Bhimashankar Temple, Hindu temple and pilgrimage site in Maharashtra, India
Bhimashankar is a Hindu shrine at 926 meters elevation in the Western Ghats mountain range of Maharashtra state. The stone walls and carved pillars rise among thick forests, with a central tower above the inner sanctum.
References to the Bhimashankar shrine and the Bhimarathi River date to the 13th century, though the present structure is later. Nana Phadnavis built the sabhamandap and shikhara in the 18th century, and Shivaji granted the village of Kharosi to the temple. Chimaji Appa donated a Portuguese bell taken at the Battle of Baçaim in 1739.
The name Bhimashankar comes from Shiva taking the form of Bhīmā Shankara on the Sahyadri peak after defeating the asura Tripura, and the sweat from that battle formed the Bhimarathi (Bhima) River. Before entering, pilgrims bathe at Mokshakund Tirtha behind the temple, said to result from the penance of Maha-muni Kaushika. A large Portuguese bell taken at the Battle of Baçaim in February 1739 hangs between two pillars before the Shani shrine.
Access is by road from Pune or Mumbai, with buses running regularly and the journey taking several hours. Visitors should wear modest clothing covering shoulders and knees, as strict dress codes apply.
The source of the Bhima River emerges directly beside the shrine and flows through the adjacent wildlife reserve. Visitors can see the beginning of the watercourse that later extends for hundreds of kilometers.
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