Baneshwar Temple, Nasrapur

Baneshwar takes its name from 'ban', forest, and 'ishwar', god: a god who lives in the forest. The temple stands within a dense green patch about 37 km from Pune. Balaji Baji Rao, the son of Peshwa Bajirao I, had it built in 1749 at a recorded cost of 11,426 rupees, 8 annas and 6 paise.

The temple keeps a bell that Chimaji Appa carried off after defeating the Portuguese at Bassein in 1739; it bears the year 1683 and a cross, marking it as a church bell. The surroundings are a conserved forest and wildlife sanctuary with many birds, flowers and plants, and red-eared sliders and soft-shell turtles live in the temple's holy pond. A waterfall lies behind the temple, and MSRTC buses run regularly from Pune. August to February is the recommended time to visit.