Bhimashankar Temple sits at about 3,500 feet in the Sahyadri range of Maharashtra, in Bhorgiri village of Khed taluka, Pune district, roughly 110 km north-west of Pune. It is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas and one of the three in Maharashtra (alongside Trimbakeshwar near Nashik and Grishneshwar near Aurangabad). The temple is set inside the Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary and at the headwaters of the Bhima river. Doors open from around 4:30 AM for the morning Kakad aarti and stay open till about 9:30 PM, with a short closure in the afternoon. This article covers daily timings, the aarti schedule, the temple’s Hemadpanthi architecture, and reaching Bhimashankar from Pune and Mumbai.
Daily timings
- Temple opens: 4:30 AM (Kakad aarti)
- Morning darshan: 5:00 AM to 3:00 PM
- Afternoon break / Naivedya: 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM
- Evening darshan: 4:00 PM to 9:30 PM
- Shej aarti and closing: around 9:30 PM
The temple is busiest on Mondays (a Shiva day) and through the month of Shravan (July-August). On Mondays in Shravan, queues from the Nandadwar can be 3 to 5 hours; on regular weekdays outside Shravan a darshan is usually under an hour. Maha Shivaratri (February-March) is the single biggest day.
Aarti schedule
- Kakad aarti: 4:30 AM
- Madhyaan / Naivedya aarti: 12:00 noon
- Sandhya aarti: 7:30 PM
- Shej aarti (closing): 9:30 PM
The Kakad aarti before dawn is held in low light and at the smallest crowd of the day. The Sandhya aarti in the evening is the most attended on weekdays and is the most evocative for first-time visitors.
The Bhima river and the Tripura legend
The Bhima river rises in Bhimashankar village. In the traditional account from the Shiva Purana, Lord Shiva battled the demon Tripura on the Sahyadri peaks; the perspiration from the battle gathered into a stream which became the Bhima. The stream is visible in a small kund near the temple and flows south-east to join the Krishna near Raichur. The location of the Jyotirlinga in the Dwadasa Jyotirlinga stotra (“Dakini-yam Bhimashankaram”) is sometimes contested between this site, Kashipur (Uttarakhand) and Bhimpur (Assam); the Maharashtra Government and the bulk of traditional commentary recognise the Bhorgiri shrine as the canonical site.
Architecture
The temple is in the Nagara style with significant Hemadpanthi influence: dressed-stone masonry, low-set sabhamandap, and figured pillars. The principal shrine dates to the 13th century in its surviving form; the sabhamandap and shikhara were repaired in the 18th century by Nana Phadnavis of the Peshwa court. The bell at the entrance is a Maratha-period addition; it was reportedly captured by Chimaji Appa from Vasai (Bassein) during the 1739 campaign against the Portuguese and offered to the temple. A second similar bell hangs at the Khandoba temple at Jejuri, also offered by Chimaji Appa.
The wildlife sanctuary
The temple sits within the Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary, a 130 sq km protected forest declared in 1985, known for the Indian giant squirrel (Shekru), the state animal of Maharashtra. The forest is dense evergreen Western Ghats type with leopards, sambar deer, and over 200 bird species. The Maharashtra Forest Department runs a small interpretation centre near the temple parking. Trails for trekkers (the Shidi Ghat and Ganesh Ghat routes from Khandas village) ascend through the sanctuary; both are popular monsoon treks.
A practical opinion on the visit window
For what it’s worth, the post-monsoon window from October to February is the best time to visit Bhimashankar for combined darshan and wildlife. The forest is green from the recent rains, the giant squirrel sightings are routine in the early morning, and the temperature is comfortable in the afternoon. The monsoon itself (June to September) is dramatic but slippery; landslides on the ghat road close the access intermittently. Summer (April-May) is hot and the wildlife retreats; pure pilgrim traffic only.
Reaching Bhimashankar
- From Pune: about 110 km north-west via Manchar and Ghodegaon; 3 to 4 hours by road. MSRTC and private buses run from Pune Shivajinagar.
- From Mumbai: about 220 km east via Karjat and Khopoli; 5 to 6 hours by road.
- By rail: Pune Junction is the nearest mainline railhead; from there, bus or taxi.
- By air: Pune Airport is the nearest, about 125 km away. Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Airport is about 235 km.
- Trekker route: Khandas village (Karjat side) to Bhimashankar via Shidi Ghat or Ganesh Ghat, 3 to 5 hours uphill.
Common questions
Is general darshan free?
Yes, general darshan is free. Special abhishekam, laghu rudra, and maha rudra sevas have published fees at the temple counter. There is no authorised online VIP-darshan portal for Bhimashankar at the time of writing; bookings for special sevas are done at the counter on the day, with limited slots.
Where to stay?
Several lodges and dharamshalas operate in Bhimashankar village within walking distance of the temple; the MTDC resort and a few private hotels are also available. For a longer stay with sanctuary access, Manchar (60 km away) has better hotel options. On Maha Shivaratri and through Shravan Mondays the village is fully booked weeks in advance.
Can you trek up rather than drive?
Yes, the Khandas-Shidi Ghat trek is a known route from the Mumbai side. It involves vertical iron ladders (the Shidi or “ladder” section) and is rated moderate-to-difficult; do it with a guide if you have not trekked in the Sahyadris before. The Ganesh Ghat route is gentler but longer. Both end at the Bhimashankar village near the temple. Monsoon treks are slippery; the post-monsoon weeks (September-October) are the most rewarding.
What festivals draw the largest crowds?
Maha Shivaratri (February-March) is the largest single day, with all-night darshan. Every Monday in Shravan (July-August) sees major kanwariya-style processions with Bhima river water for abhishek. Kartik Purnima (November) is celebrated with deepotsav at the temple precincts. Tripuri Poornima, also in Kartik, is observed because of the local Tripura legend.
One limitation worth noting
Aarti times and the afternoon closure shift slightly during festivals and through Shravan; the schedule above is the consistently published one for non-festival days. The ghat road from Manchar is monsoon-affected and may be temporarily closed for landslide clearance; check the local condition with the Forest Department or MTDC before driving in July or August.
For background see Bhimashankar Temple on Wikipedia and the temple trust site at shreebhimashankar.com.
