Welcome to Saptashrungi – the land of the goddess with a fiery spirit and a generous heart!
This pilgrimage spot is located about 60 km from Nasik, is one of Maharashtra’s three and a half Shaktipeeths. Legend has it that Devi Sati’s right arm and limbs fell here, and this is where the temple of the goddess Saptashrungi Nivasin stands today.
To reach the top of the temple, you have two options: climb 510 steps or take a ropeway that costs INR 90 for adults and INR 45 for children. We recommend the latter for the faint-hearted, but if you’re up for the challenge, go for the steps. Just be sure to dress light, carry fluids, and wear a cap. And watch out for the monkeys!
Once you’re up there, you’ll be surrounded by seven mountain peaks and 108 bodies of water, which are called kundas, along with forests loaded with medicinal herbs. And don’t forget to visit during the Chaitrotsav festival, the most celebrated festival at the Saptashrungi temple. Thousands of people visit the temple during this time of the year, especially women looking to bear a child and seek blessings from the Devi. But be warned, the crowds can get unusually high.
If you’re hungry after all that climbing, don’t worry! There are canteens serving food, and during special festivals like Navratri and Poornima, the temple offers free food to its devotees. On regular days, each devotee must pay INR 15 as prasad to avail of this service. The timings for food are from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM and 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM.
But a word of caution – carrying valuables to the temple is a risk because it is likely to be picked or lost in heavy crowds. And speaking of crowds, please don’t pay the guides at the temple yourself for a tour. They are paid to provide you with the service they offer.
As for the goddess herself, she is an imposing figure, self-manifested and covered in sindoor, making her a burning orange in color. She is eighteen-armed and holds in each hand weapons of insurmountable strength, gifted to her to combat and bring down the evil demon Mahishasura. And to honor her victory, the entrance of the temple has a big statue of the head of a buffalo, the form Mahishasura took before he was slain.
Whether you’re here to seek blessings or just to explore, Saptashrungi has something for everyone. And let’s not forget the Ramayana connection – when Laxman was lying unconscious and could only be awakened by the ‘sanjeevani’ herb, Lord Hanuman flew to these hills in search of the herb. It is also believed that Lord Ram along with Seeta and Laxman had come to these hills themselves to seek the great goddess’ blessings.
So what are you waiting for? Come and explore the land of the goddess who has been revered for centuries!