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Western ghats, or Sahyadri as we all call it as, is a treasure trove of spectacular landscapes, biodiversity, flora, fauna, some amazing geological wonders and manmade monuments. With the increasing pressure from human encroachment, all these elements are under stress and in turn are under depletion. Western ghats should be left untouched by human beings, to protect their future generations from getting short of resources, such as water, energy and clean air. The important elements of western ghats, which need protection are highlighted in the new version of Photo journal , Me Sahyadri Magazine. The various issues of journal have a brief of inspiring subjects such as birds, mammals, forts, ancient caves, snakes and the ambiance.

I was always curious about the small temples atop the barren hills in arid region. Often seen from the running trains, I wondered when I can visit one such temple. I decided to visit the small temples with the sloping roofs in the sacred groves, the small temples atop the barren hills, the small places of worship on the hill tops or in the mountain passes, some at the outskirts of the village. At some temples I found the essence of worship, the historical or past impression of worship. The experience of these visits is presented here using photographs and brief text.

East of Pune in the barren arid region of Karha plateau, are several barren hillocks with small temples atop. As the train climbs up the plateau from the lower Pune region, it passes through the tunnels and viaducts circumnavigating the small hillock of Gurholi. The otherwise arid region has lesser human impression as compared to rich lower Bhima basin of Pune region. On the top of a small hill, there is one old Shiva temple. Couple of lime plastered water cisterns, Collapsed rock entrance, not so ornamented temple, shadows of Neem and sonchafa trees, broken wall, and a small bastion at the corner, a small room adjacent to it, is what is left atop the hill. On the way to the hill there are traces of old lime mill, sculptures common deities, Lord Hanuman and Lord Ganesh. Apart from occasional honking train climbing the hill, there is a tranquility here. One of the water cistern has water whereas the other was empty. The empty cistern has provision of feeling the water into it. Below the hill at the distance of about a kilometer, the village is located. There is nothing note worthy here, but the amazing life of barren arid rocky grassland. Occasional Indian gazelles and the spread out arid region birds like Grey Francolin, laughing dove and various larks. There is a small railway station in the midst of the barren moor. Some British visitor in British era has noted the village for its temple and ruins.

West of Pune, at the edge of the urban metropolis, there is a small village of Maan. The tall buildings of I.T. Park surrounded by a small hill range have now become eye sore of the otherwise tranquil region in the past. At the hill pass enroute Pirangut, there is a temple of Bapuji buwa. Near the temple in the hill there is a single ancient cave vihaar. In the temple there stands a tall stone deity, taller than any human. Outside the temple there are few sculptures of Khandoba, herostones and follwerstones. The villagers passing the temple, visit the temple. The urbanization has reached the place. The temple has a urban region on one side and the rural landscape on the other side. The temple deity Bapuji Buwa, or Bopdev or Bapuji baba is deity of Guraakhi (Shephards). The deity is represented by a stone, and is often seen outside the villages of the hills.

North east of Talegaon Dabhade,on the eastern bank of Indrayani river, there is a village of Nanoli. Near the village on the high mountain, there is a small group of caves called as Nanoli caves. Today in the caves there is a deity of Firangaai godess. There are about three Vihaars (cells) there. The largest one is 18 feet by 18 feet with about 7 feet height. There are no sculptures or ornamentation here. On a stone stange, the Firangaai goddess is worshipped even today. There are about 5-6 water cisterns around the caves. The main cell has a small sub cell on one side. The Goddess is represented here by a round stone deity here. The godess Firangaai is worshipped in a large temple at Karkumbh on Pune-Solapur highway. The Goddess Ambabaai of Tulajapur, Goddess of Rashin and Firangaai are considered as three sisters. The Nanloi village is said to be located on the microlith track, and was important village on the trade route. It is considered that there was very ancient deity at the Nanoli village. The deity was revived after the hiatus of Buddhism in the region. In the British Gazetteer the deity is referred as Firangabaai.

NearTalegaon Dabhade, there is a hill called as Bhamchandra dongar, in Rajgurunagar (Khed) Taluka. The hill located near village Shinde, has ancient bushiest caves. Now the caves house a lord shiva temple and a temple of Vitthal Rakhumai. The Vaarkari sect worshipers stay here. In the cave at the top there is a recent Mural of sant Tukaram. Sant Tukaram was seventeenth century poet worshiper of Vitthal Rakhumai. The Mural represents the image of the ascetic poet who is seen worshiping atop the hill in the caves inspite of threat of natural elements such as snakes, scorpions and tiger.

In almost all the villages in Maval Taluka of Pune district there is village deity atop the nearby hill. The deities include Goddess Waghjaai, Lord Hanuman, Mahadev, Bhairoba, Khandoba etc. Most of the temples are now being renovated with modern construction and architecture. At some temples old sculptures are being replaced by the newer ones. At one such temple near village Adhale, the old sculptures of Khandoba, Mhalasaa, Mahishasurmardini, tiger, are placed around the main temple.

