Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary combines forest wildlife habitat, including the endangered Indian giant squirrel, with one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Shiva, giving the site a dual identity as both a nature reserve and a significant Hindu pilgrimage destination. The temple itself, in a distinctive Nagara architectural style, sits within the forested sanctuary, meaning pilgrims and wildlife enthusiasts often share the same trails and forest paths.
The Bhima river is considered to originate near the temple, adding to the site's religious significance, and the surrounding sanctuary's dense forest offers genuine trekking and wildlife-spotting opportunities for visitors extending their stay beyond the temple pilgrimage itself.
The Bhimashankar Temple's Jyotirlinga status has drawn Shaivite pilgrims for centuries, with the surrounding forest later formally protected as a wildlife sanctuary specifically to preserve habitat for the Indian giant squirrel and other native species.
October to March.
About 110km from Pune, roughly 3 hours by road.
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