Parbhani: Temples, the Godavari and Culture

Parbhani combines religious sites with a landscape shaped by the Godavari and its tributaries. Temples, a dargah with an annual fair and special places by the water give a trip through the district different points of focus. Getting there can also be planned in practical terms: Parbhani is accessible by highway and bus, and the railway station offers regular train connections to several major cities.

The Godavari and seasonal nature experiences

The Godavari is the main waterway through Parbhani district. The Purna and Dudhana are its tributaries. The river is home to both religious sites and special landscape destinations, but each has its own location. Jambhul Bet is an island completely surrounded by water in the Godavari basin and can only be reached by boat. This special access is an important point to bear in mind when planning a visit.

The landscape around Yeldari Dam changes during the monsoon: water released from the upstream Khadakpurna Dam transforms Yeldari Dam into an impressive natural spectacle that attracts visitors. This makes the dam a seasonal highlight for travellers who want to experience the district’s waterside landscape as well as its temples.

Temples and cultural sites

The Mrityunjaya-Pardeshwar Temple is located in Parbhani City. If you want to make this temple your main focus, you can use Parbhani City as your location when searching for a holiday rental. In Pathri, the Shri Saibaba Temple was opened to the public in 1999.

The Nemgiri Temple Complex is 3 km from Jintur and extends across the Nemgiri and Chandragiri hills. The complex includes cave temples and chaityalayas dating from the 8th and 9th centuries. The combination of two hills and historic religious buildings makes Nemgiri a distinct destination within the district.

The historic religious site of Mudgaleshwar lies on the banks of the Godavari in Parbhani district. People perform ritual baths in the river there. Another site on the Godavari is the Sant Janabai Temple in Gangakhed taluka.

Charthana also has a historical name: it was formerly known as Charukshetra Nagari. Along with the temples in Parbhani City, Pathri, Nemgiri and on the Godavari, Charthana offers another cultural point of interest. You can therefore plan your trip around the places that interest you most, rather than treating all the destinations as a single excursion.

Getting there and choosing the right location

Parbhani is accessible via well-maintained highways and bus services operated by the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) and private providers. Parbhani railway station has regular train connections to major cities such as Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad and Nagpur. When searching for a holiday rental, it helps to decide on your main point of interest first: Parbhani City is the location for the Mrityunjaya-Pardeshwar Temple; Jintur is 3 km from the Nemgiri Temple Complex.

An annual fair

A fair is held at the Hazrat Turabul Haq Dargah each year from 2 to 15 February. Thousands of people of all religions and faiths gather for the occasion. If you want to plan your trip around this event, you can use these February dates as a guide when arranging your stay.

You can also discover Palam in this area. Other places to explore include Bhandara, Nanded, Beed, Ahmadnagar, Satara, Amravati and Pune.

For the wider travel overview: Maharashtra.