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Shani-Shinganapur
 Famous
for its temple of Shri Shanaishwar is a village
called Shinganapur, 11 km off the
Pune-Aurangabad highway. The deity is a 5 feet
9 inches tall idol placed not in the temple, but
on the plinth in the open.
Shani Shingnapur is one of the frequently visited
places by devotees visiting Shirdi. People visiting
this holy place will be surprised to find that
all the houses here do not have doors. Only frames
exist. It is believed that the Lord Shani punishes
those who enter any house with the intention of
robbing. The thief is either nabbed before reaching
the village limits or the Lord Shani strikes him
down. All men visiting this place have to have
a bath and wear an orange coloured pancha (cloth
tied round the waist, before performing the puja.
Panchas are available at stalls selling items
for the puja. Women are not allowed to perform
puja standing on the plinth. Fairs are held on
'shani-amavasya' and on 'Gudi-Padwa', which is
considered as the beginning of the new year in
the Hindu calendar. Distance: 46 kms from Nagar.
Nearest Railway Station: Nagar.
Alandi
On the outskirts of Pune, 22 km away from the
city, standing on the banks of the river Indrayani,
is the pilgrim centre Alandi. Sant Dnyaneshwar's
'samadhi' is located here. Fairs are held here
on several religious occasions like the Ashadi-
Kartiki Ekadashi and the like. At this time, 'bhajans'
and 'kirtans' in praise of the Lord are sung by
devotees all night. The pandits at Alandi let
out rooms to devotees who want to stay overnight.
Buses ply from the Swargate bus stand as well
as from Pune Railway Station bus stand. Nearest
Railway Station: Pune. Distance: Pune-Alandi 22
kms
Bhimashankar
 Bhimashankar
is located at a height of 1035 mt, in the Sahyadri
ranges, 100 km from Pune. The temple of Lord Shiva
built on the banks of the river Bhima which has
its source here gives the place its name - Bhimashankar.
People throng to Bhimashankar twice a year when
fairs are held on the occasions of Mahashivratri
and Tripuri Pournima. A huge bell of Portuguese
origin hangs in the temple. For animal lovers, the
sanctuary at Bhimashankar is a favourite den. The
flying squirrels floating effortlessly in the air
are worth watching. Various species of birds are
also found in the dense forests. Many migratory
birds make their homes at Bhimashankar. The chirping
of the birds combined with the cool breeze gives
one a heady feeling. The forest of Bhimashankar,
rich in its fauna, shelters many wild animals like
the leopard, the deer, the porcupine and the wild
boar. It also has a wide diversity of trees like
the wild mango, jamun, the wild olive and the wild
figs.
Nearest railway station: Pune
Distance: Pune-Bhimashankar 95 km.
Ashtavinayaka
The eight important 'Ganapatis' are collectively
termed the 'Ashtavinayaka'. These idols are said
to have self-appeared at eight different places.
The shrines are at Ozar, Theur, Pali, Mahad, Morgaon,
Ranjangaon, Lenyadri and Siddhatek. Out of these
eight places, Ozar, Theur, Morgaon, Ranjangaon
and Lenyadri are in Pune district. Pali and Mahad
are in Raigad district whereas Siddhatek falls
under the Ahmednagar district. Buses run by the
Pune Municipal Corporation as well as the MTDC
ply from Pune to all these places. In fact, these
buses are called - 'Ashtavinayaka darshan' buses.
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