Bhimashankar as the name suggests is a place related to lord Shiva. It is a magnificent place to visit on weekends to unwind your soul from within. Bhimashankar is situated at a height of 2500 feet above sea level in a village Bhorgiri which is 50 kilometres North West of Khed near Pune in the state of Maharashtra. It is said to be built in the 13th century but does not look that old with Nagara style of architecture. It is a scenic natural destination with an ancient decent temple of lord Shiva. The Jyotirlinga lying here is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva. There is a mythological story behind the inception of the place Bhimashankar that says during the battle between Lord Shiva and Rakshas Tripurasura lord Shiva got very angry. He killed the Tripurasura. During the battle there was heat generated from lord Shiva and some of his sweat dropped on the mountain that became the origin of River Bhima. Due to this story this place is called Bhimashankar. This place is one picturesque location full of nature and natural habitats. All the elements of Mother Nature comes together to define the beauty of Bhimashankar.Places to see & admire in Bhimashankar1. Hanuman lake2. Gupt Bhimashankar (origin of Bhima River)3. Sakshi Vinayak4. Bombay Point5. Shrine of Kamalaja6. Bhootling in the hills of Manmaad7. Buddha style carvings of Amba – Ambika8. Nagfani peak (serpent’s hood)9. Wild life sanctuary10. Temple of Bhagadevi11. Nagara style of arcitecture on the structures12. The big bell hanged between two giant pillars (Hemdpanti structure)Who should visit Bhimashankar?
- Devotees of lord Shiva
- Nature lovers
- Trekking lovers
- Forest enthusiast
- Bird watchers
- Wild animal lovers
- Family and friends who want a complete package
Wild life sanctuaryThere is 100 square kilometre reserved area for wild life sanctuary amidst the green dense forest being a natural habitat for many birds and animals. Here you can see Leopards, Barking Deers, Sambar, Porcupines, Wild Pigs, Hanuman Langur (monkeys), Rhesus Macaque, Grey Jungle Fowls, Giant Flying Squirrel, etc. It is a treat for animal lovers so near to the city. The Giant Flying Squirrel is an endangered Indian squirrel sub species also known as Shekru. It is one of the shyest animals and never comes down from the tree where it lives but jumps from one tree to another up to 20 feet. There is a small trail behind the MTDC resort through which one can go to a mountain stream that has a watch post (machan) built by the forest department to experience something extraordinary in the cool breeze with occasional background music of birds’ chirping.TrekkingTrekkers can enjoy the serpent’s peak that is situated at the West of the temple. One can also enjoy the one kilometre patch that goes through the dense forest before trekking. It takes you to a place that will leave you spellbound. The magnificent beauty of nature comes alive here as you can watch the serene sunset from the peak. The clouds pass through you. If weather is not cloudy you can enjoy amazing views of sky interacting with nearby forts and hill stations like Matheran.Best time to visitAfter monsoon the beauty of this place is overwhelming. From august to February is suitable time to make a trip to this fantastic natural paradise. One should avoid hot summer.Distance from Pune to Bhimashankar127 kilometres Distance from Mumbai to BhimashankarApproximately 200 kilometresRoute from Pune to BhimashankarThere are mainly two routes approaching from Pune to Bhimashankar. One is from Pune to Rajguru Nagar to Chas Kaman Dam to Wada to Bhimashankar. Second route is from Pune to Rajguru Nagar to Manchar to Ghodegaon to Bhimashankar.Bus service by state transport is available from Shivaji Nagar Pune to Bhimashankar with a very reasonable fare of rupees 91 per person. These buses take more than five hours to reach Bhimashankar.Expected time to reach BhimashankarIt takes approximately four to four and a half hours to reach there.AccommodationThere are resorts available in nearby areas. One can stay in MTDC resort too. Apart from that there are dharm shalas available to stay in for pilgrims.Bhimashankar is a place worth visiting with family and friends as it has everything to offer from unspoiled natural surroundings, majestic views, dense forest, musical rivers, mountains covered with lush greenery, socking clouds to rare birds and animals.RecommendationIf you want to enjoy the visit to Bhimashankar in its fullest then you must spend at least two days here. Do share your experience.Ruchi Mahajan