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{{For|the racehorse|Alandi (horse)}}
{{Distinguish|Åland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2021}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2018}}

{{Infobox settlement
| name = Alandi
| other_name = Aalankapuri
| nickname = Alandi
| settlement_type = Town
| image_skyline = Aalandi sidew view from insie.JPG
| image_alt =
| image_caption = The ghat at Alandi on the Indrayani river
| pushpin_map = India Maharashtra#India3
| pushpin_label_position = right
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location of Alandi in [[Maharashtra]], India
| coordinates = {{coord|18.677|N|73.897|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[States and territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Maharashtra]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of districts of India|District]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Pune district|Pune]]
| established_title = 
| established_date =
| founder =
| named_for =
| government_type = Municipal Council
| governing_body = BJP
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes =
| area_rank =
| area_total_km2 =
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m = 577
| population_total = 28,576
| population_as_of = 2011
| population_rank =
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_demonym =
| population_footnotes =
| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| demographics1_info1 = [[Marathi language|Marathi]]
| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = [[Postal Index Number|PIN]]
| postal_code = [http://www.citypincode.in/PinCodeOf.jsp?area=Alandi%20Devachi%20&district=Pune 412105] [http://www.citypincode.in/PinCodeOf.jsp?area=Alandi%20Chorachi%20&district=Pune 412201]
| registration_plate = MH 14
| website =
| footnotes =
}}

'''Alandi''' (Marathi pronunciation: [[Help:IPA/Marathi|[aːɭən̪d̪iː]]]) is a town and a [[municipal council]] in the [[Pune district]] in the state of [[Maharashtra]], India.<ref>{{Cite book |last=House of Commons |first=Great Britain Parliament |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pCtcAAAAQAAJ&dq=Alandi&pg=RA2-PA26 |title=Reports from Commissioners |date=1875 |publisher=Ordered to be printed |pages=26 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Religious Places {{!}} District Pune ,Government of Maharashtra {{!}} India |url=https://pune.gov.in/tourism/religious-places/#1520595526559-40a2d82f-4b92 |access-date=2023-03-30 |language=en-US}}</ref> The town is popular as a place of pilgrimage and the resting place of the 8th century [[Marathi people|Marathi]] saint [[Sant Dnyaneshwar]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bahadurdesai |first=B. Rishikesh |date=2017-06-08 |title=A 550-km pilgrimage led by white horses |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/a-550-km-pilgrimage-led-by-white-horses/article18868139.ece |access-date=2023-03-30 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Dnyaneshwar2.jpg|right|thumb|100x100px|Dnyaneshwar]]
Alandi has a long history but gained prominence in the 13th century when [[Dnyaneshwar]] (1275–1296) decided to entomb, otherwise known as ''[[samadhi|sanjeevan samadhi]]'', himself in a [[samadhi (shrine)|samadhi]], a form of shrine, under the then existing Siddheshwar temple complex in 1296.<ref name="JacobsenAktor2014 109-113">{{cite book|author1=Irina Glushkova|author2=Mikael Aktor|author3=Kristina Myrvold|title=Objects of Worship in South Asian Religions: Forms, Practices and Meanings|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oqReBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA109|date=27 August 2014|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-317-67595-2|pages=109–113}}</ref><ref>W. Doderet (1926), [https://www.jstor.org/stable/607401 The Passive Voice of the Jnanesvari], Bulletin of the School of Oriental Studies, Cambridge University Press, Vol. 4, No. 1 (1926), pp. 59–64</ref>
A temple was built over the Samadhi by Ambekar Deshpande in around 1580–1600. Further additions to the temple were made during the [[Maratha Empire]] era by Maratha nobles and the [[Peshwa]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Sohoni |first1=Ashutosh |title=Temple Architecture of the Marathas in Maharashtra Volume One A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy |date=1998 |publisher=De Montfort University Leicester |location=Leicester UK |page=181 |url=https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C39&q=sohoni+de+montfort+alandi&btnG= |access-date=12 April 2019}}</ref><ref name="BurgessCousens1897 12-13">{{cite book|author1=James Burgess|author2=Henry Cousens|title=Revised Lists of Antiquarian Remains in the Bombay Presidency: And the Native States of Baroda, Palanpur, Radhanpur, Kathiawad, Kachh, Kolhapur, and the Southern Maratha Minor States|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=H2ZBAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA1|year=1897|publisher=Printed at the Government central Press|pages=12–13}}</ref> In 1778, Alandi was granted to [[Mahadji Shinde]], the powerful Maratha statesman of the [[Maratha confederacy]] at that time, by the Peshwa. For two decades after that, the [[Shinde]] family were the main sponsors of various renovations of the temple.<ref name="JacobsenAktor2014 124">{{cite book|author1=Knut A. Jacobsen|author2=Mikael Aktor|author3=Kristina Myrvold|title=Objects of Worship in South Asian Religions: Forms, Practices and Meanings|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oqReBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA109|date=27 August 2014|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-317-67595-2|page=124}}</ref>

