About 40 kilometers north of nasik is a stretch of the sahyadri mountains known as the ajantha satmala range . The average height of peaks here is about 4500 feet . The tallest ( around 4600 feet ) in the group is dhodap towards the centre of the range and saptashrungi towards the western side . Saptashrungi is well known because of temple àtop the hill dedicated to goddess saptashrungi .There are two routes to saptashrungi the first is via vani chandakpur on the nasik saputara road . The distance between nashik and vani via dindori is 39 kilometers while via pimpalgaon it is 51 kilometres .Going by this route means you have to climb up all the way to the top of the mountain . There are steps to reach the temple . An easier alternative is the road via nanduri village 14 kilometers after vani .Nanduri village is in the foothills of saptashrungi and a regular minibus service run by the state transport corporation plies from here to the top of the plateau .From the plateau it is a relatively easy half hour climb up 250 steps to the temple . The temple is situated within a slight hollow in the mountain and is not visible even from the plateau. The sight of hundreds of devotees from the very young to the very old making the long tiring climb up to this temple is very moving . The statue of the goddess is on top floor of this two storeyed temple . During the nine days leading up to dassera an annual festival is held and all routes to the temple are literally choked with devotees. Since the temple is at a height it affords a splendid view of the surrounding hills , While climbing down from saptashrungi near nanduri village the mohindri mountain with its gaping hole can be seen . Villagers say that after wining a fierce battle the goddess saptashrungi disappeared through the mountain leaving behind a gaping hole ! .The height of saptashrungi ensures that it has a cool climate through out the year . In winter it can get quite cold . It is possible to stay the night in the temple complex and arrangement for food can also be made here . This one place that is not only attractive to the devout but even to the ordinary tourist .
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