SHRI LOTESHWAR TEMPLE

SHRI LOTESHWAR TEMPLE
You must have seen temples of various designs, architecture, art & culture and located at various places. But a temple that you are going to read about now is a different one. it is located on a huge rock. The rock itself is located in a stream of water. What a marvel of the Nature !
The idol (i.e. Shankaraachee Pindee) is said to be naturally existing on the rock. The exact year in which this temple was built at this place is not known. The temple is located at the bottom of a valley. There are hills on three sides of the temple. From the fourth side, a stream of water approaches the temple. The stream originates from somewhere else. But the place appears like an opening of a cave. The rock, nearly 30 feet tall and 25 feet in diameter, is surrounded by water, for all 12 months of the year. In summer, the flow of water gets slowed down. But the hills on two sides remain ever green on account of forest. The third hill bears large plots of farms of the residents of the village Dugawe.
You can reach Dugawe village along Ratnagiri-Kurtade route. It is nearly 15 km away from Ratnagiri city. There is no direct bus service to this temple. We need to take a walk of about 15 minutes from the nearest bus-halt. From our Tonade village, we reach Dugawe within 45 minutes on foot. The local residents can reach there in less than 30 minutes, even after climbing up the steep, tiring up-hill footway.

Photo Courtesy : Guru Chaugule

Article Courtesy: Mr. Ajay Phalnikar

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