In the 1820s, Haibatraobuva Arphalkar, a [[courtier]] of the [[Shinde|Scindia of Gwalior]], started the modern Palkhi tradition of carrying the [[paduka]] (replica silver sandals) of Dnyaneshwar to [[Pandharpur]] during the annual [[Pandharpur Wari|Wari]]. Haibatraobuva was laid to rest under the first step of the temple complex per his will.<ref name="JacobsenAktor2014 109-113"/>

Despite being a small town, it was granted municipal status during the early [[British Raj]]. The council would raise revenue through levying tax on pilgrims which used to number around 50,000 at the end of 19th century.<ref name="BurgessCousens1897 18">{{cite book|author1=James Burgess|author2=Henry Cousens|title=Revised Lists of Antiquarian Remains in the Bombay Presidency: And the Native States of Baroda, Palanpur, Radhanpur, Kathiawad, Kachh, Kolhapur, and the Southern Maratha Minor States|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=H2ZBAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA1|year=1897|publisher=Printed at the Government central Press|page=18}}</ref>

==Geography==
Alandi ({{Coord|18|40|37.42|N|73|53|47.76|E|}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/16/Alandi.html|title=Maps, Weather, and Airports for Alandi, India|website=fallingrain.com}}</ref>) is located on the bank of the [[Indrayani River]], {{convert|18.8|km|mi|abbr=on}} from [[Khed Taluka]] of [[Pune District]], near the northern edge of the city of [[Pune]]. Alandi has an average elevation of {{convert|577|meters|ft|abbr=off}}.

==Demographics==
In 2011, Alandi had a population of 28,576. Males constitute 56% of the population and females 44%.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999|title=Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)|publisher=Census Commission of India|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040616075334/http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999|archive-date=16 June 2004|access-date=1 November 2008}}</ref> The [[lingua franca]] is [[Marathi language|Marathi]]. Alandi has an average literacy rate of 73% (82% of the males, 68% of females), which is lower than the national average of 74.04%. 13% of the population is under 6 years of age. All [[castes]] are represented in the town census. The closely related Maratha clans, Kurhade-Patil and Ghundare-Patil, dominate the civic life of the town.

Traditionally, many Hindu widows have come to reside in places of pilgrimage such as Pandharpur and Alandi.<ref>{{cite book|editor-last=Reddy|editor-first=P. Adinarayana|title=Problems of widows in India|date=2004|publisher=Sarup & Sons|location=New Delhi|isbn=9788176254793|pages=42,119|edition=1st}}</ref>

==Government==
Alandi has a Municipal council with a directly elected as Mayor (Nagaradhyaksha). In the 2016 election to the council, The BJP candidate Vaijayanti Umergekar-Kamble was elected mayor by defeating the Shiv sena candidate, Bhagyashree Randhwe. The BJP holds majority in the 18 member town council.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Times |first1=reporter |title=आळंदीत शिवसेनेला नमवून भाजप विजयी (The BJP defeats Shiv sena in Alandi) |url=https://maharashtratimes.indiatimes.com/maharashtra/pune-news/alandi-nagar-parishad-bjp-wins/articleshow/56006893.cms |access-date=12 April 2019 |issue=16 December 2016 |work=Maharashtra Times |year=2016}}</ref>

Alandi comes under the [[Pune district]] sub-division of [[Khed taluka]]. It is a part of [[Maharashtra Legislative Assembly]] constituency of Khed Alandi which in turn belongs to [[Shirur (Lok Sabha constituency)|Shirur parliamentary constituency]]. At present, the assembly seat is held by Nationalist Congress Party's Dr. Amol Kolhe.<ref>{{cite web |title=Khed Alandi (Maharashtra) Assembly Constituency Elections |url=http://www.elections.in/maharashtra/assembly-constituencies/khed-alandi.html |access-date=12 April 2019}}</ref>

