Phulgaon is situated 31 km from Pune, on the right bank of the Bhima River. The village is accessible via a 5 km drive from Lonikand village, which lies on the Pune-Nagar road. Phulgaon is home to a Mahādeva temple dating back to the late Marāṭhā period, as well as three expansive ghats along the Bhima River, one of which is located on the river's left bank. The village doesn't exhibit any ruins predating the Marāṭhā era. Local information suggests that the ghats were constructed by Bajirao II, who had intentions of making Phulgaon his second capital. During the Peśavā regime, the village served as a significant marketplace and was home to a sizable Marwari population. However, the village has seen considerable out-migration over the years, leading to changes in its demographic composition.

Sabhāmaṇḍapa.

Architecture: The Mahādeva temple, located at coordinates 18.661264, 74.014467, is situated on the northern riverbank of the village. The temple follows a traditional layout comprising a nandīmaṇḍapa, sabhāmaṇḍapa, and garbhagṛha. Additionally, a fencing wall is present at the rear of the temple. The nandīmaṇḍapa measures 190 x 190 cm and houses a recently installed Nandī at its center. In front of this area, a stone plinth extends 550 cm in width and 172 cm in length, featuring a kūrmaśilpa at its core. The sabhāmaṇḍapa follows, adorned with three arches and equipped with four niches designated for lamps. Its roof is flat.

Proceeding from the sabhāmaṇḍapa, one enters the garbhagṛha. The entrance is relatively simple, highlighted by a Gaṇeśa sculpture on the lalāṭabimba. A Kīrtīmukha is engraved on the threshold, and a row of bilvapatras is carved just above the entryway. The garbhagṛha itself measures 265 x 265 cm, with a śivaliṅga centrally positioned. Additionally, there are five niches within this inner sanctum. The ceiling has a dome shape, displaying Indo-Islamic architectural influence.

On the temple's pradakṣiṇāpatha, there is a small shrine dedicated to Gaṇeśa, featuring a beautiful image of the deity. The temple's original śikhara has been carefully restored and painted in recent times. The temple is publicly owned, and its maintenance falls on the local community, as there is no formal trust body overseeing its upkeep.

Image of Gaṇeśa

Śikhara of the temple.

Mahādeva Ghat: There is a very wide ghat in the riverbed, on the left side of the temple. It is also known as Mahādeva Ghat. Steps are constructed to descend in the river from the ghāṭ. Earlier, there was a tradition to offer coconuts in the river when it used to get flooded. Locals feel that the flood water started receding after that. There is another ghāṭa across the river in front of this ghāṭa. Recently, Mr Ganesh Bidkar repaired it.

Kamānī Ghat: In Phulgaon, the Kamānī Ghat serves as another notable landmark. Constructed on the Bhima River, this ghat is used for various activities like puja, morning baths, and sourcing drinking water. It features a grand entrance and is flanked by small, stone-built changing rooms on either side. Stairs are also available for those who wish to stroll along the structure. Despite its grandeur, the Kamānī Ghat remains relatively unknown, perhaps due to neglect and a general lack of focus on heritage preservation. Walking along the ghat, one can almost envision the busy river life from two centuries ago. The blend of the Bhima River with historical architecture offers an experience that can truly be appreciated only by visiting the site.

Mahādeva Ghāṭa

Another ghat across the river.

Kamānī Ghat

Another view of Kamānī Ghat

Concluding Remark: The ghat on the Bhima River at Phulgaon serves as a tangible reminder of the Marāṭhā dynasty's illustrious history. Both the temple and ghat are significant for tourism and their historical narratives deserve to be more widely shared. Preservation is urgently needed; the strong currents of the Bhima River are eroding the stone structures, and flooding poses a risk to the Mahādeva temple. Vegetation growing within the temple compound could also lead to structural damage over time.

This calls for a concerted effort not just to preserve the Mahādeva temple in Phulgaon, but also to extend such preservation activities to temples across India. The cultural and historical importance of these sites mandates their careful maintenance for future generations.