Kalaram Temple, Hindu temple in Panchavati, Nashik, India
Kalaram Temple is a Hindu temple in Panchavati, Maharashtra, built from dark stone with walls covered in detailed carvings of deities and scenes from religious texts. The three entrance gates open onto a wide courtyard that leads to the main hall, where columns support a vaulted ceiling above the shrine area.
Sardar Rangrao Odhekar commissioned the structure in the late 18th century after fishermen recovered a dark statue from the Godavari River. The dedication took place when local rulers decided to house the figure in a new shrine.
Devotees remove their shoes before entering the main hall and walk clockwise around the central shrine to complete their prayers. The temple courtyard fills with families in the early morning, when priests perform the opening ceremony with oil lamps and conch shells.
The complex opens in the early morning and closes late in the evening, allowing visitors to witness both morning and evening ceremonies. Parking areas and guided tours in several languages are available to help with orientation.
The three main figures in the central shrine are carved from a rare black granite that gives them a uniformly dark color. These stone figures differ from the lighter sculptures found in many other temples across the region.
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