Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga

History & Manyata

Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga lies 110 km from Pune within the 130 sq km Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary at 3,250 ft in the Sahyadri ghats, near the source of the Bhima river. Per the Shiva Purana, Lord Shiva assumed the terrible Bhima form here at the request of the devas to slay the demon Tripurasura — son of Kumbhakarna — after a battle so fierce that the perspiration from Shiva's body flowed down as the Bhima river. The Nagara-style temple was built in the 13th century by the Shilahara king Jhanj and substantially renovated by Nana Phadnavis in the 18th century; the shikhara was added by Chimaji Antaji Naik Bhide. The Hemadpanthi architectural style uses locally quarried black stone fitted without mortar. A bronze bell hung in the courtyard, brought from Vasai fort by the Maratha general Chimaji Appa after his 1739 victory over the Portuguese, bears Christian symbols making it a curious historical artifact. The surrounding sanctuary is the last refuge of the Indian Giant Squirrel (Shekru) — Maharashtra's state animal — and rare bird species. Pilgrims often climb to the Gupt Bhimashankar shrine 1.5 km away, said to be the original lingam Shiva touched before the public manifestation.

Aarti Timings

• Kakad Aarti05:00 AM
• Madhyanha Puja11:30 AM
• Sandhya Aarti08:30 PM

Festivals not to miss

Suggested Itinerary

1. 1Trek to temple
2. 2Darshan
3. 3Sanctuary walk
4. 4Drive back via Manchar

Local Attractions

• Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary
• Hanuman Lake
• Gupt Bhimashankar