Shitla Devi Temple In Kelwa, Maharashtra: 3 Reasons Why You Should Visit This Revered Temple

On my recent trip to Palghar during the International Ganesh Festival, I got an opportunity to visit the lesser-known, revered temple among the locals of Kelwa, Shitla Devi Temple. Nestled amidst the lush greens of Kelwa town, about 110 km from Mumbai and 12 km from Palghar, Shitla Devi temple is dedicated to Goddess Shitala-Mata. On visiting the temple and interacting with a few locals, I got a deeper insight into the temple's history.

The Lord Rama Connection

As I walked inside the temple, I spotted a big kunda or pond on the right side, just opposite the idol of Maa Shitala. Curious, I asked a local to share the story behind the kunda at the temple. She shared that during the Lord Ram and Ravana war, when Ram was proceeding towards Lanka, he stopped at the temple and worshiped Lord Shiva. The lingam now present at the temple appeared through sand and oozed the holy Ganga. Lord Ram was a devotee of Lord Shiva and he wanted to offer water to the Shiva lingam. He targeted his arrow to the ground to get water and offered water from the lake which today is known as Ram Kunda.

Maa Shitla Devi

It was a weekday, hot and humid and I still see men and women thronging the temple in the afternoon with diyas, flowers, and chunnari for Maa Shitla Devi. I was told that people from across districts in Maharashtra came here to seek the blessings of Mata Shitla Devi. A local shared a personal story about how the blessings of Shri Mata Shitla Devi helped him overcome illness and problems in life.

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Shri Valukeshvar Sanctum

Shitla Devi temple has an inner sanctum dedicated to Lord Shiva. The Lord Shiva lingam is believed to have appeared after Lord Ram prayed to him while he was at the temple. The self-existent idol of Lord Shiva is called 'Bhavani Shankar Valukeshwar. To date, devotees of Lord Shiva from across Maharashtra come to the temple to pay their respects and seek blessings.

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How To Reach Shitla Devi Temple?

Shitala Devi temple is located in Kelwa town in Maharashtra. Kelwa is about 110 km from Mumbai. Kelwa can be reached via a bus or cab from Mumbai where the average round trip comes down to ₹3000 to 4000. Mumbai is further connected with major cities in the country via air, rail, and road. If you plan to visit Kelwa, it is a good idea to plan a two-day trip since there are many other untouched tourist attractions in the town like Kelwa Beach and Kelwa Fort.

What Is The Best Time To Visit Shitla Devi Temple?

While the Shitla Devi Temple is open around the year, it is best to not plan your visit around festivals like Navratri and Ganesh Chaturthi when the temple is crowded.