A Sahyadri hill shrine near Pune that shares its forested slopes with a wildlife sanctuary, and gives its name to the Bhima river.
Bhimashankar sits in the Sahyadri (Western Ghats) range, roughly 110 kilometres from Pune in Maharashtra, in dense forest that is also protected as the Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary. The temple is traditionally held to be the source of the Bhima river, which flows from here across the Deccan plateau.
The temple's core structure dates back several centuries, with later additions including a large bell said to have been brought by Chimaji Appa, a Maratha commander, after a campaign against the Portuguese in the eighteenth century. The setting is as much a part of the pilgrimage as the temple itself - the surrounding hills are a trekking destination in their own right, and the sanctuary is known for the Malabar giant squirrel.
Pune is the nearest major city with rail and air connections, followed by a road journey of two to three hours up into the ghats. The final approach involves a steep, winding climb, so travel time should not be underestimated.
October to February for clear hill weather. The monsoon (June-September) turns the sanctuary lush and green but brings heavy rain and slippery roads on the ghat sections.
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