शिवथर घळ

Shivthar Ghal - Sundarmath

Useful Information

Location:	Kasabe Shivtar, Maharashtra 402306. (18.147868, 73.622301)
Open:	All year daily 9-17. [2022]
Fee:
Classification:	Erosional Cave
Light:	Incandescent Electric Light System
Dimension:
Guided tours:	self guided, St=100
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:
Address:	Shivthar Ghal, Kasabe Shivtar, Maharashtra 402306.
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1930	cave discovered by Shankarrao Deo, the founder of Satkaryottejak Sabha, a famous Indian politician.
1950	Samarth Seva Mandal formed and cave renovated.

Description

शिवथर घळ (Śivathara ghaḷa, Shivthar Ghal, Shivthar Cave) is a popular cave temple which is located in a small erosional cave at the foot of a spectacular waterfall. The cave was obviously created by the flowing water of the waterfall. This is a place where the Hindu saint Shri Samarth Ramdas (*1608-✝1681) wrote his famous book Dāsbodh (advice to the disciple). Actually he dictated the book to Kalyan Swami, which took 22 years. The site is very well developed, with parking lot, ticket office and trails. But it is necessary to climb 100 steps to reach the cave.

The cave is quite small and the site is actually frequented by worshippers and pilgrims. It is surrounded by the Sundarmath (Beautiful Monastery). This monastery is quite young and was founded in 1950 after the cave was rediscovered. The cave had been forgotten and according to legend it was rediscovered in 1930 by Shankarrao Deo, the founder of Satkaryottejak Sabha, a famous Indian politician. He was an ardent follower of Ramdas Swami.