Hotels in Jejūri

Jejuri: Hilltop Temple Town of the Deccan Plateau

Jejuri sits 48 km southeast of Pune in Purandar taluka, Maharashtra, at roughly 750 m elevation on the Deccan Plateau. The town is defined by the Khandoba Temple, a gold-painted shrine perched atop a basalt hill and reached by a stairway of 200 stone steps. Dedicated to the deity Khandoba — a regional form of Shiva worshipped widely across Maharashtra and Karnataka — the temple draws hundreds of thousands of pilgrims annually, particularly during the Champashashthi festival in November–December, when yellow turmeric powder (bhandara) is thrown in the air by crowds in a spectacle documented by photographer Raghubir Singh in his 1976 work.

Where to Stay

Accommodation in Jejuri is modest and primarily geared toward pilgrims: dharamshalas and small lodges cluster along the base of the temple hill. Travelers seeking more facilities typically base themselves in Pune and make a day trip on the 1.5-hour road journey via NH65. State bus services operated by Msrtc connect Jejuri to Pune's Swargate bus terminus several times daily.

Practical Tips

• Best time to visit: October to February; avoid the pre-monsoon heat above 38 °C.
• Footwear: Remove shoes at the base of the temple steps — carry a bag for them.
• Dress code: Modest clothing is expected inside the temple precinct.
• Transport: Shared jeeps run from Jejuri's main crossroads to surrounding villages.