Mahalakshmi Temple.The Mahalakshmi / Ambabai Temple in Kolhapur is one of the most important Shakti shrines in India, revered as one of the “three and a half” Shakti Peeths of Maharashtra. The stone temple complex houses a powerful black stone idol of Mahalakshmi with a distinctive crown and ornaments; devotees throng here for darshan, especially during Navratri and the unique Kirnotsav days when the sun’s rays fall directly on the deity.
About this place
History & highlights
The temple’s origins go back roughly 1,700–1,800 years; inscriptions and scholars trace it at least to the 7th–8th century CE, under early Chalukya or related dynasties. Tradition says a king Karnadeo cleared jungle to “rediscover” the shrine around 109 CE. Over the centuries, various rulers – Shilahara, Yadava, Maratha, British-era elites – added mandapas, towers and jewellery. In recent times, the Maharashtra government has sanctioned large conservation and development plans to manage huge pilgrim flows and preserve the heritage precinct.
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