Shetphal, Maharashtra — where cobras are treated like family

In a secluded corner of Solapur district, Maharashtra, about 200 km from Pune, there is a village where snake fear is substituted by belief. Cobras here are not wildlife; they are part of the residents' families. This is Shetphal, an enigmatic village where venomous snakes and humans share the same roof in harmony and silence. Cobras in Shetphal sleep in specially constructed sacred niches called 'Devasthanams' and are taken as family. This extraordinary human-wildlife relationship defies common sense and attracts inquiring eyes from around the globe.

Let us step into the mystique of this place.

A living traditionAstoundingly, there are no fatalities from snakes in Shetphal. Nearly every home at this location has a special place—a hole or niche for guest cobras. They are not domesticated by any means; they are Indian cobras, wild ones at that, that are free to come and go as they may. The villagers, children, and all here do not seem to fear them. They grow up learning how to respect and guard the snakes as Lord Shiva's messengers. People here credit this to mutual understanding and the blessings of the gods.

The roots of this unique and uncommon tradition go back centuries and are embedded in the village's faith in Hindu gods. These snakes are not worshiped as pets but as divine guests. Particularly on Naag Panchami, which is a divine Hindu festival celebrating snakes, the village is a place of colorful celebrations, with tourists from all over India visiting. People kneel in reverence while priests chant hymns in praise of the serpent god, Naag Devta.

Women have a significant role; they keep a fast on this day and draw lovely rangolis of snake motifs, praying with earthen lights, representing fertility and protection for their families. A surprising thing is that, even after decades, no effort has been made to shoo the cobras away; they are considered to be a sign of good luck and protection by the divine.

Read more: Jeep, canoe, elephant — or foot? India’s wildest safari options

Another surprising fact is that they don't condone keeping these snakes captive. The snakes are free, and the celebration is highly spiritual and not theatrical.
A lesson in harmony
Read more: 8 weekend getaways under 300 km from Bengaluru

In a world where man-animal conflict is rising all across India — leopards in cities to elephants near villages — Shetphal teaches one lesson in peaceful coexistence by gentle means. Despite no interference by schemes of modern conservation or wildlife sanctuaries, this village has fostered an environment in which one of the most feared animals of the kingdom is welcomed, not eliminated.

For animal behaviorists, seekers of the divine, and tourists in search of India's unseen marvels, Shetphal is a beacon of light that reflects the power of culture to shape the way we live with nature.