Sant Tukaram Temple

Getting there

• By air

  Pune International Airport is the nearest, about 35 km away.

• By train

  Take a train to Pune Junction, the closest railway station, then a bus, taxi or private car to Dehu.

• By road

  State transport buses, private taxis and personal vehicles run between Pune, Dehu and Alandi.

Why devotees come here

Sant Tukaram Temple stands on the banks of the Indrayani river in Dehu, a town in Pune district, Maharashtra. Dehu is the birthplace of Sant Tukaram, the 17th-century saint whose devotional poems still inspire millions. The Samadhi Mandir marks where he is believed to have attained Sanjeevan Samadhi.

Dehu is the birthplace of Sant Tukaram Maharaj, a 17th-century saint. His teachings stressed devotion to Vitthal and a life of humility and faith. His abhangas, devotional poems, still inspire millions. The Tukaram Maharaj Samadhi Mandir marks the spot where he is believed to have attained Sanjeevan Samadhi. The region is known as Sri Kshetra because it holds the self-existing idols of Vitthal and Rukhmini.

Tukaram's younger son, Narayanbaba, built the temple in 1723. The Gatha temple has about 4,000 of Tukaram's verses carved on its walls. Devotees believe he ascended to Vaikunth in his mortal form from the spot now marked by the Vaikunthstan temple.

Maghi Utsav marks his birth anniversary with bhajans and discourses. Palkhis from Dehu and Alandi carry the sacred padukas of the saints to Pandharpur.

Festivals

• Ashadh monthPalkhi to Pandharpur

  The palkhi from Dehu carries the saint's padukas, or sacred sandals, to Pandharpur for the Ashadhi Ekadashi Wari.

• Tukaram's birth anniversaryMaghi Utsav

  Bhajans and discourses in Dehu mark the saint's birth anniversary.

Tips for your visit

• Evening aartis draw large crowds, so ask the temple for the aarti times before you plan the day.
• Alandi, where Sant Dnyaneshwar took samadhi, lies just a short distance from Dehu.

Questions people ask