250-year old Ganpati temple where the idol rides a peacock and has three trunks

The 250-year Trishund Ganpati Temple located in Somwar Peth in Pune has an exceptional Ganesha idol. This temple is very underrated and has recently started to create a buzz on the internet. This temple greatly blends spiritual aura, rich history, and intricate art that leaves one mesmerized. This temple has a beautiful idol of Lord Ganesha which has three trunks and six arms, and the deity is also seated on a peacock rather than his usual ride, a mouse also known as Mushak.The temple gets its name from the idol as well, ‘Trishund’ meaning three trunks.A rich historical pastThis temple was constructed in the time span of 16 years, starting in the year 1754 and completed in the year 1770. This temple was founded by Bhimgirji Gosavi, who was an ascetic of the Giri Gosavi sect. It is considered that this temple was supposed to be a Shiva Temple but then turned into a Ganpati temple. During the 18th century, this temple had multiple purposes such as a religious site, a samadhi temple, as well as a practicing school for Hathyogis. This is a two-level temple that also houses the samadhi of Bhimgirji Gosavi.Beautiful architectureThe entire temple is made of Deccan basalt stone and has a rectangular form and a façade that resembles many ancient cave temples. The architecture of this temple is a perfect blend of Rajasthani, Malwa, South Indian, and Maratha influences. The sculptures all over the temple consist of animals such as chained rhinoceroses and elephants, mythical creatures, guardian deities (Dwarapalakas), and dynamic battle scenes. One will find the historical panel here that depicts the aftermath of the 1757 Battle of Plassey with a British soldier and a chained rhinoceros. The roof of the temple had several Shiva lingas, which depicted that originally this temple was to be dedicated to Lord Shiva.The idol of Lord Ganesha is carved from black basalt and is adorned with precious gems. Inside the temple, devotees will find inscriptions in Sanskrit, Devanagari, and Persian, as well as verses from the Bhagavad Gita.Preservation and RestorationThe Pune Municipal Corporation worked on the preservation of this temple, keeping the beauty of the temple as the main focus. They are ensuring that they maintain the historical significance of this temple and that it becomes a thriving center of devotion for future generations.The temple, with its mesmerizing beauty, embodies great spiritual devotion, attracting a lot of devotees, and is also a great spot for art lovers as the inscriptions on the walls and the architecture of the temple are really beautiful.How to reachThe Trishund Ganpati temple is located near the Kamla Nehru Hospital in Pune, and one can reach the temple by car, two-wheeler, or cab. One can also come here by public transport by getting off at the Pune Junction railway station and then reaching the temple by a short auto rickshaw ride or a local bus to the temple, but the routes are limited, so it is better to walk the final stretch to reach the temple.