Tungareshwar Temple

Tungareshwar Temple is a Shiva shrine near Vasai in Palghar district, set at about 2,177 feet on the top plateau of Tungareshwar, a group of five mountains. It lies roughly 3 to 4 km beyond the Tungareshwar entrance gate and is open from 5 am to 6 pm. Legend says Parashurama killed a demon named Tunga here and meditated at the spot, and the temple was raised in his honour.

The shrine sits in a garden, with a trident on its dome. Inside, the small room is decorated with coloured glasswork, and a brass serpent coils around the central lingam while water drips onto it from a brass vessel hung above. A Ram Kund lies behind the temple, and a shrine to Khodiyar Mata, shown with her crocodile, stands alongside. Maha Shivratri and Khodiyar Jayanti draw devotees, and a bhandara (community feast) is held each year at Mahashivratri and on every Monday of Shravan.