Tulja Bhavani Temple, Tuljapur

Maharashtra Tourism dates the temple's origins to the 12th century and attributes its construction to Maradadeva, a Mahamandaleshwara of the Kadamba dynasty; Wikipedia gives the same attribution. Later rulers and devotees expanded and restored the temple over the centuries, and its prominence grew under Shivaji, according to the state tourism department.

Outlook Traveller records a tradition that the image is a chala murti, a movable idol, and that it was taken to safety during Afzal Khan's campaign and later returned. The same source says the two lamp towers (deepmalas) beside the sacrificial fire pit were built by Shivaji to mark his victory over Afzal Khan.

In modern times the temple was registered in 1962 as a public trust under the Bombay Public Trusts Act, 1950. The trust states that its affairs are still conducted partly under the 'Deval-e-Kavayat' rules framed under the Nizam's government. In 2025 the Government of Maharashtra announced a development plan of about ₹1,865 crore covering the temple premises and the town, the Free Press Journal reported.

Architecture and sacred features

Maharashtra Tourism describes the temple as built of black stone in the Hemadpanti style, with carved surfaces, and names the Sardar Nimbalkar Gate as its main entrance. The sanctum holds a black stone image of the goddess about three feet tall with eight arms, one held in the gesture of protection; devotees regard the goddess as swayambhu (self-manifested). Smaller shrines in the complex include those of Narasimha, Khandoba and Chintamani.

The complex has several sacred water sources. Outlook Traveller mentions the Kallol tirth, a stone tank to the left of the entrance, and the Gomukh tirth, where water flows from a carved cow's head, as well as the round Chintamani stone and a shrine of Matangi behind the main temple. The trust describes the Papnash tirth as an ancient tank in Hemadpanti stonework from which water flows continuously.