Mahur Renuka Devi temple: a pilgrim’s travel guide

This Mahur Renuka Devi temple guide is for pilgrims and slow travellers heading to Mahur (also written Mahurgad), a forested hill town in the Nanded district of Maharashtra’s Marathwada region, close to the Telangana border. Mahur carries two big draws on neighbouring hills: the Renuka Devi shrine, counted among the state’s three-and-a-half Shakti Peethas, and the Datta Shikhar, which devotees link to Dattatreya. This guide covers both, with how to reach, when to go, where to stay and what it costs.

Mahur is a Sahyadri-spur pilgrimage town in Nanded district, Maharashtra, best known for the hilltop Renuka Devi temple and the Dattatreya shrine on nearby peaks. Plan a one- to two-day trip, base yourself at Nanded or a temple dharamshala, and visit between October and March.

About Mahur and quick facts

Mahur sits on a group of low, forested hills in the north of Nanded district, where Marathwada meets the Vidarbha and Telangana borders. The old texts call the area Matapur or Matripur, meaning the mother’s town. The shrines are spread across separate hilltops, so a full visit means some climbing and short road hops between peaks.

According to the Nanded district administration, the Renuka Devi temple stands on a hillock about 2.4 km from Mahur village and is said to have been built by a Yadava king of Devagiri roughly eight to nine hundred years ago. It is described officially as one of the Shakti Peethas of Maharashtra.

Renuka Devi temple and Shakti Peetha status

The Renuka Devi temple is the heart of any Mahur Renuka Devi temple guide. The shrine honours Renuka, worshipped across Maharashtra as a mother goddess and remembered in tradition as the wife of sage Jamadagni and mother of Parashurama. The idol is described as swayambhu (self-manifested), with the goddess shown mainly as a face, rather than a full standing image.

Mahur is counted among Maharashtra’s three-and-a-half Shakti Peethas. In the common listing, the three full Peethas are Mahalakshmi at Kolhapur, Tulja Bhavani at Tuljapur and Renuka at Mahur, while Saptashrungi near Vani is treated as the half Peetha. If you are mapping these out, our Saptashrungi temple guide covers that fourth site in detail.

To manage growing crowds on the hill, Union minister Nitin Gadkari laid the foundation stone for a skywalk project at the temple on 20 May 2023, reported at about ₹51.03 crore. As described in press reports, the plan includes capsule lifts between a base station and the shrine, a roughly 70 m long skywalk bridge with travelators and shops, plus CCTV and public-address systems. Treat this as a work in progress and check locally before you count on it.

Datta Shikhar, Anusaya and the other hills

Mahur’s shrines sit on separate hills, and most pilgrims try to cover the main ones over a day or two. The Datta Shikhar, on the highest of the hills, is a Dattatreya shrine. In local belief it is regarded as a birthplace of Dattatreya, the three-in-one form of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva; this is devotional tradition rather than documented history.

A third hill, the Atri Anasuya Shikhar, holds the Anasuya temple, dedicated to Sati Anasuya, wife of sage Atri and, in the same tradition, mother of Dattatreya. Mahur also has a Kalika (Mahakali) temple, a Parashuram shrine and the remains of an old hill fort, along with rock-cut caves locally called Pandav Leni. The walk between hills runs through dry deciduous Sahyadri-spur forest, so carry water and start early.

The Parashurama legend

According to local belief, Mahur is where the head of Renuka came to rest, which is why the shrine shows the goddess as a face. The best-known story links her to Parashurama, the warrior-sage son of Jamadagni and Renuka. In the tradition retold at the site, Parashurama beheaded his mother at his father’s command and later sought her return; devotees connect the Mahur shrine to that episode. This is religious legend, not recorded history, and temple accounts of the detail vary.

Best time to visit

The comfortable window is October to March, when Marathwada is cool and dry and the hill climbs are pleasant. April to June is hot on these open hillsides, and the monsoon (roughly June to September) greens the forest but makes steps and trails slippery. Festival days bring the biggest crowds and the most atmosphere, so decide whether you want the fair or a quieter darshan.

