Kamala Bhavani Temple

Kamala Bhavani Temple is a historic Hindu shrine in Karmala, Solapur district, Maharashtra, dedicated to Goddess Kamaladevi, considered the second seat of Tulja Bhavani. Built in 1727 by Rao Raje Nimbalkar in Hemadpanti architectural style, it is renowned for its unique design featuring the recurring number 96 in pillars, steps, windows, and carvings. The temple complex includes a fortified wall with bastions and a large stepped well. It remains an active pilgrimage site attracting devotees and architecture enthusiasts.

Visitors can expect to see a Hemadpanti-style stone temple with intricate carvings and three entrance doors facing east, south, and north. Key architectural features include 96 pillars, 96 windows, and a well with 96 steps known as Barav. The sanctum houses idols of Kamaladevi alongside Mahadeo, Ganapati, Vishnu, and Lakshmi. A 150-year-old bell with an inscription from Sake 1740 hangs in the sabhamandap. Visitors can climb lamp posts for aerial views of the surroundings.

The temple was constructed in 1727 by Rao Raje Nimbalkar of the Phaltan State, who were devoted followers of Tulja Bhavani. It represents significant Hemadpanti architecture from the Maratha period and has served as a major religious center in the Solapur region for nearly three centuries. The presence of artifacts like the Sake 1740 bell provides tangible historical evidence of its continuous use.

Regarded as the second seat of Tulajapur Tulaja Bhavani, the temple holds immense importance for devotees of the Bhavani deity in Maharashtra. It serves as the Kuladevi temple for many families and hosts major celebrations during Navaratri and the annual yatra from Kartik Purnima to Chaturthi. The unique architectural symbolism of the number 96 reflects deep cultural and numerological significance within local tradition.