jangli Maharaj temple. It is a short walk from Deccan Gymkhana.
More in Religious Places
- Kasba Ganpati The guardian deity of Pune, in Kasba Peth. The first of the five Manache Ganpati, honoured first in every festival.
- Parvati Hill Temples A group of Peshwa-era temples on a hill in the middle of Pune, reached by a long flight of stone steps. The best view of the city.
- Chaturshrungi Temple The temple of Goddess Chaturshrungi on a hillside on Senapati Bapat Road, with a large fair during Navratri.
- Alandi The town on the Indrayani where Sant Dnyaneshwar took samadhi. The Ashadhi wari palkhi to Pandharpur starts here.
- Dehu The village of Sant Tukaram, on the Indrayani river, where the Tukaram palkhi starts every year.
- Jejuri Khandoba Temple The hill temple of Khandoba, the family deity of many Maharashtrian families, famous for the yellow bhandara thrown by devotees.
Questions and answers
How old is Pataleshwar cave?
The cave temple is believed to have been carved in about the eighth century.
Sources: Written by PuneDiary. Facts checked 10 October 2026.