Maharashtratil Devasthane

Description

The historical, geographical, cultural richness along with religious heritage has been obtained in our Maharashtra state, and the evidence of this heritage is the vast number of temples in Maharashtra. Temples in Maharashtra are not only in towns, villages, and cities but also in mountainous regions, coastal plains, and on forts and hills, making each temple visit unique. Temples are not just visited by devout worshipers, but also by history enthusiasts, architectural enthusiasts, and geography enthusiasts to enhance their knowledge. The tradition of temple architecture in India might not have a definite time, but two thousand years ago, the Sahyadri mountain range was cut to build temples, making it Maharashtra’s first religious site.

The influence of Hindu, Buddhist, Jain cultures is evident in the ancient heritage of Maharashtra’s temples. This book attempts to provide information on well-known and lesser-known temples in Maharashtra and tries to shed light on their religious significance, history, and geography. One of the various types of tourism is religious tourism, and visiting temples or pilgrimage sites is a form of travel.

The importance of religious tourism lies in experiencing not only temple visits but also the history, geography, and natural beauty of temple sites. Temples in Maharashtra are conducive to religious tourism, and many temples have been designated as tourist sites by the government. But there are many unknown temples in Maharashtra that are far from the public eye.

Although the number of temples with unrestricted access in Maharashtra is very low, this book aims to provide information on all the temples in Maharashtra, whether well-known or lesser-known. Even though it might not cover all the temples in Maharashtra, this book is written with the genuine intention of providing comprehensive information to temple enthusiasts.

If there is to be development through tourism in Maharashtra, then the connection to religious tourism needs to be strengthened, and the development of temples can contribute to that, increasing the reverence of devotees towards these temples and providing employment opportunities to locals. This book will surely appeal to readers who have a desire to know about temples and their history and geography.