How to reach Mahur

Mahur is a hilly, out-of-the-way town, so the journey is part of the trip. Most pilgrims come by road from Nanded or Kinwat; the last stretch climbs through forest.

• By air: Nanded airport is the nearest, about 130 km away; Star Air has run flights from Nanded to cities including Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, Nagpur and Pune (schedules change, so reconfirm). Nagpur is a larger alternative airport for wider connections.
• By rail: The nearest railhead is Kinwat (about 48 km) on the line through this region; the major junction is Hazur Sahib Nanded (about 130 km), far better connected to Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad and beyond. Check live trains on NTES/IRCTC before booking.
• By road: State transport and private buses run to Mahur from Nanded, Kinwat, Yavatmal and other Vidarbha towns. The Nanded district administration notes frequent buses from Nanded bus stand. Roads are hilly near the town; drive in daylight.

Things to see and do

The shrines are the main reason to come, but there is enough around them for a full day or two of unhurried exploring.

• Renuka Devi darshan: The climb to the main temple is reported at about 240 steps. Go early for a calmer darshan; expect long queues on festival days.
• Datta Shikhar: The Dattatreya shrine on the highest hill, with broad views over the forested ranges. A short road hop plus a climb from the Renuka side.
• Anasuya temple: On its own hill, quieter than the main shrine and worth the detour for the setting.
• Mahurgad fort and Kalika temple: Old fort remains, gateways and the Mahakali shrine for those who like history with their pilgrimage.
• Pandav Leni caves: Rock-cut caves near the hills, named in local tradition for the Pandavas.

Darshan timings quoted by some temple-information sources run from about 6 am to 9 pm with a midday break, but these vary by day and season. Treat any timing you see online as indicative and confirm with the temple trust on arrival. For more pilgrimage planning across the country, see our round-up of pilgrimage sites in India.

Suggested itinerary

Day 1:

• Reach Mahur from Nanded or Kinwat by mid-morning; check into a dharamshala or lodge.
• Climb for Renuka Devi darshan; rest through the hot midday hours.
• Late afternoon, visit the Kalika temple and fort remains; return for the evening aarti.

Day 2:

• Early start for Datta Shikhar and the Anasuya temple on the other hills.
• If time allows, add the Pandav Leni caves before you leave.
• Drive back to Nanded, or continue towards Kinwat and Unkeshwar.

Where to stay

Mahur itself has basic pilgrim accommodation rather than hotels. For more choice and comfort, many travellers base themselves at Nanded and make Mahur a long day trip or overnight.

• Budget (around ₹500–1,200 a night): Temple dharamshalas and simple lodges in and around Mahur. Facilities are plain; book through the temple trust or on arrival.
• Mid-range (around ₹1,500–3,500 a night): Hotels in Nanded town, useful if you want air-conditioning, restaurants and a railway/airport base.
• Higher-end (₹4,000 and up): A handful of better business hotels in Nanded; limited choice this far east.

These bands are planning estimates for October 2026 and rise sharply around Navratri and Datta Jayanti, so book well ahead for festival dates and reconfirm rates directly.

Food to try

This is Marathwada, so expect simple, mostly vegetarian food, especially near the temples. Look for:

• Jowar/bajra bhakri (flatbread of sorghum or pearl millet) with pithla (a soft gram-flour curry) and thecha (a fiery green-chilli and garlic relish).
• Varan-bhaat (plain dal with rice) and seasonal bhaji (vegetable dishes), the everyday temple-town meal.
• Puran poli (sweet flatbread stuffed with jaggery and gram) on festival days.
• Prasad and simple thalis at bhojanalayas (eateries) and dharamshala kitchens near the shrines.

Carry water and some snacks for the climbs, as options thin out on the hills.

Budget breakdown

Costs here are modest compared with big-city pilgrimages. The table below is a planning estimate for a two-day trip, excluding long-distance transport to Nanded.

