Ancient Swaroopeshwar Baneshwar Temple, Vakholi, Trimbakeshwar, Nashik

Nestled in the lap of the Kedarnath mountain at an altitude of approximately 22,000 feet, the Kedarnath Temple is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas. It is not possible for all devotees to travel to that sacred land of Rudraprayag to seek the blessings of Baba Kedarnath. With the intention of enabling them to have the darshan of Kedarnath right here in this holy land of Trimbakeshwar, a faithful replica of the Kedarnath Temple has been erected near Anjaneri. This is the Shri Swaroopeshwar Baneshwar Mahadev Temple. It is known as the ‘Prati-Kedarnath Temple’.

This temple stands in the village of Vadholi, nestled within the Anjaneri mountain range. This temple was brought to fruition through the vision of Mataji Swami Sthitaprajnananda Saraswati and the efforts of the Shrutisagar Ashram in Pune.

The Kedarnath temple in Uttarakhand is extremely ancient. It is said that the current Kedarnath temple was constructed by Adi Shankaracharya in the eighth century and stands right next to the original temple built by the Pandavas in the Dvapara Yuga. The Prati-Kedarnath temple near Anjaneri was completed on 4 May 2014. At that time, devotees did not have much information about it. Photography is prohibited within the temple premises, but at the beginning of 2022, some photographs and videos of the temple were widely circulated on social media, and a large crowd of devotees began to gather here as the ‘Prati-Kedarnath Temple’.

To reach the temple while traveling from Nashik towards Trimbakeshwar, one arrives at the Vadholi Phata. After turning left from that junction, the village of Vadholi is located a short distance away. There is a road from the village leading to the temple. The temple is situated in a scenic environment approximately 3 kilometers from the village. Additionally, there is also a road to the temple from the Anjaneri Phata.

The road leading to the temple is winding and covered with trees. Although the temple has been constructed using cement and bricks, the architectural style is ancient, exactly resembling the Kedarnath temple. The Kedarnath temple is built on a square platform six feet in height and consists of three sections: the assembly hall (Sabhamandapa), the middle section (Madhyabhaga), and the sanctum sanctorum (Garbhagriha). There is an idol of Nandi in its courtyard.

The temple has three entrances, two of which remain open. The main entrance of the temple features golden carvings, with statues of gatekeepers (Dwarapalas) sculpted on the sides. Directly in front stands a beautiful statue of Nandi. In the main hall (Sabhamandapa), there are small idols of Bhavatarini Shri Narmada Devi and Adi Shankaracharya. The sanctum sanctorum (Garbhagriha) of the temple is spacious. It is said that this is one of the Banalingas that Banasura worshipped Lord Shiva with before immersing them in the Narmada river.

Near the temple is the administrative office of Shivshakti Gyanpeeth. Close to the office is the ‘Shankar Satsang Bhavan’. Here, one can experience the joy of spiritual realization. Being a sacred and favorable place for spiritual practice, many sages and saints visit this location. A beautiful idol of Adi Shankaracharya can be seen here. Near the building is ‘Gaurikund’, surrounded by coconut trees. Adjacent to this pond, at some distance from the temple, is a small temple of Adishakti Mata. Beautiful craftsmanship has been carved onto the pillars of this Durga Parameshwari temple. While entering the temple, one must climb steps named after the 27 Nakshatras. Inside the temple is a magnificent idol of Adishakti Mata mounted on a lion. From this temple, one can enjoy the surrounding natural beauty. Next to the temple is a dining hall, where free food is served during festival periods. A short distance from the dining hall is the ‘Narmada Bhaktanivas’. Arrangements for the accommodation of devotees are made here during festivals.

The promotion and propagation of the Shri Swarupeshwar Baneshwar Mahadev Temple as the ‘Prati-Kedarnath Temple’ has been carried out by the devotees themselves, and upon seeing the scenic environment here, devotees feel as though they have arrived at Kedarnath. The visiting hours for the temple are from ten in the morning until five in the evening. As the temple premises are located within a forest area, the temple is closed early for security reasons. Every month, a Veda and Vedanta camp is organized here by the ‘Shivshakti Gyanpeeth’. Additionally, grand festivals are celebrated at the temple on the occasions of Mahashivratri, Shravani Somvar, Gurupurnima, Adi Shankaracharya Jayanti, and Narmada Jayanti.

Sacred History & Spiritual Significance

This sacred temple stands as a testament to deep spiritual devotion, ancient architectural grandeur, and rich local cultural traditions.

Temple Sanctum & Architecture

The sanctum sanctorum houses the divine idol consecrated according to ancient Vedic traditions, surrounded by serene courtyards and traditional temple architecture.

Sacred Darshan Gallery