Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga

Overview

Shiva in the Sahyadri Forest

Bhimashankar is located approximately 110 km from Pune in the Sahyadri mountain range of Maharashtra. The temple sits at an elevation of around 1,100 metres, surrounded by the Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary — a protected forest that is the natural habitat of the endangered Indian Giant Squirrel (Shekru), which is also the state animal of Maharashtra.

The Bhima river, one of the major tributaries of the Krishna, originates near the Bhimashankar temple. The name is derived from "Bhima" (the Pandava) and "Shankar" (Shiva). According to the Shiva Purana, Shiva manifested here as a Jyotirlinga after slaying the demon Tripurasura who had been tormenting the gods. The sweat from Shiva's body after the battle formed the Bhima river.

JyotirlingaSahyadri HillsWildlife SanctuaryMaharashtra

History

Temple in the Clouds

The Bhimashankar temple is one of the most architecturally significant of the twelve Jyotirlingas. The main shikhara is built in the Nagara style, while the sabhamandapa (assembly hall) reflects Hemadpanthi architecture — the distinctive black stone construction style popularised in the 13th century CE Yadava period. Carved panels depict scenes from the Puranas with remarkable craftsmanship.

The temple was significantly patronised during the Peshwa era of the Maratha empire (18th century). Nana Fadnavis, a key Peshwa statesman, is credited with constructing the Sabhamandapa of the temple. Several inscriptions found in the temple predate the Maratha period, suggesting earlier Yadava and possibly Rashtrakuta-era origins.

The surrounding Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary, declared a sanctuary in 1985, is one of the six key forests designated under Project Tiger's buffer zone in Maharashtra. The forest around the temple path is draped in monsoon mist and home to leopards, jungle cats and an extraordinary variety of birds, making the pilgrimage a genuinely immersive forest experience.

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