Jyotiba Temple

Jyotiba Temple crowns Wadi Ratnagiri hill, 20 km northeast of Kolhapur, and is one of the most important pilgrimage sites in western Maharashtra. Dedicated to Jyotiba, venerated as an incarnation of the Trimurti (Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva combined) and the northern guardian of Mahalaxmi Devi, the temple draws enormous crowds year-round. The annual Chaitra fair, held in March-April, attracts over a million devotees and transforms the hilltop into a pink cloud of gulal. The cluster of temples, lamp towers and the commanding views of the Sahyadri foothills make it an essential companion visit to Mahalaxmi Temple.