Visiting the Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga and Forest Around the Temple
Bhimashankar is one of the twelve jyotirlingas in India. It’s obviously one of the most important religious places not just in Maharashtra, but anywhere in the country. However Bhimashankar is more than just a religious place. It is located within a dense forest in the Sahyadri hills. There is the beautiful Bhima River that flows through the valley. The name Bhimashankar actually comes from the name of the river. City dwellers often like to take a refuge for a few days in this green coverage because they want to take a break from the brick-and-mortar urban jungle. The Bhimashankar temple and the surrounding forest is a favorite for bird lovers, photographers and religious people. A lot of people visit this place from outside the state of Maharashtra as well.
The forest here has even been declared to be a “wildlife sanctuary” because of its flora and fauna diversity. It has been named the “Sahyadri Wildlife Sanctuary”. The locals too have been protecting this diversity for generations. Nature lovers love trekking through the forest. It is home to many birds.
Legend and History of the Bhimashankar Temple
According to legend, even the Pandavas came here and stayed in the forest for a while. And of course, thousands of pilgrims come to Bhimashankar to offer their prayers. People from Mumbai, Pune and other parts of Maharashtra often come to Bhimashankar because the southernmost jyotirlinga at Rameshwaram and the northernmost one at Kedarnath are too far away for them.
The main attraction is of course the temple. It is an important religious destination certainly, but it’s an interesting one from the point of view of architecture too. Historians tell us that the temple was constructed sometime in the 18thcentury by Nana Fadnis. Architecture of the Bhimashankar temple depicts Nagra style and Indo Aryan designs.
Visiting Bhimashankar and Essentials
You can visit Bhimashankar easily from Pune. The trip can be done in just a single day. However you might want to spend a night here as well if you want. Some tourists and pilgrims want to do that. The closest station is at Karjat for those who are taking the train. Though the trek through the forest can be challenging for some people, but it won’t take you more than a couple of hours max. There is a viewpoint trail, which is shorter. It will take you about an hour to reach the temple through this route.