==Pilgrimage center==
===Dnyaneshwar samadhi===
[[File:Mauli.jpg|thumb|right|Samadhi of Dnyaneshwar with idols of Vitthal and Rukmini at the back]]
Alandi is a well known place of pilgrimage for Hindu [[Marathi people]] because of the town's association with [[Dnyaneshwar]]. His devotees believe that he is still alive.{{sfn|Novetzke|2009|p=218}}{{sfn|Glushkova|2014|p=116}}<ref>{{cite book|last1=Bahirat|first1=B.P.|title=The philosophy of Jñānadeva : as gleaned from the Amṛtānubhava|date=1998|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |location=Delhi |isbn=978-8120815742 |page=15 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_T2NYBeQ4EwC&q=sanjivan+samadhi&pg=PA1}}</ref> A temple complex was built at Dnyaneshwar's samadhi and is visited by pilgrims, especially those of the [[Varkari]] sect. The [[Ekadashi]] of the dark half of each month attracts 60–70 thousand pilgrims to the town.<ref name="JacobsenAktor2014 109-125">{{cite book |author1=Knut A. Jacobsen |author2=Mikael Aktor |author3=Kristina Myrvold |author4=Irina Glushkova |title=Objects of Worship in South Asian Religions: Forms, Practices and Meanings |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oqReBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA109 |date=27 August 2014 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-317-67595-2 |pages=109–125 |chapter=Six}}</ref>

===Pandharpur vari===
[[File:Alandi Palki 08.jpg|thumb|right|Sandals (paduka) of Sant Dnyaneshwar being carried in a palkhi on their way from Alandi to Pandharpur on the annual pilgrimage (Pandharpur vari)]]
Every year, the Paduka (symbolic sandals) of Dnyaneshwar go on a 21-day [[Varkari|Palkhi]] from Alandi to reach [[Pandharpur]] on [[Ashadhi Ekadashi]] (June or July in the [[Gregorian calendar]]).<ref>{{Cite news |date=2014-07-05 |title=The road to Pandharpur |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/magazine/the-road-to-pandharpur/article6180421.ece |access-date=2023-03-30 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> The Palkhi procession is joined by hundreds of thousand of Varkari devotees for the 150 km journey.<ref>{{cite web|title=Maharashtra Tourism|url=http://www.maharashtra-tourism.com/pilgrimage/alandi.htm|access-date=28 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120127043145/http://www.maharashtra-tourism.com/pilgrimage/alandi.htm|archive-date=27 January 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Mokashi1987">{{cite book|first=D. B. |last=Mokashi|title=Palkhi: An Indian Pilgrimage|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-5vIv4oxeh4C&pg=PA1|year=1987|publisher=SUNY Press |isbn=978-1-4384-1341-9|pages=19–22}}</ref><ref name="Lochtefeld2001">{{cite book|author=James G. Lochtefeld |title=The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Volume 1|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5kl0DYIjUPgC&pg=PR6|date=15 December 2001|publisher=The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc|isbn=978-0-8239-3179-8|pages=27, 321}}</ref>

===Kartik Festival===
The biggest festival in Alandi is held every year on ''Kartika Vadya Ekadashi'' (the eleventh day of the dark fortnight of the Hindu month of [[Kartika (month)|Kartik]] in the Shalivana Shaka calendar). The festival falls close to the day Dnyaneshwar entered Samadhi. This festival or ''[[yatra]]'' is attended by pilgrims and has a significant economic impact for the local population.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Deshkar |first1=Somnath |title=Alandi gears up for Kartik Ekadashi fest |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/Alandi-gears-up-for-Kartik-Ekadashi-fest/articleshow/7031766.cms |access-date=15 April 2019 |issue=3 December |work=The Times of India |year=2010}}</ref><ref name="Dalal2010">{{cite book|author=Roshen Dalal|title=Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DH0vmD8ghdMC&pg=PA55|year=2010|publisher=Penguin Books India|isbn=978-0-14-341421-6|page=19}}</ref>

===Indrayani river===
[[File:Aalandi inside view.JPG|thumb|right|Bathing [[ghat]] on the Indrayani river]]
Bathing in the [[Indrayani River]] has special significance for pilgrims to Alandi. However, the river is heavily polluted because of sewage discharge by towns along its course and contains high amount of ''[[Fecal coliform]]''.<ref>{{cite news|title=Palkhis ahead, high pollution levels in Indrayani river raise fears|url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/palkhis-ahead-high-pollution-levels-in-indrayani-river-raise-fears/1134390/|access-date=28 July 2014|work=The Indian Express|issue=27 June 2013}}</ref>

