Ratanwadi village in Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra is famous for nearby Kalsubai hill and Bhandardara, a small hill loved by trekkers. Four hundred year old Ratangarh fort was used by Shivaji Maharaj. The place is also blessed with the presence of Amruteshwar Mandir constructed in the Hemadpanti style of architecture. This black stone temple in the setting of serene natural beauty can be enjoyed right from the approach road. Historic water pond (pushkarni) in front of the temple is part of this composition. Picture perfect is the only adjective that can be given to this view. When watched from the top, the temple form looks like a sitting cow with folded feet. The scale and proportion of the temple attracts attention.

Nandi Mandap, Sabha Mandap and Garbha Griha of the temple are richly decorated with the carved sculptures of various deities, apsaras, birds and animals. The scene of samudra manthan is a masterpiece. The entire mandir from inside and outside is the mirror of society and its beliefs prevailing then. The shikhar of the temple is that of the bhumij style. The miniature motifs of the main shikharas are placed in series on the outer surface of the shikhara.

The material evidence of the beliefs and values of our ancestors has to be decoded by researchers in the field of architecture, sociology, indology, psychology and maybe many others. National Education Policy demands a multidisciplinary approach towards research. Our temple architecture is the best laboratory for this type of research to be carried out.