India, Aug. 17 -- If you are a pilgrimage tourist and a road trip enthusiast too, who also happens to dread the Mumbai traffic, then this might be an opportune time to explore the historically and architecturally condensed parts of your state. And the easiest way to do that is by visiting its temples! Once you get over Alibaug, Mahabaleshwar, Khandala and the likes, you will be able to see Maharashtra beyond the Western Ghats; however, definitely not without it. By Shubhanjana Das 1. Ekvira Devi Temple, Lonavala

Visited daily by the Koli fishermen community and the local tribes for whom Goddess Renuka (worshipped here) is the supreme power, the Ekvira Devi Temple is a seat of Buddist culture, traditional folklore, and even dances. Often ...