Being a pilgrim center, the stretch of Indrayani River at Alandi, by tradition, has been designated a sanctuary and no fishing takes place. This acts as a sanctuary for river fish such as the Deccan Mahseer.<ref name="DesaiNations2003">{{cite book|author1=V. R. Desai|author2=Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations|title=Synopsis of Biological Data on the Tor Mahseer Tor Tor (Hamilton, 1822)|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_h_55zcxv4qwC|year=2003|publisher=Food & Agriculture Org.|isbn=978-92-5-104933-4|pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_h_55zcxv4qwC/page/n33 27]–}}</ref>

Pilgrims perform [[circumambulation]] around the town during their visit.{{citation needed|date=September 2019}}

===Other places of religious significance===
The places of interest to pilgrims in and around Alandi include:
* The Dnyaneshwar Samadhi Complex that includes the Samadhi, the Shri Sidheshwar temple and the famed Ajanvriksha tree.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Novetzke |first1=Christian Lee |editor1-last=Pemberton |editor1-first=Kelly |editor2-last=Nijhawan |editor2-first=Michael |title=Shared idioms, sacred symbols, and the articulation of identities in South Asia |date=2009 |publisher=Routledge |location=New York |isbn=9781138868328 |chapter=History, Memory, and Other Matters of Life and Death |url=http://faculty.washington.edu/novetzke/History%20Memory%20Matters%20of%20Life%20Death.pdf |page=212-232}}</ref>
* The [[ghat]]s on the banks of the Indrayani river. Many people bring ashes of their relatives to be ceremoniously immersed in the river at the ghat.<ref name="JacobsenAktor2014">{{cite book|author1=Knut A. Jacobsen|author2=Mikael Aktor|author3=Kristina Myrvold|title=Objects of Worship in South Asian Religions: Forms, Practices and Meanings|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oqReBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA109|date=27 August 2014|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-317-67595-2|page=118}}</ref>
* Ram Mandir, near the banks of the Indrayani River, south of the Samadhi mandir, is one of the many large temples in Alandi.
* Laxmi Narayan Mandir – is located South to Samadhi mandir, adjacent to Ram mandir, near the River ghat.
* The [[Vitthal]]-[[Rukmini]] Temple.
* Dnyaneshwari Mandir – a modern multi story temple of the Govind Maharaj organization.
* [[Narsimha Saraswati]] Math – west of Dnyaneshwar Samadhi Complex en route to the Dnyaneshwari Mandir.<ref name="Larios2017">{{cite book|author=Borayin Larios|title=Embodying the Vedas: Traditional Vedic Schools of Contemporary Maharashtra|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tNwtDwAAQBAJ&pg=PR5|date=10 April 2017|publisher=De Gruyter|isbn=978-3-11-051732-3|pages=11, 24, 50, 52, 60–62, 85, 108, 152, 219–20, 223}}</ref>
* Shree [[Gajanan Maharaj]] Temple complex, south of the Dnyaneshwar Samadhi Complex
* Dnyaneshwar's Wall – according to legend when the Sant [[Changdev]] came to visit Dnyaneshwar on a tiger with a snake as a whip, Dnyaneshwar and his siblings went to meet him riding on a wall that moved.<ref name="Acworth1894">{{cite book|author=Harry Arbuthnot Acworth|title=Ballads of Marathas|url=https://archive.org/details/balladsmarathas00acwogoog|year=1894|publisher=Longmans, Green, and Company|page=xxiv}}</ref>
* Sant [[Jalaram]] Temple: This temple was built in the 1960s with the same architectural design as the one in [[Virpur (Rajkot)|Virpur]], [[Gujarat]]. There is also a temple of [[Santoshi Mata]] in the same temple complex.
*The town has a number of Ved Shalas that offer study of the [[Vedas]].<ref name="Larios2017">{{cite book|author=Borayin Larios|title=Embodying the Vedas: Traditional Vedic Schools of Contemporary Maharashtra|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tNwtDwAAQBAJ&pg=PR5|date=10 April 2017|publisher=De Gruyter|isbn=978-3-11-051732-3|pages=11, 24, 50, 52, 60–62, 85, 108, 152, 219–20, 223}}</ref>

