Pemai Devi Temple / Hanumant Temple

The Great Banyan Tree of Maharashtra

Pemgiri, Taluka Sangamner, District Ahilyanagar

Nestled in the lap of the Sahyadri mountains on the road from Sangamner to Bhandardara lies the village of Pemgiri, which is blessed with a rich historical heritage. The Pemgiri Fort, also famous by the names Bhimgad and Shahagad, is located in this very village. The temple of Goddess Pemai situated on this fort is a place of deep reverence for the local villagers. Apart from this, there is a magnificent two-story temple of Lord Hanuman in the village, constructed entirely out of teak wood. Next to this temple, a mace (gada) approximately 21 feet in height has been erected. It is said to be the largest mace in the country. On the border of this village stands a massive banyan tree, which is the great banyan tree of Maharashtra, spread over approximately 3.5 acres of land.

Pemgiri is the only fort in the Sangamner taluka of Ahilyanagar district. This fort is known as a symbol of the achievements of Shahajiraje Bhosale. Shahajiraje and Jijau resided on this fort for many years. It is said that some days of Shivba’s childhood were spent on this fort. Both a road and a flight of steps are available from the village to reach Pemgiri Fort. While going from the village towards the fort, a new temple of Pemai Devi has been built by the villagers at a short distance. Apart from this, there is also an ancient, small temple of Pemai Devi on the fort. In the sanctum sanctorum of this temple, there is an idol of the Goddess adorned with weapons. Beside the idol is the original stone symbol of the Goddess. Next to the temple, there are 4 rectangular carved water cisterns. It is said that they belong to the Satavahana period. These cisterns always contain water. These stone cisterns are connected to each other from the inside. A fair of the Goddess is held here on the full moon day of the month of Chaitra.

In the heart of Pemgiri village stands a beautiful temple of Lord Hanuman, constructed entirely using teak wood. The unique feature of this temple is that only stone and teak wood have been used for its construction. The architecture of the temple is such that it resembles a grand palace. The temple premises are fortified on all sides. The temple courtyard is spacious and features a beautifully developed garden. With many ornamental and flowering plants planted within, the surroundings appear beautiful and serene. Beside the temple stands a unique, intricately carved mace (Gada) approximately 21 feet in height. One enters the main assembly hall (Sabhamandap) of the temple by climbing 6 to 7 steps from the ground. The assembly hall is two-storied, and there is a staircase to reach the upper floor.

In the center of the assembly hall, on a raised platform, stands the vermilion-anointed idol of the mace-bearing Maruti, with two maces carved behind the idol. This entire platform features intricate wooden carvings. There is a circumambulation path around the platform. Within the assembly hall, along the circumambulation path, there are two additional shrines housing the idols of Shri Dattatreya and Vitthal-Rukmini. In the lower and upper sections of the assembly hall On the floor, images of the historical structures of this village have been displayed on the walls. These include the Pemgiri Fort, the ancient idols and weapons found there, the ancient stone stepwell of the village, and the great banyan tree located on the village border. In the temple courtyard, there is a stone slab of Lord Shani on a raised platform. The construction of this temple was completed in १९४२ under the inspiration of Gangaram Tatyaba Dube Patil. Teak wood was brought from Konkan for this purpose. Even today, after ८० years, the villagers state that the temple remains exactly as it was. It has not yet required any repairs.

At a distance of two and a half to three kilometers from this temple, in the Mordara area, stands the largest Banyan tree in Maharashtra. This massive Banyan tree is spread over approximately three and a half acres, with its trunk having a circumference of fifty to sixty feet and possessing more than one hundred aerial roots (which have touched the ground and transformed into trunks). According to the villagers, this Banyan tree is two hundred and fifty years old, and as its thousands of aerial roots penetrate the ground, its circumference continues to grow larger day by day. One can reach the main trunk of the banyan tree through these hundreds of aerial roots. Near the base of this trunk are the deities Jakhai and Jakmatbaba.

There is a legend about these deities that Jakmatbaba of the Ramoshi community had come to this place to graze his goats. At that time, a tiger attacked the herd of goats. To save the goats, Jakmatbaba confronted the tiger. Hearing Jakmatbaba’s cries, his sister Jakhai arrived there. Realizing that her brother was in the clutches of the tiger, Jakhai herself fought the tiger. In this struggle, the tiger, Jakmatbaba, and Jakhai all lost their lives. The handle of the axe, which the two used as a weapon while fighting the tiger, can still be seen in this tree today. Later, the villagers installed idols of Jakmatbaba and Jakhai at this spot. The villagers here believe that if anyone intentionally cuts the branches of this tree, Jakmatbaba punishes them. Therefore, no one even touches the leaves of the tree. As a result, this tree has transformed into a massive banyan tree. The villagers have deep faith in this gigantic banyan tree. Due to all these unique features of the village, wandering tourists, history scholars, botanists, and devotees are constantly visiting this place.

Useful Information:

• At a distance of २२ km from Sangamner and १२४ km from Ahilyanagar
• ST bus facility from Sangamner to Pemgiri village
• Private vehicles can go up to Pemgiri Fort, Hanuman Temple, and the Mahavat tree.
• There are no accommodation or breakfast facilities available in the vicinity.