Bhimashankar Travel Guide - http://www.ixigo.com/travel-guide/bhimashankar page 1

This Pdf and its contents are copyright © from . A night’s stay offers the discovered in an hour’s time. The 2013,ixigo.com, all rights reserved. ixigo logo, the character and all other marks displayed herein are opportunity to spend more time in this fairly challenging forest trek takes registered and/or common law trademarks of Bhimashankar ixigo.com and/or third parties. tranquil kshetra. The delights of the temple more than a couple of hours. The and adjoining shrines can be discovered in Emerald fields and grey mists viewpoint trail takes about an hour. an hour’s time. The fairly challenging forest enfold the route on the 3-hour long trek takes more than a couple of hours. The journey from Pune to The last 25 km of the drive to viewpoint trail takes about an hour. The last Bhimashankar. The road forks at Bhimashankar is a narrow hill track 25 km of the drive to Bhimashankar is a as fertile fields of corn riven with vicious potholes. Keep narrow hill track riven with vicious potholes. and onion, potato and groundnuts, motion sickness medicines handy. Keep motion sickness medicines handy. It’s sunflower and banana yield to the It’s a 5-min walk from the parking a 5-min walk from the parking lot to the foothills of the northern Sahyadris. lot to the temple at this tiny temple at this tiny pilgrimage spot. Light woollens and a jacket to ward off rain and The place is the source of River pilgrimage spot. Light woollens and wind are indispensable at any time of the Bhima and is named after the a jacket to ward off rain and wind year in this elevated, mist-shrouded area. same. The biggest draw here is the are indispensable at any time of Fog rolls down early in the evening and sacred . This the year in this elevated, mist- makes driving in the hills dangerous; so is one of the 12 temples of 's shrouded area. Fog rolls down don’t wait for sunset to begin your Jyothirlinga fame. Nature Famous For : Places To VisitHistory & early in the evening and makes CultureCit departure. enthusiasts would do well to driving in the hills dangerous; so don’t wait for sunset to begin your departure. explore the serene hidden depths When To

of the Bhimshankar Wildlife Supposedly home to one of 12 Bhimshankar is a carpet of greenery and Sanctuary, where the local legend has it that the dense jungles here highly sacred in , VISIT biodiversity has been diligently served as a refuge for the Pandavas. The Bhimashankar, with its dense protected for generations. place is the source of River Bhima and is http://www.ixigo.com/weather-in-bhimashankar-lp-1050367 emerald jungles in the Western named after the same. The biggest draw and religious fables, often Bhimashankar is easily visited as a here is the sacred Bhimashankar Temple. Jan proves its mettle as a fine escapade day-trip from Pune. A night’s stay This is one of the 12 temples of Shiva's Cold weather. Carry Heavy woollen. for city dwellers. Jyothirlinga fame. Nature enthusiasts would Max: Min: 11.0°C Rain: 4.0mm 29.79999923 do well to explore the serene hidden depths 7060547°C offers the opportunity to spend of the Bhimshankar Wildlife Sanctuary, Feb more time in this tranquil kshetra. where the local biodiversity has been Pleasant weather. Carry Light woollen. The delights of the temple and diligently protected for generations. adjoining shrines can be Bhimashankar is easily visited as a day-trip Bhimashankar Travel Guide - http://www.ixigo.com/travel-guide/bhimashankar page 2

