Bhimashankar Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is considered as one of the 12 holy Jyotirlinga shrines in India, and five in Maharashtra. The other Jyotirlinga shrines in Maharashtra are Vaidyanath near Parli, Trimbakeshwara near Nashik, Grishneshwar near Aurangabad and Aundha Nagnath Temple in Hingoli. Bhimashankar is also the source of the river Bhima, which flows southeast and merges with the Krishna River near Raichur.
- Distance (From Pune Railway Station): 111 Kms
- Visited From: Pune Railway Station
- Trip Duration (Including Travel): 4-6 Hours
- Place Location: At Bhimashankar
- Transportation Options: Bus / Cab
- Timings: 4.30 AM – 3 PM and 4 PM – 9.30 PM.
At a distance of 111 km from Pune, 124 km from Lonavala, 210 km from Nashik and 224 km from Mumbai, Bhimashankar Temple is ancient pilgrimage center located near Karjat in the Ghat region of Sahyadri hills in Maharashtra. This is one of the top places of pilgrimage in Maharashtra and also one of the best pilgrimage places to visit in Pune.
Pooja Timings:
| 4.30 AM | Kakada Aarti |
| 5.00 AM | Nijarup Darshan |
| 5.30 AM | Regular Pooja,Abhishek starts |
| 12.00 PM | Naivedya Pooja (No Abhishek inside) |
| 12.30 PM | Regular Pooja,Abhishek starts |
| 3.00 PM | Madhyan Aarti (No Darshan for 45min) |
| 4.00 PM to 9.30 PM |
Shringar darshan (No Abhishek inside) |
| 7.30 PM | Aarti |
| 9.30 PM | Mandir Closed |
(Except Pradosham on Monday or Amavasya or Grahan or Maha Shiv Ratri. Kartihik Month, Shravan Month – No Mukut and no Shringar Darshans).
Festivals:
- Kartik Poornima: It is celebrated with great enthusiasm from Kartik Ekadashi to Poornima. It was on Kartik Poornima that Tripurasur was slain by Shiv.
- Mahashivratri: Celebrated on the Krishna paksh Chaturdashi of the Magh month , it is the biggest festival, when the mountain filled with devotees, tourists and shops transforms into a large fair. The beauty of the temple is beyond any description.
- Ganesh Chaturthi: This ritual of Trimbakeshwar is completed by a devotee in 3 days. The entire ritual is conducted by the local pandits, with the main bath being held in Kushawart Teerth.
- Dipawali: This festival of lights is celebrated with faith and devotion in Bhimashankar temple.
The present temple sanctum and the shikhara are built in the Nagara or Indo-Aryan style and have a strong influence of Rajasthan and Gujarat on the figurines and motifs of the temple. Intricate carvings adorn the pillars and door frames of this temple, raised over a Swayambhu Linga. The temple grounds encompass another smaller shrine dedicated to Lord Shani. There is a shrine known as Kamalaja near the Bhimashankar temple. Gupt Bhimashankar, Sakshi Vinayak, Hanuman Lake, Nagphani and Bombay Point are the other places to visit in Bhimashankar.
Besides being a pilgrimage, Bhimashankar is also a biodiversity hotspot. The jungle surrounding the temple has been declared a wildlife sanctuary. One can spot leopards, barking deer, sambar and hyena. Bhimashankar is also famous among adventure enthusiasts. The mountain in and around Bhimashankar is popular for trekking, hiking and rock climbing.
The best season to visit Bhimashankar is from September to February. Also, it is best for those who like adventures to visit Bhimashankar in monsoon.