At Ajivali in Maval Taluka, the old sacred grove forest has a small geological feature at the scarp of the hill. Midst the sacred grove consisting of large number of palm trees, there is a vertical crevice, at the mouth of which there is a deity of goddess Waghjai. There is a rock cut housing in which the deity is placed. Nearby there is a sculpture of tiger and few stones representing the gods. The sacred grove has many botanically important plant species. The cooperative of wine making is done in the sacred grove. The wine is made from the toddy palm trees. This commercialization has indirectly helped the sacred grove to survive. New urbanization of the region, deforestation, planned water reservoir at the edge of the grove, and overall commercial appreciation of the land around in the region have slowly started putting pressure on this sacred grove.

Gigantic Jamnun trees adorn this sacred grove near Kule village. There are few Madhica Indica tree as well. In the sacred grove there is a stone goddess Waghjai. However the growing pollution due to plastic and thermocol can be seen in the sacred grove.

The small temple of Khandoba at the top the hill is now encapsulated in a large Mandap. There is a pitch darkness here in the inner old temple. We lit the lamp to explore the sculptures of deities inside. In the golden light we saw the lit sculptures of lord Khandoba and his two wives namely Mhalasaa and Baanaai. The large sculptures are enchanting.

The village of Navlakh Umbre is located at the strategic location at the orogin of Sudha river. Surrounded by amphitheater like hills the village was important toll point on ancient trade routes. The route was used by the traders travelling from ports on West coast travelling to Deccan plateau via Borg hat and Kusur ghat. Interesting anecdote about the name of this village has been documented in British gazetteer. There are still some ruins and remains of the historic monuments there. On the left bank of the Sudha river which is sub river of Indrayani river, there is a Ram Temple. The temple has some recent and interesting Torana. There is a tomb outside the temple which is said to be about 350 years old. The temple is constructed using rocks and has now the Sri Ram, Lakshaman and Sita as deities.

Some of the small hills around village kasarsai in Maval have few small temples. One such temple has Khandoba as deity. There are few lamp stones outside the temple. The shepherds of the region maintain and pray at these small temples of small hills. The greatness of these places lies in simplicity of places of worship.

On the hill, under the small Gadhi, a small defensive fort, there is a sculpture of Lord Hanuman on either sides of the rock. Such bi sided sculptures are rare.

At the Buddhist caves near Junnar, known today as Tulajaa caves, there is a deity Tulajaa in one of the cells at the cave. The deity is roughly carved mural shown with a lion in the cave. The deity is mentioned in the British Gazetteer. It is one of the examples of using the ancient caves for worship by local people mainly the shepherds who were grazing their cows on the hills.

There is a small temple of Goddess Chamunda, the deity of destruction at the Chavanad fort located on ancient trade route from Nane ghat to Junnar. The temple is said to have connection with the traders who were engaged in trade between Deccan plateau and the sea ports on west coast.

Most of the forest is now gone. Some forest was submerged when the large water reservoir was built by building the dam. Some forest was destroyed to make the land for the agriculture. As the population increased over years, more and more land was converted into flat farm lands for agriculture. Some forest was cut to make space for new homes. The remaining forest is on the hills and just below the hills. The forest on the hill top was cut to make the roads and provisions for the wind mills. Now the village has very little forest left. On the outskirts is a old temple with few sculptures and concepts of gods not so relevant today for the liberalized rural Indian economy. Still there is a god known as Vandevataa with arrows and bow in hands. Slowly the Shiva is taking its place. Outside the temple are few old broken herostones and the lamp poles. Indeed very rare and rudimentary sculptures of deity which have almost lost their relevance today, can be seen at many such places around in Pune district.

This small goddess waghjai temple is located near a crevice in the hill. The crevice has water source. The small temple has been recently renovated. The walls have been painted in bright pink colour. Often the ornamentation of these small temples is bright and flashy. This aspect is part of the rural temples.

The small caves on the scarp of the Tasubai hill range in Maval has small deity in one of the small temple. The goddess Padubai is worshipped here. Local villagers worship the goddess. The villagers dress a nearby thorny cactus with the colored cloths. There are few small water cisterns here and some prehistoric caves with clear markings of defensive compound marks.

Mankind is constantly changing the landscapes on the earth. The need of water to meet the requirements of massive agriculturisation and industrialization has lead to dramatic changes in landscapes in western Maharashtra, particularly around the “ghat-matha” or the edge of the Deccan plateau. One such temple from 18th Century, from Pune district can be seen in the photograph.

This small mural on the wall shows the village art in new modern medium at the old temple on the hills top crevice cave near Rajgurunagar. Constant change is seen at the places of worship, particularly in the villages in Maharashra.