On hopping distance from Pune there is a archaeological marvel called as moon land … Pot holes in river bed of river Kukadi … Formed over thousands of years of natural erosion process eating basalt rocks by its vigorous swirling water during monsoons ..If interested plz Read more details on Wikipedia …
Best time to visit Moon Land Nighoj is Feb to March
(Beginning of Summer) since the water level has gone down and pot holes are visible still with some water flowing inside. as you approach April-May month, you will not see any water in pot holes.. and without water things look weary …
There are two temples temple of godness “Malganga” on the both sides of the pothole formation …however the main temple is ~4.5 kms away from this spot in the main village Nighoj
Look at the closup I took to see the man height compared to the pot holes height .. just to give you some perspective ..
Moving on to the Malganda godess temple in the main village which is 4.5 kms away from the potholes …
Hearsay about this Godess Malganga temple goes with some story of 7 sisters, avatars of the Goddess. 3 of them are here (one can see 3 faces of the Goddess. Other 4 are somewhere down the river bank. One mythological history tells about a pot (called ‘ghagar’ in Marathi) floating out at night from the Barav during goddess festival (festival time : Kalastami during March or April)
Just behind the temple, you can visit to Barav (Well) where the Pot floats …
and on the way back you can enjoy home made food at Divse Khanawal (one who supplies home made food to locals / offices) mobile 9975683911 (Khanawal google co-ordinates 18.960855, 74.279419)
Nighoj Pot holes Google co-ordinates 18.931146, 74.262529
Doubtful information provided on internet : Asia’s largest natural gigantic potholes in riverbed of Kukdi near Nighoj is an archeological site recorded in the Guinness Book of World records (I checked at official Guinness Book of World Records website and did not find any such information
Do read my next blog post where I would be writing about visit in a day to a historical monument … temples .. archaeological marvel … town of dancing peacock … all in one trip in a day !!
What to see during your round one day round trip to Nighoj :
– Mastani Mausoleum
– Jain Mandir, Pabal
– Morachi Chincholi
– Nighoj Potholes & The Small Suspension bridge
– Malganga Temple, Nighoj
– Shri Dhokeshwar Temple (The caves near the Dhokeshwar temple are from 5th century)
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