Sri Kshetra Jai Bhima Shankar Jyotirlinga @ Bhimashankar (Maharashtra)

Sri Kshetra Jai Bhima Shankar Jyotirlinga:

Sri Kshetra Jai Bhima Shankar temple is one among 12 Jyotirlinga in India. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is believed that the name Bhimashankar has come from the river Bhima which evaporated due to the war between Lord Shiva & demon Tripurasura.

It is located under Khed Taluka (50 km from Bhima Shankar) in ghat region of the Sahyadri mountain. It is also the source of the river Bhima.

This is one of the best tourist destinations as it gives pleasure to all who love spiritual tourism, nature-loving tourism, adventure tourism. It is also a wildlife sanctuary and a nice place for tracking. I should say this is must visit place.

Bhima Shankar Temple Timing:

04:30 AM to 08:00 PM - Every day

Best time to visit: All time. During the summer, it's very hot during the day.

Entry Fees: No for general darshan. You have to pay if you want to perform special rituals like Rudhrabhiskeha, Abhisheka, or some other rituals. Temple authorities have fixed charges for different rituals which are really good and you can pay to the Purohit as per your wish.

Address:

Sri Kshetra Jai Bhima Shankar Jyotirlinga

Bhimashankar, Khed, Pune, Maharashtra - 410509 (INDIA)

Special occasion:

Generally, the temple has moderate visitors but during the below occasion you will find huge visitors in Bhima Shankar.

Mahashivratri
Shravan Masa
Kartika Masa
Tripurari Purnima

Places to visit near Bhima Shankar:

Bhima Shankar Jyotirlinga temple
Bhima Shankar wildlife
Hanuman Lake
Mumbai Point
Solanpada dam
Ahupe waterfall

Parking Places: Huge parking place is available in Bhima Shankar. In a certain place, they charge for parking but in some places it is free. I prefer to pay and park as it gives safety to vehicles.

How to reach Bhima Shankar:

By Air: The nearest airport is in Pune (Maharashtra) which is around 125 km from the temple. You can hire taxis from there or you can take public transport from Aurangabad to reach the temple.

By Rail: The nearest railway station is Lohgaun (Pune). It is well connected with Mumbai and other Indian cities. It is around 125 km from Bhimashankar.

Buses: The nearest main bus stand is Shivajinagar ST Stand (Pune). Multiple buses run between Pune and Bhima Shankar. The bus starts at 5.30 am and continues till 4.30 pm. Every 30 to 45 min, you will find a bus. This is the best option to reach Bhima Shankar.

You can find a bus from Kalyan at 9 am and from Ghatkopar 11 am.

Private Taxis/ Autos: As the nearest major city is Pune, the availability of Private Taxis are good. You can hire them for a whole day trip to Bhimashankar. This is the best option if you are in a group of 4 at least.

Distance from nearby cities

Pune: 125 km
Mumbai: 196 km
Kolhapur: 336 km
Satara: 216 km
Shirdi: 177 km
Nashik: 205 km
Bangalore: 943 km

Accommodation near Bhima Shankar temple:

As it is almost an isolated place, you will not find proper accommodation there. Most travelers don't prefer staying there but if you want to you will get accommodation in the local house itself as a paying guest. I stayed there and felt like being in my own house. Local people are very supportive and they care like their own family members. Few resorts and hotels are under construction and may come very soon.

Food & Restaurant near Bhima Shankar temple:

This temple is situated at the bottom of the hill very few food stalls are available. You might not get verities of food as per your wish but normal north Indian tasty food is available there. The price is very cheap and the people are also very friendly.

Few Photos: