The Bhimashankar Temple (6th Jyotirling Amongst 12)
Divine natural surroundings with hills, waterfalls, and forests; A wildlife sanctuary and an ancient temple! Bhimashankar offers an ideal scenario to find spirituality. It is also the perfect place for nature & adventure lovers. Moreover, this is where you can find giant flying squirrel who is also the State animal of Maharashtra.
Nestled in a lush forest, Shiva temple at Bhimashankar is sixth jyotirlinga and one of the most popular places to worship Lord Shiva. It is believed that the original Bhimashankar Temple was built in the 12th century. However, no material remains that date back to that period, since the temple has undergone many changes over a period of time. This temple was renovated by Chimaji Antaji Bhide EC ride in 1733 was followed by some of the repair work at the Patwardhan Dikshit 1766 CE. A well was built in the resort by Raghunath rao Peshwa. The famous Minister of Peshwas, Nana Phadnavis done many renovations, including the construction of the shikhara.
This holy place (Garbhagriha) of the temple built in Nagara shikhara or Indo-Aryan style and has a strong influence from Rajasthan and Gujarat on statues and Temple motifs. The outer wall of the temple is decorated with scenes from the Ramayana, Krishna Leela and Shiv Dashavataras. The inscription on the terrace provides a record of the concession granted and the great Bell of Vasai Fort seized by the Commander of Maratha Chimaji Appa hanging in front of the sabha mandapa.
Bhimashankar is also the perfect place to combine adventure and hiking. Monsoon is a good season to enjoy the stunning natural beauty of the region.
Bhimashankar Temple Timing :
4.30 AM - Kakad Aarti
5.00 AM - Nisrup Darshan
5.30 AM - Regular Puja (Abhishek Start)
12.00 AM - Naivedyam Pooja (No Abhishek Inside)
12.30 PM - (Regular Pooja (Abhishek Start)
3.00 PM - Madhy Aarati (No Darshan For 45 Min.)
4.00 PM To 9.30 PM - Shringar Darshan (No Abhishek Inside)
7.30 PM - Aarti
9.30 PM - Mandir Closed
Nearby Temples :
*Datta Mandir
*Kamalaja Mata
*Mandir Ram Mandir
Distance from Mumbai: 213 km
How to reach:
Air and rail
Bhimashankar is 213 km from Mumbai and 110 km from Pune. Pune is the nearest airport and railway station.
Road
You can take the route from Pune-Rajgurunagar-Smudge-Ghodegaon-Pokhari Ghat Bhimashankar. State transport buses are available at the regular term Shivajinagar bus and the last bus is at 5:00 pm. private transport is more convenient if you want to visit places around Bhimashankar.
Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary
The Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary is the home of giant squirrel and a large number of animals and birds. The Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary in Maharashtra stretches over a large area of 120 square kilometers in the Western Ghats or Sahyadri region Rangas.
Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary is the densely forested area of the Maharashtra (India), which receives heavy monsoon rainfall. The Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary is very popular weekend gateway from the cities of Pune and Mumbai.
Bhimashankar wildlife sanctuary is located at an elevation of 2100 feet to 3800 feet and extends through the Regency of Pune, Raigad and Thane districts in the northwestern part of Maharashtra. There is a place in the reserve forest, which has a temple of Jyotirlinga Shiva. The Valley lies outside the temple is a combination of beautiful shrubs, herbaceous plant life, and magic.
A wide variety of animal species which are found in the Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary in Maharashtra are deer, Leopard, wild boar, sambar deer, hyena and the lutung. Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary has a large number of birds such as the Quaker Babbler, Malabar Grey Hornbill, green Dove, Malabar Whistling Thrush, Black Eagle, a bird of Grey Woods and many more species of birds.
There Are Many Species Of Different Animals :
Findings of ZSI study
Mammals: 66 species
Birds: 236 species
Reptiles: 54 species
Amphibians: 9 species
Fish: 21 species
Molluscs: 19 species
Scorpions: 6 species
Centipede: 9 species
Micro-organisms in water: 15 species
Odonata: 24 species
Praying mantis: 5 species
Butterflies: 65 species
The easiest way to reach the Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary is driving from the city of Mumbai, which usually takes around 7 hours. The best time to visit the wildlife is from October to May. Travelers are advised to carry camping equipment, dry snacks, binoculars, tweeds and insect repellent.
Visit Timing : 6 AM To 6 PM
Visit Duration : 2 To 3 Hours
Entry Fee:
10 Rs - Per Person Two Wheeler Riders
50 Rs - Per Person Four Wheeler Riders
100 Rs - Per Person Heavy Vehicles