Assumptions: shared or budget transport, one night’s stay near Mahur or Nanded, temple-town eating. A hired car from Nanded for the round trip will add significantly.

Permits, rules and practical tips

No special permit is needed to visit Mahur; it is an open pilgrimage town inside Maharashtra, with no inner-line or protected-area restriction that applies here. The practical notes matter more:

• Dress and conduct: Dress modestly for the shrines and follow queue and photography rules posted at each temple; some sanctums do not allow photos.
• The climb: About 240 steps to the Renuka temple, plus climbs on the other hills. Go early, pace yourself in the heat, and carry water. Those with mobility or heart concerns should plan carefully and ask locally about assistance.
• Cash and connectivity: Carry cash; ATMs and reliable UPI/mobile signal can be patchy in this hilly belt. Do not rely on cards at small shops.
• Health and safety: The nearest larger hospitals are at Kinwat and Nanded; carry basic medicines. In the monsoon, steps and forest trails are slippery.
• Solo and women travellers: Mahur is a well-visited pilgrimage town and generally calm, but as with any remote hill route, travel in daylight and keep to the main pilgrim areas after dark.
• Packing: Light cottons and a sunhat for Oct–Mar days (which can still be warm at midday), a light layer for cooler evenings, sturdy shoes for steps, and a rain shell in the monsoon.

Nearby places

Mahur pairs well with Nanded and the Kinwat belt if you have extra days. Distances below are indicative; reconfirm before you set out.

If this trip is part of a wider Maharashtra plan, our Maharashtra travel guide helps you string together the state’s temples, forts and hill towns.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Mahur and why is it famous?

Mahur (Mahurgad) is a hill town in Nanded district, Maharashtra, in the Marathwada region near the Telangana border. It is famous for the Renuka Devi temple, counted among the state’s three-and-a-half Shakti Peethas, and for the Datta Shikhar shrine linked in tradition to Dattatreya.

Is Mahur one of the Shakti Peethas?

Yes. The Renuka Devi temple at Mahur is counted among the three-and-a-half Shakti Peethas of Maharashtra, together with Mahalakshmi at Kolhapur and Tulja Bhavani at Tuljapur as full Peethas, and Saptashrungi near Vani as the half Peetha. Mahur is also listed within the wider Shakta Peetha tradition.

How many steps lead to the Renuka Devi temple?

Temple and news reports put the climb to the Renuka Devi shrine at about 240 steps. A skywalk with capsule lifts has been announced to ease the climb, but it was still a work in progress when last reported, so confirm its status locally before you plan around it.

How do I reach Mahur by train or air?

The nearest railway station is Kinwat, about 48 km away, while the major junction is Hazur Sahib Nanded, about 130 km away. The nearest airport is Nanded, also roughly 130 km away, with Nagpur as a larger alternative. Most people complete the journey to Mahur by road.

What is the best time to visit Mahur?

October to March is the best time, when the weather is cool and dry and the hill climbs are comfortable. Avoid the April to June heat and the slippery monsoon trails. Navratri and Datta Jayanti bring the largest crowds and the most festive atmosphere.

Do I need any permit to visit Mahur?

No permit is required to visit Mahur. It is an open pilgrimage town within Maharashtra with no inner-line or protected-area rule that applies to visitors. Just follow the dress code, queue system and photography rules posted at each shrine, and carry cash as connectivity can be patchy.

Last updated and sources

Mahur rewards pilgrims and unhurried travellers who like their temples wrapped in forest and history. Go between October and March, give it one to two days, and base yourself at a dharamshala or in Nanded.

Last updated: 2 October 2026. Fees, timings and permits change — reconfirm with official sources before you travel.

Sources: Maharashtra Tourism (MTDC); Nanded district administration — Mahur Gadh and Unkeshwar; Wikipedia — Three and a half Shakta pithas and Mahur, Maharashtra; Outlook Traveller — Mahurgad; India Infra Hub — Renuka Devi skywalk; Wikipedia — Isapur Dam. Accessed October 2026.

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