Pune to Siddhatek - Akkalkot - Pandharpur - Solapur - Bhigwan Trip

Pune -> Siddhatek -> Akkalkot -> Pandharpur - Solapur - Bhigwan

Distance: 
Pune -> Siddhatek -> Akkalkot - 321 km

Akkalkot -> Solapur -> Pandharpur -> Bhigwan -> Pune - 332 km

Tolls: Pune to Akkalkot - 4 tolls - 25rs, 70rs, 55rs, 55rs

Day1: 

We started from Pune at 7am and stopped at Kanchan veg restaurant for breakfast. After breakfast we reached our first destination "Shree Siddhivinayak Mandir, Siddhatek" at 10am

(1) Shree Siddhivinayak Mandir, Siddhatek

We stopped at the hotel Nisarg Veg for our lunch and then continued our journey. We reached Akkalkot at 5:30 pm.

(2) Akkalkot

It is situated 40 km southeast of Solapur and very close to the border between Maharashtra and Karnataka states. Akkalkot was the home to Shri Swami Samarth Maharaj, a 19th-century saint who is believed by his devotees to be an incarnation of Lord Dattatreya
Swami Maharaj lived for over two decades at Akkalkot, mainly at the residence of his disciple Cholappa, where his samadhi (tomb) and shrine are now located. The shrine complex, which is known the Vatavruksh Mandir since it encloses the banyan tree beneath which the swami would preach his message, is the hub of devotions for his followers.
The other local shrine is the samadhi of Akkalkoth Swami located some distance from the main shrine, but still within the city limits. Free accommodation and meals are provided to pilgrims by the Shri Swami Samarth Annachhatra Mandal.

Akkalkot is also famous for Gajanan Maharaj's Shivpuri, where Ancient Vedic Therapy Agnihotra is performed.

Your journey starts from the Khandoba Temple where swami was seen first time at Akkalkot, though this temple is very small but well maintained. It is just opposite to state transport bus stand.
One can visit Gurumath where the param shishya of Sami "Balappa" resided. It also offers the bhakta Niwas and maha prasad. There is a temple of Hanumanji which is established by Samartha Ramdas Swami few of his belongings can be seen there (the temple is private property accessible to every pilgrim-er). There is another temple of Hanumanji where "Balappa" did meditation for 12 long years. It's one of the temples where Hanumanji idol is in Human form)

‌Swami Samarth Temple
One should take Prasad there, food quality is awesome.
Their trust work is admirable. In the last year, their development is remarkable. They provide rooms and halls. Also, they give Maha Prasad to all.  morning prasad start at 11 am
My suggestion to all when you planning to visit Pandharpur, Tuljapur, Gangapur, Akkalkot then must try to stay at Akkalkot.

The temple works under " Shri Vatavriksha Swami Maharaj Devasthan" trust. There is too many facilities available form this trust like restroom for visitors, big parking and the restrooms are called Bhakta Niwas...
You have to pay for restrooms...
You will feel very fresh when you get in there, a big garden in bhakt niwas.
In the Bhakta Niwas, everyday food is provided to the visitors.

‌Swami Samarth Samadhi Math
 The spiritual fearless slogan in Marathi ‘BHIU NAKOS MI TUJHYA PATHISHI AAHE’ (Don’t fear, I am with you) is given by Shri. Samarth Swami Maharaj himself

‌Akkalkot Palace:

Timing 10am to 7pm
Ticket: Museum has a ticket for Rs. 10 for each person.

Photography is strictly prohibited inside the palace.
My advice is to hire a guide to understand details (no fixed fee, you can give what you like).
The entire palace is closed & a very small portion of it is open for Peoples with Entry fees. We can see all the old weapons here. There are preserves wild animals and ancient furniture. Biggest personal collection, round about 4000 swords and more than 400 British Empire guns.
Have large and various types of arms and ammunition. Also suitable for kids and children to show them the arms. Within the city.
There are thousands of car toys and puppies that belong to the present queen!
‌

Day2: 

We woke up early and had our breakfast and started at 9am towards Solapur to visit Shri Siddeshwar Temple.  

(3) Shri Siddeshwar Temple, Solapur:

We reached Shri Siddeshwar Temple at 11 am.  Parking charges 20rs.
After darshan, we started again towards Pandharpur at 11:45am

Other places which can be explored in Solapur:

1. ‌Mallikarjuna Temple (Shiva Temple)
2. ‌Jain Temple‌
3. Bhuikot Fort
4. Naldurg fort
5. Solapur science center
6. Kamar Talab
7. Ekruk lake
8. Ajoba Ganpati temple
9. Revan Siddeshwar Temple

We reached Pandharpur at 2:30 pm and headed straight towards Vithoba Temple.

(4) Pandharpur

Pandharpur is a well-known pilgrimage town on the banks of Chandrabhaga River in Solāpur district, Maharashtra, India. it is also called South Kashi in Maharashtra. It is known as Bhuvaikunta. It is famous for the Lord Vitthal temple situated on the bank of Bhima river. Bhima river is also known as Chandrabhaga as it takes shape like a crescent moon near the town.

Vithoba Temple, Pandharpur

Vitthoba-the one who stood on a Brick. (in Marathi Vitth=Brick Ubha=stand).

