Mahabaleshwar Temple

Also known as the Mahabali Temple, this Shiva shrine gave the hill station of Mahabaleshwar in Satara district its name. Its focus is a black-stone linga, regarded as self-manifested, in the form of a rudraksha bead. The temple is attributed to Chanda Rao of the More dynasty and is built in the Hemadpanti manner: plain outside, with a pyramid-shaped tower and carving within, inside a five-foot enclosure wall.

The Sahyadri section of the Skanda Purana tells how Vishnu killed the demon Atibal but could not slay his brother Mahabal, who could die only by his own will. The goddess Aadimaya persuaded him to yield, on condition that Shiva would live with him for ever. A trident, a damru, a rudraksha and a bed are kept here; devotees say the bed is found rumpled each morning. The Panchganga Temple, built in 1215 CE by the Yadava king Singhana, now forms part of the complex.