===Nearby places of historical and religious significance===
* [[Sambhaji]] Raje Bhosle Memorial: in [[Tulapur]] village, approximately 6 km from Alandi. A memorial to the son of [[Chhatrapati Shivaji]] and the second Chhatrapati of [[Maratha Empire]].
* [[Dehu]]: the birth, work and worship place of Sant [[Tukaram]] and from where the Sant [[Tukaram]] flew to [[Vaikuntha]] on eagle.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://d2i.in/visit/Samadhi-of-Sant-Tukaram_Dehuroad_pune_Pilgrimage/1746 |title=Samadhi of Sant Tukaram |access-date=31 January 2011 |archive-date=21 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721154600/https://d2i.in/visit/Samadhi-of-Sant-Tukaram_Dehuroad_pune_Pilgrimage/1746 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Accommodation===
The town has dozens of [[Dharamshala (type of building)|dharmshalas]] that provide lodgings to pilgrims from their respective communities such as the Padmashali or Maheshwari.<ref name="Orsini2016">{{cite book|author=Francesca Orsini|title=The History of the Book in South Asia|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nBOoDQAAQBAJ&pg=PT80|date=5 December 2016|publisher=Taylor & Francis|isbn=978-1-351-88831-8|pages=80–}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Kumaran|first1=K.P.|title=Migration settlement and ethnic associations|date=1992|publisher=Concept Pub. Co.|location=New Delhi|isbn=9788170223900|page=78|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gt9PQ-mjzRoC&q=alandi&pg=PA5}}</ref> A number of these places also have their own shrines to different deities and Varkari Sants.<ref>{{cite book |title=VILLAGE AND TOWN DIRECTORY Census of India 2011 Part 12A District Handbook Pune |publisher=Government of India |url=http://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/dchb/DCHB_A/27/2725_PART_A_DCHB_PUNE.pdf |access-date=11 April 2019}}</ref>

==Economy==
[[File:Aalandi shops.JPG|thumb|right|Shops in Alandi selling religious items and memorabilia for pilgrims]]

===Pilgrim services===
The economy of Alandi was historically based around its status as a place of pilgrimage. Although the major festivals in the town are held only twice a year, pilgrims from all over Maharashtra visit the place throughout the year. The needs of the pilgrims are catered for by groups of Brahmins who officiate at the samadhi, weddings, or religious services to the bereaved.{{sfn|Glushkova|2014|p=118}} Vendors outside the main temple complex offer goods, such as garlands and [[turmeric]], for worshipping at the samadhi along with religious souvenirs and books. Marathi Hindu castes such as the [[Padmashali]] have built [[Dharamshala (type of building)|Dharmashalas]] (Pilgrim rest houses) that offer accommodation to pilgrims from their castes.<ref name="Kumaran1992">{{cite book|author=K. P. Kumaran|title=Migration Settlement and Ethnic Associations|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gt9PQ-mjzRoC&pg=PA5|year=1992|publisher=Concept Publishing Company|isbn=978-81-7022-390-0|page=78}}</ref> The temple's two main festivals occur in Shaka month of Jyeshtha (late June - early July), when the Dnyaneshwar's palkhi departs for the [[Pandharpur Wari]], and in the second half of the Shaka month of Kartik (November). During these festivals, a significant percentage of local population earns income by offering accommodation, catering and other services to the pilgrims. However, a significant number residents also have negative feelings about these festivals.<ref name="GURAV">{{cite book|author=Dr. Mahdev D Gurav|title=A Geographical Study of Fairs and Festivals in Pune District|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WKQ0DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA1|publisher=Lulu.com|isbn=978-1-387-13602-5|pages=274–275}}</ref> The local Municipal council also collects pilgrim or goods tax for public health provision. A report for Pune metropolitan area in 1991 stated that because of religious nature of the place, industry will not be allowed in Alandi.<ref>Summary of the report of the regional plan for Pune metropolitan region, 1970–1991.[https://dspace.gipe.ac.in/xmlui/bitstream/handle/10973/45380/GIPE-184793.pdf?sequence=3]</ref>

