Temples in Satara

Satara district stands its ground in Maharashtra with an area of 10,480 sq. km. and a population of 2,808, 994 of which 14,17% are urban (as of 2001, wikipedia encyclopedia). Satara is the capital of the district and other major towns include Wai, Katad, Koyananagar, Mahabaleshwar and Panchgani. Pune binds it to the north, Solapur in the east, Sangli in the south and Ratnagiri to the west. The Sahyadri range, the main range of Western Ghats runs north and south along the western edge of the district, separating it from Ratnagiri district. The Mahadeo range starts about 10 miles north of Mahabaleshwar and stretches east and southeast across the whole of the district. The Satara district is part of two main watersheds. The Bhima River watershed, which is a tributary of Krishna River, includes the north and northeast of the district, north of the Mahadeo Hills. The upper Krishna and its tributaries drain the rest of Satara. The hill forests contain a large store of timber and firewood. Historical importance lies in the fact that, the district was the capital of Maratha Kingdom spread over 14-lakh sq. km. immense warriors, kings, saints and great personas have created their profile here in Satara. Inscriptions as old as 200 BC reveal themselves in Satara. It is also believed that Wai in Satara is the `Viratnagari` where the Pandavas had stayed their 13th year of exile.

Mandher Devi Temple, Mandradevi: Built during the Maratha rule, Mandher Devi Temple caters basically to the lower strata of Hindu society.