The Vithoba temple (officially known as Shri Vitthal-Rukmini Mandir) attracts about a million Hindu pilgrims during the major yātrā in the month of Ashadh. also known as Visava mandir.  It is the main center of worship for Vithoba, a form of the god Vishnu or Krishna, and his consort Rakhumai. It is the most visited temple in Maharashtra. The Warkaris start marching from their homes to the temple of Pandharpur in groups called Dindi (procession) to reach on Aashadhi Ekadashi and Kartiki Ekadashi. A dip in the holy river Chandrabhaga, on whose banks Pandharpur resides, is believed to have the power to wash all sins. All the devotees are allowed to touch the feet of the idol of Vithoba.

The main entrance of Lord Vittala's Temple is facing towards the Chandrabhaga or Bhima river. Samadhi of Namadev and Chockamela is at the entrance. Pilgrims will first pray to the Devotees and then enter the temple. A small Ganesh Shrine is present inside the temple as the first Shrine. Then, a small hall where bhajans are performed. A small Shrine for Garuda and Hanuman. Then, after climbing a few steps, we can see the face of Lord Vittala. We can have this Mukha Darshan any time without standing in Queue. For, Padha Darshan (To touch the Lotus Feet of Lord), there is an entrance that leads to the queue complex outside the temple. It will lead to many small shrines of Bhaktas, then towards the Lord Panduranga. We can touch the feet of the Lord. We feel best when we touch the Lord's Lotus feet. There are Shrines for Rukmini Devi, Sathyabhama Devi, Radhika Devi, Lord Narasimha, Lord Venkateshwara, Goddess Mahalakshmi, Nagaraj, Ganesha, Annapoorna Devi. There is another mandap where all devotees play like Krishna had played with Gopikas. It is a great experience. please observe pillars in the temple also.

Plan your visit in advance and try to reach as early as possible. On Average day it takes 1/2-1 hr for Mukh darshan and 2-2.30 hrs for Charan Sparsh.
In the evening and night time rush is minimum.

Note:
(i) the camera is not allowed inside the temple
(ii) Very popular during "Ashadhi Ekadashi

Other Places to visit in Pandharpur:

(1) Kaikadi Maharaj Mandir (2) Bhakt Pundalik Temple / Shree Pundalik Temple:

Pundalik (Marathi: पुंडलिक) or Pundarik is a central figure in the legends of the Hindu God Vithoba, generally considered a Vaishnavadeity identified with the deities Vishnu and Krishna. He is credited to have brought Vithoba to Pandharpur, where Vithoba's central shrine stands today. Pundalik is also perceived to be the historical founder of the Varkari sect, which is centered on the worship of Lord Vithoba.

Pundalik was one of the earliest KundaliniYoga practitioners. As He was the master of Kundalini Yoga, people used to call him "Kundalik". Later, after several years, Kundalik becomes Pundalik. He symbolized Kundalini energy in the form of Lord Vitthal also knows as Lord Pandurang after his name Pundalik. Pandharpur's Vitthal was not an incarnation of Lord Vishnu or Lord Krishna but the symbol of the Kundalini Energy, although spiritually, the same energy dwells in all.

The brick on which Lord Vitthal is standing is the basic chakra of Kundalini energy known as Muladhara Chakra. Both hands, like bows, represent Ida and Pingla nadis which cross over at the central body of Sushumna or Brahma Nadi. Body represents Purusha means Vishnu or Krishna and the tilaka or the mark on the head represents Ajna Chakra or guru chakra or third-eye chakra is the subtle center of energy, believed to be located between the eyebrows, located behind it along the subtle (non-physical) spinal column, as said by Lord Krishna in Bhagavad Gita.

Many Kings and other noblemen were devotees of Pundalik and they built the famous Vitthal temple at Pandharpur. The age-old practice of the Kundalini Yoga converted the shrine into a holy place and truth-seekers from all over the world were directed here by the divine to activate and raise their Kundalini energy by the very natural process of Bhakti, the highest form of Love anyone can express

(3) Chandrabhaga River(4) Vishnupad Temple(5) Dwarkadhish Temple (6) ISKCON Pandharpur, Shree Shree Radha Pandharinath Mandir

We got the Mukha darshan in  30 mins and headed towards Bhigwan for a night stay. We reach
Bhigwan at 8pm.


Day3:

(5) Bhigwan:

We woke up at 5am and went for reached to a boating place at 6:30am. Morning time is good for Bird watching. I have written a separate blog on Bhigwan.

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If you have time you can also visit below places:

1. Tuljabhavani Temple, Tuljapur (65km from Akkalkot)
2. Gondavale - the samadhi place of Shri Brahma Chaitanya Gondavalekar Maharaj.
3. Ganagapur - Dattatreya Devasthan(Nirgun Math Temple) - We took the auto from Ganagapur bus station to triveni sangam(Sangam of river Bheema & Amaraja) for holy bath which is around 4 to 5 kms from Gangapur bus station. There are cloth changing room facility is available for wommen.
4. After holy bath we visited Audumbar Tree which is situated at same place & took the darshan in temple. In shelter of Audumbar Tree many devotees Perform the Parayan of Shree Gurucharitra
5. Gol Gumbaz, bijapur village - 100km