===Wedding venue===
Alandi is a popular wedding. venue. During the Hindu wedding season, around 300-400 marriages take place daily. The weddings attract about 50-75,000 visitors per year. The numerous dharmashala in the town serve as the venues for the wedding ceremony.<ref>Marale, S., Mahajan, D.M., Gavali, R. and Lolage, Y., 2011. Comparative analysis of [[noise pollution]] in pilgrimage place from Maharashtra, India. ''Enrich Environ'', ''11'', pp.103-112.[https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Ravindra-Gavali/publication/216446645_Comparative_Analysis_of_Noise_Pollution_in_Pilgrimage_Places_from_Maharashtra_India/links/076f7be6f0107d7daffaeb22/Comparative-Analysis-of-Noise-Pollution-in-Pilgrimage-Places-from-Maharashtra-India.pdf]</ref>

==Public health and the Environment==
As a major pilgrimage center, Alandi receives millions of visitors per annum. However, the town does not have proper underground drainage system. The open storm water drains carry both the storm water and untreated sewerage to the Indrayani river.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Shinde |first1=Karan |title=Managing the environment in religious tourism destinations: A conceptual model. Religious Tourism and the Environment |date=2020 |publisher=CABI |location=Oxford, UK |isbn=978-1789-2416-00 |page=52 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YggBEAAAQBAJ&dq=indrayani&pg=PA42}}</ref>Studies show that the river is highly polluted at Alandi due to local factors as well as due to activities upstream.<ref>Marale, S., Mahajan, D., Gavali, R. and Kumar, R., 2010. Multi criteria assessment of different temporal water quality changes causing impact on public health. International Journal of Integrative Biology, 9(3), p.123.[https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Ravindra-Gavali/publication/44250682_Multi-criteria_assessment_of_different_temporal_water_quality_changes_causing_impact_on_public_health_and_environmental_degradation/links/0085a83ce6b731909a90ff3d/Multi-criteria-assessment-of-different-temporal-water-quality-changes-causing-impact-on-public-health-and-environmental-degradation.pdf]</ref>

The town also suffers from noise pollution due to the cultural and religious activities. Although the use of loudspeakers is prohibited after 10:00pm in urban areas, temples are exempted. The temple activities start by dawn for various prayers such as Bhajan, and Kirtan and continue until midnight with [[public address system]]. The numerous wedding ceremonies also add to noise pollution. A study performed at different locations in the town revealed noise levels exceeding those set by the Central Pollution Control Board (the Indian federal authority addressing pollution related issues).<ref>Marale, S., Mahajan, D.M., Gavali, R. and Lolage, Y., 2011. Comparative analysis of noise pollution in pilgrimage place from Maharashtra, India. ''Enrich Environ'', ''11'', pp.103-112.[https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Ravindra-Gavali/publication/216446645_Comparative_Analysis_of_Noise_Pollution_in_Pilgrimage_Places_from_Maharashtra_India/links/076f7be6f0107d7daffaeb22/Comparative-Analysis-of-Noise-Pollution-in-Pilgrimage-Places-from-Maharashtra-India.pdf]</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
* {{cite book|last1=Bahirat|first1=B.P.|title=The philosophy of Jñānadeva : as gleaned from the Amṛtānubhava|date=1998|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass|location=Delhi|isbn=978-8120815742|page=15|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_T2NYBeQ4EwC&q=sanjivan+samadhi&pg=PA1}}
* {{citation|last=Glushkova|first=Irina|title=Objects of Worship in South Asian Religions: Forms, Practices and Meanings|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oqReBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA116|year=2014|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-317-67595-2}}
* {{citation|last=Dallmayr|first=Fred|title=In Search of the Good Life: A Pedogogy for Troubled Times|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uQ1JrtMJmbMC&pg=PT74|year=2007|publisher=University Press of Kentucky|isbn=978-0-8131-3858-9}}
*{{cite book|author=Dr. Mahdev D Gurav|title=A Geographical Study of Fairs and Festivals in Pune District|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WKQ0DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA1|publisher=Lulu.com|isbn=978-1-387-13602-5}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Alandi}}
* [http://santeknath.org/karya.html Sant Eknath Maharaj]
* {{cite web|title=Dnyaneshwar Samadhi Trust|url=http://www.maulialandi.com/en/gallery.aspx?lib=mukhawate|access-date=3 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150411023806/http://www.maulialandi.com/en/gallery.aspx?lib=mukhawate|archive-date=11 April 2015|url-status=dead}}

{{Hindu temples in Maharashtra}}
{{Pune district topics}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Cities and towns in Pune district]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Pune district]]

Alandi - Revision history

Ajay Kumar at 00:06, 30 August 2023