Pune Heritage Walk - Kasbe Pune 24/3/2013

Places visited: Pune Heritage Walk - Kasbe Pune
Date: 24/3/2013
Purpose: Heritage Walk
Persons: Harshal.

I was reading about pune heritage walk since long back in Maharashtra times. H.V. Desai college and MaTa arrange this walk for public to spread the historical knowledge about different places in Pune.
Somehow, when I read yesterday that this would be 25th walk and in Kasba Peth, which is the origin of Pune, I got very excited and decided to go for it.

I woke up at 6:30 and freshen up myself and then went to H.V. Desai college
campus at 7:45 am. I was surprised to see more than 100 people gathered in the hall at the basement. The event started by a small introductory speech of Mr. Mayur Karjatkar and Mr. Raut and Mr. Abhijeet Thite (from MaTa). Then Mr. Pandurang Balkawade spoke about Pune's history.


He started talking about Pune's history dated back till 2000 years. He claimed that it was no "Punawadi" but it was "Punyapradesh". Saatvahan kings were also ruled this area. Long back there were 3 streams flowing from within pune - Nagzari (old name = nageshwari), Ambil (originating from Ambegav) and one more (I do not remember the name). Because of these streams, there were 7 floods in Pune. He found 7 distinguishing layers of human dwellings near the river, which were caused by each flood. But now, due to these layers, the Shaniwar Peth is 20 feet above the water level, so it is now safe.
Many business routes were going via Pune in old days.
There was also Punyeshwar mandir on the river, where there is now Dhakta Shekh Salla Darga.

I felt happy when they announced that we will be served with breakfast and tea after the walk, as this was their 25th walk.
We started the walk at 8:45. As Balkawade sir had injured leg, Mayur was
driving him on bike and we all were walking. It was kind of thrilling experience to wander in the Kasba Peth and listen to the history from Balkawade sir. And I also got to know how careless Pune Mahanagarpalika is by looking at the bad conditions of all the historical remains. On the corner of the temple on the road, there is a broken piller which is considered to be from Post-Yadav era. This piller was actually long, but the "Atikraman Vibhag" broke it ignorantly, and kept the second part on the other corner of the temple.

Then we took the road going behind the kasba ganapati mandir, and saw Kedareshwar temple which has "PanchLinga".

Then we went on the road which goes from the
side of the temple, and went to Dhavde Vada. This vada has been built during british kingdom but does not follow british style of structure like windows do not have the glasses.

Then we came out and took the small road going next to the Vada and arrived at:
Nirmal Enterprises, Shriniket Apartment, 291 Kasba Peth.
There we mate Mr. Satish Lokhande... when he was building the apartment, and doing the excavation, he found a beautiful statue of Vishnu but it got broken due to excavator. So he planned to do its visarjan and went towards the river. But in the mean time, this news got to Balkawade sir, and he saved
this statue. Since then, this status is with Mr. Lokhande in the same apartment. You can visit him anytime to see that statue. This statue is considered to be 2nd or 4th century. At that time there were not much statues of Vishnu. Also, this statue is made up of "Valukashma" stone. It does not have "Padma" and "Janva". Tichya dhotaracha soga pan khali sodlela ahe ani mugutachya magun feta baher kadhlela ahe... he tya kalcha vaishishtya ahe. It is so finely carved, that we can even see the pupils and nails.
When Balkawde sir was explaining all this, the people were busy in taking photos. As it was very small road, the road was blocked due to all of us and the people from other apartments were watching us.

From here we took the road from Vyavahar Ali, Saykal cha davakhana and went to Zambre Chavdi. Long long ago, there was a "Zambre" patil who used to do "Nyay Nivada" here.

From here we went o Kalbhairav mandir, 387 Kasba Peth. It is good to visit and quite big.

Then we saw Tryambakeshvar mandir, 541 Kasba Peth.

Then on the road to Tvashta Kasar mandir, we visited "Mahadoba Devsthan", 586 Kasba Peth. When Mahadji Shinde was born, his parents put Rs.1 in all other temples, but put Rs. 10 in this temple, so this temple is named as "Mahadoba Devsthan"

We then visited Gundacha Ganpati, 603 Kasba Peth. Tyacha Shendur kavach jenvha galun padla, tevha te Kelkar Musium madhye thevla.

Then we reached to "Tvashta Kasar" devi mandir. Kasar is the catse who makes coins, brass pots, nails, Kalas for temples, Tofa, etc. We went inside the temple where someone explained us all the history of Kasar samaj.
Then we went to a place behind 1375 Usha Maruti building. In this place all the people from Kasar caste were working on brass items. koni tamba vitalavat hota, koni thoke padat hota. Chan vatla.

I saw all the places in hurry; as I am planning to take Juilee with me sometime; and do the same trip again in relax mode.

We came back at around 11:00 am and had nice upama and then I came back home. I am planning to go every sunday, now.

Note: The information written here might not be accurate.

Expenses: FREE

Contact:
Mayur Karjatkar: 9011017918

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