PLACES

YAVTESHWAR

Yavteshwar, (Satara T; 17° 40' N, 73° 55' E; RS. Satara Road 13 m. NE; p. 643) is a small village on the plateau to the north-west of the summit of the Yavteshwar hill, about two miles west of Satara. The plateau is reached by a good bridle path branching off from the tunnel at Satara or by the steps which climb straight up the hill side. It is 1,100 feet above the plain and pleasantly cool at all times of the year, though a little hot wind is sometimes felt. During the hot weather it is not un-frequently used as a health-resort. The village contains a temple of Yavteshwar and close to the south further up the slope were the two bungalows, of which only foundations remain.

The temple which is a stone structure built in hemadpanti style is an old one built during the reign of Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj. The revenue of the village is assigned to the temple. In the rear of the temple is a tank known as Devache Tale (God's Tank). A number of rooms that surround the temple are used to house the pilgrims at the annual fair held on Kartik Sud 1. About three to four hundred people attend the fair. There is also a dharmashala near the temple. To the east of the temple is a huge open land which is used by the villagers for grazing their cattle. The construction of a filter water tank (Kas Tank) is in progress near the hamlet of Sambharevadi. A road passes through the village to the Kas Water Tank and then to Bamnoli in Javli Taluka. Due to the opening of the road the village is increasingly being used as a health resort.

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