The startling shrine of Lord Shiva

There are many Shiva places of worship around the world that you will find extraordinary, but there is none with a self-originated, 1000-year-old, 6-foot, black-stone Linga in the form of Rudraksha. Bordered by the Sahyadri peaks, this is the Mahabaleshwar or Mahabali Shrine.

Erected across the 16th century by the Marathas, this shrine is enclosed within a 5-foot wall, divided into two areas, and is said to hold greater religious significance than the 12 Jyotirlingas. Constructed in the South Indian Hemadant style, it has a simple exterior with a pyramid-shaped tower and lovely carvings inside.