25th April 2024, Thursday - 3

Energized by our quick and peaceful visit, we proceeded to our next stop: the Ballaleshwar Temple in Pali. Named after a dedicated devotee, Ballaleshwar, this temple offers a unique portrayal of Ganesha – not in his usual vibrant form, but as a Brahmin priest.


 

Following the trend of the day, the temple was pleasantly empty once again. We enjoyed a satisfying darshan and emerged within 15 minutes.

As lunchtime approached, we decided to partake in the temple's maha prasad – a simple yet satisfying authentic Maharashtrian thali offered for the incredibly reasonable price of Rs 30.


 

Our initial plan was to visit two of the eight Vinayak temples today. Thankfully, the lack of crowds allowed us to complete this by lunchtime. Eager to make the most of the remaining afternoon, we sought recommendations from our guide and driver, Bablu, for nearby spiritual tourist destinations. He suggested visiting the Ekvira Devi Temple at Karla.

Perched atop a hill, the Ekvira Devi Temple awaited us. After a challenging climb, we reached the temple and received a fulfilling darshan of Ekvira Devi. Once again, the temple was pleasantly uncrowded, allowing for a focused experience (thanks perhaps to Ekvira Aai's blessings?).


 

The mini trek up and down the hill can be quite draining, especially for city dwellers like us unaccustomed to regular climbs, particularly on a hot summer afternoon. Luckily, several stalls at the foothills offered a welcome energy boost in the form of cold sugarcane juice. We all relished refreshing portions of this cool, sweet drink.

It was around 3:30 PM. After consulting with Bablu about the travel time to Alandi, where our overnight stay was booked, we decided there was time to squeeze in one more destination. This time, Prati Shirdi beckoned.

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