In Pandharpur, Maharashtra, Shri Vitthal Rukmini Temple is a shrine to Lord Vitthal (Vithoba, a form of Vishnu/Krishna) and his consort Rukmini. It is also known as Vithoba Temple, Pandharpur Vitthal Mandir.
The most revered Vaishnava temple in Maharashtra and the heart of the Varkari sampradaya, associated with saints such as Dnyaneshwar, Tukaram, Namdev and Eknath. It is one of the 108 Abhimana Kshetrams of the Vaishnava tradition. Devotees can touch the deity's feet (Charana Sparsha), considered the ultimate blessing here. Inscriptions dating to 618 CE mention the site as 'Pandaraga Vittaga', later Panduranga Vitthala.
Maharashtra carries a distinct temple identity of its own: From Mumbai's beloved Siddhivinayak and Shirdi's Sai Baba to five of the twelve Jyotirlingas and the Varkari heart of Pandharpur, Maharashtra weaves together Shaiva, Vaishnava and Shakta devotion.
Darshan hours and daily worship
| Session | Timing (as published) |
|---|---|
| Morning | Kakad Aarti and Nitya Pooja 4:00-5:30 AM; morning darshan through to midday |
| Evening | Dhoop Aarti 6:45-7:00 PM; Shej Aarti 12:00-1:00 AM |
Official daily programme: Kakad Aarti 4:00-5:30 AM, Mahanaivedya 10:45-11:00 AM, Poshakh 4:40-5:00 PM, Dhoop Aarti 6:45-7:00 PM, Shej Aarti 12:00-1:00 AM. During Ashadhi Ekadashi queues stretch over 10 km with waits exceeding 12 hours.
Poojas and daily rituals
Kakad Aarti (4:00 AM), Nitya Pooja, Mahanaivedya (10:45 AM), Poshakh (4:40 PM), Dhoop Aarti (6:45 PM), Shej Aarti (12:00 AM); Abhishek and Archana by booking
Festivals and special-day timings
Regular darshan hours are usually extended, or set aside entirely, on these dates.
| Festival | Period | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Ashadhi Ekadashi | June/July (Ashadha month) | The largest event, when 8-10 lakh Varkari pilgrims arrive after walking hundreds of kilometres in the Wari. |
| Kartiki Ekadashi | October/November (Kartik month) | The second great Wari pilgrimage, drawing equally enormous crowds. |
| Navaratri and Diwali | October/November | Celebrated with devotion at the temple. |
History and architecture
Architecture
Deccan-style temple with six gates (the eastern one known as the Namdev Gate), a large quadrangular wooden hall with deepmalas leading to the sixteen-pillared Sola Khambi hall. The black stone standing image of Vithoba is about three and a half feet tall.
History
Inscriptions dating to 618 CE mention the site as 'Pandaraga Vittaga', later Panduranga Vitthala. The temple was built by the Hoysala king Vishnuvardhana (Bitti Deva) in the 12th century at the urging of the saint Pundalik, expanded in the 13th century, and later rebuilt in the 17th century in Deccan style with contributions from the Peshwas, the Shindes of Gwalior and the Holkars of Indore. In 2014 it became the first major temple in India to invite women and people from backward classes as priests.
Planning your visit
How to reach
About 2 km from Pandharpur Railway Station and 77 km from Solapur Junction (the best-connected railhead). Around 205 km from Pune; regular MSRTC buses run from Mumbai, Pune, Solapur and Kolhapur.
Shri Vitthal Rukmini Temple in photographs
4 freely-licensed photographs of this temple, from Wikimedia Commons. Each is credited to its photographer.
Where this information comes from
Confidence: High. Daily aarti programme taken from the official Shri Vitthal Rukmini Mandir Committee website; general open/close hours vary by season