Where is Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga?
Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga is in the Sahyadri (Western Ghats) hills of Pune district, Maharashtra, near the source of the Bhima river and within a wildlife sanctuary. Most pilgrims reach it by road from Pune. A temple in Assam also claims the name, but the Maharashtra shrine is the one most widely recognised.
Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga
- Location
- Bhimashankar, Sahyadri hills, Pune district
Quick facts
- Location
- Sahyadri hills, Pune district, Maharashtra
- River
- Source of the Bhima
- Setting
- Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary
- Best time
- After the monsoon, when the forest is green and roads are safer
On this page
Tradition
Claims and recognition
The Stotram places Bhimashankar in "Dakini". While the Pune district shrine is widely recognised, a temple near Guwahati in Assam also claims to be the Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga.
Visiting
The temple sits in dense forest in the Western Ghats. The monsoon brings heavy rain and slippery roads; the months after the monsoon are pleasant. The surrounding sanctuary is known for the Indian giant squirrel.
See all twelve on our 12 Jyotirlingas of India guide.
Frequently asked questions
How far is Bhimashankar from Pune?
It is a mountain drive of several hours from Pune; distances vary by route.
Sources and further reading
We link to primary and authoritative sources. External links open in a new tab.
- Jyotirlinga (encyclopaedia entry with cited references) (opens in a new tab)
Wikipedia — Reference work, checked September 2026
Written and maintained by the KashiVishwanathTemple.net Editorial Team. Last updated . Found an error? Tell us — see our editorial policy.
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