Best Road Trip from Pune to Bhimashankar Temple and Reserve Park
When one tries to find out some of the road trips that can be taken from Pune for recreation, Bhimashankar is often one of the top names on the list. Driving from Pune to Bhimashankar Temple and Reserve Park, you can reach just under four hours and still be left with plenty of time and energy to enjoy there. Many tourists also prefer to come back the same day due to the short distance from the city, Bhimashankar Temple to Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary distance from Pune being just 75 km. Some of the great things about this short trip are explored below:
Famous Things in Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary
There is not one famous thing in Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary but quite many of them. Let’s see a few of them:
- The Indian Giant Squirrels, and the State Animal of Maharashtra, are found here. The authorities of the sanctuary take all the required measures to ensure the survival of this species of squirrels.
- The famous Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga Temple and a significant Hindu pilgrimage site, is located here. The sanctuary is named after this temple. It is one of the twelve jyotirlingas in the country, and regularly frequented by pilgrims and tourists.
- The Bird Life International has marked this sanctuary as an Important Bird Area (IBA). The sanctuary works constantly to protect some of the vulnerable, threatened and critical species of birds.
Best Time to Visit in Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary
The best time of the year to visit this sanctuary is during the winter season, between October and February. The weather is very pleasant during that time as the temperature remains somewhere around 13 to 28 degrees C. It is better to avoid visiting this place during the other seasons as in the monsoons the place experiences heavy rainfall; and during the summer, the temperature rises up to 37 degrees C.
However, you must note the Bhimashankar temple timings in order not to miss anything important. The temple opens at 4.30 am and closes at 3 pm. In the second shift it opens at 4 pm and closes at 9.30 pm. The timings of various darshanas vary.
Best Places to Visit near Bhimashankar
- Lohagad Fort
- Tikona Fort
- Rajmachi Fort
- Malshej Falls
- Tiger’s Leap
- Panorama Point
- Phansad Wildlife Sanctuary
- Lenyadri Girijatmaja Temple
- Karla Caves
- Zenith Falls
Once you have visited the wildlife sanctuary and the temple, you can also plan for the places to visit near Bhimashankar, which include:
1. Lohagad Fort
Lohagad fort is one of the most important forts in the state of Maharashtra. The fort is situated very close to Lonavala, and tourists visiting to Bhimshankar can easily take a trip to this place as well. The fort is perched at an elevation of 3,389 feet above the sea level.
Distance from Bhimshankar: 105 km
2. Tikona Fort
Situated near Pawna Dam, the beautiful Tikona Fort is filled with greenery. This is an absolute destination for the trekkers, especially the ones who prefer the challenging trails.
Distance from Bhimshankar: 109 km
3. Rajmachi Fort
Located in the hills of Sahyadri Mountains, Rajmachi Fort is also quite a popular name among the trekking lovers. If you are looking forward to a trekking experience here, you can either start from the side of Kondhane caves which will take three to four hours to reach the fort. The other option is that of Lonavala side, in which you have to drive till Udhewadi village and start your trek for 20-30 minutes to make it to the fort.
Distance from Bhimshankar: 282 km
4. Malshej Falls
Malshej Falls is one of the attractions near Bhimshankar temple that you must not skip on visiting. The pristine waterfall cascading through the forest is a splendid view to have.
Distance from Bhimshankar: 97 km
5. Tiger’s Leap
Tiger’s Leap or Tiger’s Point or Waghdari is a cliff-top from where you can have view of many hills. The cliff-top resembles a leaping tiger, thus is called Tiger’s Leap. You can have the best experience of nature here.
Distance from Bhimshankar: 109 km
6. Panorama Point
Located in Matheran, Panorama Point is a great place to witness the glorious sunrise. You can have view of various other attractions from here, which include Monkey Point, Heart Point, and even the villages nearby.
Distance from Bhimshankar: 29 km
7. Phansad Wildlife Sanctuary
Located in Raigad district, Phansad Wildlife Sanctuary is a wonderful place to spend your day. The sanctuary is rich in flora and fauna, and has evergreen to semi-evergreen forest. From Leopard to Hyena, from Muntjac to Bombay Earth Snake, you can spot many animals and variety of reptiles, especially snakes, here.
Distance from Bhimshankar: 227 km
8. Lenyadri Girijatmaja Temple
Lenyadri Girijatmaja Temple has even been mentioned in Mahabharata. It is one of the Ashtavinayak temples in the state. It is one of the unique temples which is inside a cave.
Distance from Bhimshankar: 76 km
9. Karla Caves
The rock-cut group of Karla Caves is located in Karli. It is a Buddhist shrine which was developed in between the 2nd century BCE and the 5th century CE. These caves are some of the oldest Buddhist sites in the state.
Distance from Bhimshankar: 101 km
10. Zenith Falls
Standing at a height of 100-120 feet, watching Zenith Falls during the monsoon season can be an absolute bliss. There are stalls near the fall which offer tea and snacks.
Distance from Bhimshankar: 129 km
Bhimashankar is a perfect example of a family vacation place where you have the wildlife sanctuary and on the other side you have the Lord Shiva temple. With such a great combination and surrounded by natural beauty, this trip is very popular amongst families looking for a weekend trip around Pune. And the easy availability of car rentals in Pune from Revv will only make the planning so much easier.
