To the east of the city, near National Highway no. 4, is situated the Chidambaram Nataraja Temple. It is a unique architectural invention. As soon as you enter the premises of this temple built in southern style, you feel like you are on a trip to South India. Here you will find a four and a half feet tall idol of Nataraj.
Some places are religious but this place had the sense of spirituality because it has the deep message of Indian wisdom deity of artists.
Actors who started experimenting with performing Nataraja worship on stage or dancers taking classical dance lessons had to reach Chidambaram city in the south if they wanted to see Nataraja. But since 1985, Marathi artists started getting the feel of Chidambaram's Nataraja temple in Satara city.
Small temples of Shri Ganesha, Hanuman, Radhakrishna, Shivlinga, Umadevi, Navagraha and other deities on the temple premises and their attractive idols are also eye-catching. There are four magnificent gopuras (a pyramidal tower over the entrance gate of a temple) 65 feet height around the temple.
No temple in South India has Gopuras visible on all four sides. This is the main feature of the Nataraja temple of Satara. There are four gates in four directions and they are named Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. The wood for the huge carved doors has been provided by the Government of Kerala.
On the outer walls of the temple, there are 108 karna sculptures i.e. dancing postures of Shiva and Parvati based on hymns. It has been engraved by Padma Bhushan Muthaiya Sithapathi. Such Karna sculptures are not found in any other temple. Karna shilpa is now a PhD subject for students
Traditions/Festivals: Six main consecration are performed to Nataraja and Sivakamasundari during the year. The idols of Nataraja and Sivakamasundari Devi are very heavy. These idols have been 'Charpuja', that is, these idols can be moved from place to place. At the time of grand worship, they are brought forward from the sanctum sanctorum.
Also, Nataraja Rathotsav is celebrated in the month of Margashirsha. On the occasion of Guru Poornima, recitals of classical dances can be seen on the stage on the temple premises. Dancers consider it an honour to perform at this festival.
267 KM from Mumbai Airport via Pune, Satara
109 Km from Pune via Satara
123 KM from Kolhapur via Karad umbraj
334 KM from Goa via Belgavi, Kolhapur, Karad, Satara
3 KM from Satara Bus Stand
