Bhimashankar Temple is another holy shrine inhabited in Bhorgiri village, district of Pune in the state of Maharashtra. It is a Jyotirlinga-one of the 12 Jyotirlingas- special shrines in honor of Lord Shiva. It is located on the top of the Sahyadri hills at 934 metres above sea level, which is about 3,500 feet, making it one of three Jyotirlingas found in Maharashtra, along with Trimbakeshwar and Grishneshwar The cool environment and scenic views present at the temple make it a hot tourist attraction in the state. It is found some 110 km. away in Pune that takes about five hours by bus or road.
In literature, the history of the temple goes back to the 13th century, with the main structure having been rebuilt in the 18th century by Nana Phadnavis, who added the sabhamandap (assembly hall) and embroidered shikhara (tower) A Portuguese bell of 1739, given to the temple by Chimaji Appa, hangs by the entrance a striking piece of historical curioso. It is said to be the source of the Bhima River which flows towards south east then merges with the Krishna River.
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The history Bhimashankar temple has complete history as in Sanskrit and Marathi script.
Bhimashankar Temple is a sacred structure in Maharashtra which is very old in age. It is among the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva and hence extraordinarily important to worshippers. The temple lies in the Sahyadri mountains that are covered with dense forests.
The legends have it that it is here that Lord Shiva appeared in the form of Bhimashankar to kill a demon called Tripurasura. Its name is based on the word Bhima (the demon) with another name of Shiva Shankar. People are locals that think that once killing the demon, Shiva has slept in this place, so his sweat became the Bhima River, which begins close to the temple.
The temple is known since the 13 th century according to historical sources. The current structure was constituted in the 18 th century. The temple building and the sabhamandap (assembly hall) were constructed and the temple was painted by Nana Phadnavis, a renowned minister of Maratha Empire. A Portuguese church bell was brought in here in 1739, following the victory of a war which was carried off by Chimaji Appa, and hangs by the side of the temple.
Being a tourist attraction site, Bhimashankar Temple is not religious to the tourists only it is also a historical and natural asset. It is a combination between legends, Maratha architecture, and the beautiful nature worth the sightseeing regardless of the time of the year.
An Overview of Bhimashankar Temple
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Temple Name | Bhimashankar Temple |
| Location | Bhorgiri village, Pune district, Maharashtra, India |
| Deity | Lord Shiva (as Bhimashankar) |
| Special Status | One of the 12 Jyotirlingas |
| Mythological Story | Lord Shiva killed the demon Tripurasura here; origin of the Bhima River |
| First Known Mention | 13th century |
| Rebuilt Year | 18th century by Nana Phadnavis |
| Famous Relic | Portuguese bell from 1739 brought by Chimaji Appa |
| Architecture | Nagara style with sabhamandap and shikhara |
| Altitude | About 934 metres (3,500 feet) above sea level |
Sevas and Darshan Prices (2025)
| Seva / Darshan Type | Approx. Price (₹) |
|---|---|
| Regular Darshan (free, donation optional) | Free |
| Abhisheka (holy bath) | 151 |
| Rudrabhishekam | 351 |
| Panchamruth Snan + Rudrabhishekam | 551 |
| Ekadasa Rudrabhishekam | 1,100 |
| Maha Pooja + Panchamruth Rudrabhishekam + 5 Brahman Meal | 2,100 |
| Laghu Rudra | 3,100 |
| Laghu Rudra + 11 Brahman Meal + Bhagawan Naivedya | 5,100 |
| VIP Darshan Pass (fast entry, stair shortcut) | 500 per person |
| Abhishek (alternate source with similar price) | 110 (around) |
Temple Timings (Daily Program)
| Time / Period | Activity / Darshan Details |
|---|---|
| 4:30 AM – 5:00 AM | Kakada Aarti |
| 5:00 AM – 5:30 AM | Nijarup Darshan / Initial Worship |
| 5:30 AM – 12:00 PM | General Darshan + Abhishek (special days may extend to 2:00 PM) |
| 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM | Naivedya Pooja (Offering, no Abhishek during this time) |
| 12:30 PM – 3:00 PM | General Darshan + Abhishek resumes |
| 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM | Madhyan Aarti (Darshan paused for ~45 minutes) |
| 4:00 PM – 9:30 PM | Shringar Darshan (evening darshan, no Abhishek) |
| 7:30 PM | Night Aarti |
| 9:30 PM | Temple closes |
How To Reach To The Temple
By Road
Bhimashankar Temple is located in Pavana near Lonavla, is well connected to neighboring cities by road. It is about 110 Km from Pune and 210 Km from Mumbai. You can hire a cab, drive the own vehicle, or travel in state transport (MSRTC) bus. From Pune, it takes roughly 4 to 5 hours of travel time and for a traveler from Mumbai, it would take almost 6 to 7 hours. In the last stretch of roads are hilly so driving carefully.
By Train
Close to two major railway platforms are Pune Junction (around 111 km) and Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) (around 210 km). From these stations you can go by bus or taxi to the temple. Otherwise, predominant option is Smaller Karjat station also but road travel from there is costlier.
By Air
Its nearest airport is the Pune International Airport, 105 km from temple. From the airport from where one could take taxis and local buses for Bhimashankar. Mumbai Airport is also an alternative if you are flying in a far away city but travel time would be lengthy in that case.
Local Transport
You can hire Jeeps or take shared taxi from the base village from where the temple is located.
Nearby Attraction at the temple
- Bhimashankar wildlife sanctuary
Around this temple there is this sanctuary which is a habitat to a number of plants and animals which includes the Indian Giant squirrel which is rare. People who like nature can trek and watch birds. - Hanuman Lake
A calm lake close to the temple, where it is really nice to rest, to admire the nature. Natives are convinced that the water at this place is sacred. - Gupt Bhimashankar
In the forest there is a secret shrine supposed to represent another form of Lord Shiva. It is relatively a short walk away to the main temple and it provides a restful spiritual space. - Bombay Point
A perspective at which you may observe beautiful valleys and hills. It is extremely panoramic on clear days. - Nagphani Point (DukeNose)
Another trekking destination in the form of a snake hood. It provides a spectacular panoramic of the Sahyadri mountains and adventure enthusiasts are its tourist attractions. - Ahupe Ghat
An elevated mountain road that has vegetation and falls during the monsoons. It makes a good photograph and nature walk.