Max: Min: Rain: Pleasant weather. Carry Light woollen, there lies the famous Shiva Mandir which is 32.09999847 12.19999980 1.70000004768371 umbrella. Village Bhavagiri, Neral, Dhimbe 4121094°C 9265137°C 58mm the source of the river Bhima. It is a place Max: Min: 18.5°C Rain: Colony, Taluka khed, Bhimashankar, 31.39999961 78.6999969482421 with a lot of religious importance to the Mar 8530273°C 9mm Pune, 410509, India Pleasant weather. Carry Light woollen. locals and is also visited by tourists in a large The lushly ornamented Max: Min: Rain: Nov number. 35.59999847 15.80000019 3.29999995231628 Pleasant weather. Carry Light woollen. shikhara and the soaring gold 4121094°C 0734863°C 4mm Max: 30.5°C Min: Rain: 18.0mm 2 Bhimashankar Wildlife kalash of this temple are exquisite. Inside, 14.80000019 Apr 0734863°C Sanctuary the Pleasant weather. Carry Light woollen. swayambhu is housed in an Dec Max: Min: Rain: underground chamber that glows in the 37.70000076 19.60000038 18.1000003814697 Cold weather. Carry Heavy woollen. 293945°C 1469727°C 27mm lamplight. Devotees circumambulate the Max: Min: Rain: 29.10000038 11.30000019 7.09999990463256 lingam, adding to the heap of sacred leaves May 1469727°C 0734863°C 8mm Pleasant weather. Carry Light woollen. and marigolds that cover it. The Max: Min: Rain: yoni is clad in etched silver. Just outside the 36.70000076 22.70000076 25.1000003814697 sabha mandap is a small stone temple 293945°C 2939453°C 27mm What To dedicated to Shani Maharaj. Jun Pleasant weather. Carry Light woollen, umbrella. SEE The Bhimashankar Temple is surrounded on Ganpati Walkway, Max: Min: 23.0°C Rain: 5 Sights three sides by small shrines — a Ram 31.29999923 184.899993896484 Bhimashankar, Maharashtra 410201, Mandir, Dutt Mandir, Vitthal Mandir and 7060547°C 38mm http://www.ixigo.com/places-to-visit-see-in-bhimashankar-lp- 1050367 India Mataji ka Mandir. Unfortunately, chipped Jul Apart from the Bhimashankar temple one ceramic tiles cover the floors and walls of Pleasant weather. Carry Light woollen, 1 Bhimashankar Shiva Mandir these shrines. The idols are garishly painted. umbrella. can visit the Bhimashankar Wildlife Max: Min: Rain: Sanctuary which is home to a variety of A concrete roof covers the Vitthal Temple 28.10000038 22.39999961 207.100006103515 and litter mars the Mataji Temple. For a 1469727°C 8530273°C 62mm endangered species of flora and fauna. The dominant species of flora are Mango, Hirda, fabulous view of the Aug Behda, various medicinal herbs, bamboo kalash and Pleasant weather. Carry Light woollen, shikhara of the main temple, climb to the umbrella. and fern. The Giant Indian Squirrel is one of Max: Min: Rain: the major attractions of the sanctuary. The Dutt Mandir. 27.39999961 21.60000038 143.699996948242 other species found in the dense forests are 8530273°C 1469727°C 2mm Panther, Sambar, Mouse Deer, Hyena and 4 Holy Sep the Wild boar. Pleasant weather. Carry Light woollen, umbrella. Dimbhe Colony,Khed, Pune, Max: Min: Rain: 126.0mm 3 Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga 29.29999923 20.79999923 Maharashtra 410509, India Temple 7060547°C 7060547°C In the ghat regions of the Sahyadri range, Oct Bhimashankar Travel Guide - http://www.ixigo.com/travel-guide/bhimashankar page 3

Bhimashankar Temple, Bhimashankar, Maharasthra, India

5 Guptbheem

Bhimashankar, Maharashtra, India

A well-marked trail begins right near the temple and leads through dense forests to Guptbheem (3 km south-west), where the River Bhima originates. Here, the river swirls with terrifying force over a linga that has been placed on a stone ledge.  This is ‘Guptbheem’ — the hidden Bhima. One can rest on rocks under a canopy of leaves, listen to the thundering water and smell forest mulch.  Bhimashankar Travel Guide - http://www.ixigo.com/travel-guide/bhimashankar page 4

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See A: Bhimashankar Shiva Mandir B: Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary C: Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga Temple D: Holy Jyotirlinga E: Guptbheem Accommodation F: Natraj Holiday Resort G: Neelam Hills Resort H: Hotel Center Point I: Natraj Holiday Resort J: Neelam Hills Resort K: Hotel Center Point L: Natraj Holiday Resort M: Neelam Hills Resort N: Hotel Center Point