The Giant Flying Squirrel’s home is the Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary, a magnificent natural beauty with verdant hills, glittering waterfalls, and dense forests that is a popular weekend escape for residents of Mumbai and Pune. The Bhimashankar reserve, which is only 138 miles from Pune, is a one-stop shop for recreation, exploration, nature, and spirituality. Bhimashankar Wildlife Reserve has something to offer every kind of traveller, including difficult treks for thrill-seekers, temples for pilgrims, diverse flora and fauna for nature lovers and wildlife photographers, a wide variety of unusual birds for bird watchers, picnic areas for families with young children, and stunning natural settings for couples.

We’ve included all the information you need about the park right here to make your holiday to Bhimashankar enjoyable! This Bhimashankar Sanctuary guide has everything you need to know about Bhimashankar, including the best time to go, what to do, how much it will cost, where to stay, how to get there, and more.

About: Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary

Geographically, the Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary, which is entirely made of basaltic rocks, is characterised by deciduous, semi-evergreen, and evergreen types of trees. The Ghod, Bhima, and Ulhas rivers, as well as their tributaries, are the sources of water in this reserve. The region has severe water scarcity in the summer and substantial rainfall during the monsoon season. In northwest Maharashtra, the districts of Thane, Raigad, and Pune make up the reserve area.

The temple that gives the sanctuary its name is the well-known Bhimashankar temple. According to reports, this Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga temple is one of India’s twelve Jyotirlingas (self-emerging Shiva temples), which explains why it is a major destination for Hindu pilgrims from all across the nation.

BirdLife International has designated Bhimashankar Sanctuary as an Important Bird Area (IBA). The reserve is home to a number of restricted-range species, two critically endangered species, numerous vulnerable species, and several near-threatened avian species. The Sanctuary is always working to preserve these bird species’ important habitats.

Best time to visit Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary

Although Bhimashankar Wildlife Reserve is a year-round attraction, the best time to go is in the winter, from October to February, when one may fully experience this region. Here is what Bhimashankar has to offer visitors during each season:

Winters in Bhimashankar forest:

October marks the start of the season, which lasts through February. During this time, the mercury drops and the temperature fluctuates between 13 and 28 degrees Celsius, providing the most comfortable weather to tour the sanctuary and see the majority of the animals and birds in the open.

Monsoons in Bhimashankar forest:

It begins in June and runs until September. The season is characterised by frequent days of heavy rain, which makes the area swampy and challenging to walk or drive on. Because of the same, tourists avoid going during this period. But trekkers prefer to go during this time since the monsoons make the area a bowl of obstacles for them to enjoy!

Summers in Bhimashankar forest:

Pune’s summer season, which is often characterised by a hot and dry environment, lasts from March till May. This season is not ideal for visiting the reserve because the temperature ranges from 23 to 37 degrees Celsius.

How to reach Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary

Since it is well connected to several cities like Pune and Mumbai by a well-maintained National Highway and other road systems, getting to Bhimashankar Wildlife Reserve is comparatively simple. Here is how to get to Bhimashankar Sanctuary via several modes of transportation:

By Air: 

Pune Airport, which is only 102 km away, is the closest airport to Bhimashankar Reserve. In addition, it is 220 kilometres to the airport in Mumbai. Major Indian cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Kolkata, Indore, and Kochi are all easily accessible from both airports. Numerous airlines, including Air India Express, Kingfisher, Indigo, Jet Airways, and Air India, offer passenger service on this route from the airports in Pune and Mumbai. 

By Rail: 

The Pune Railway Station, 106 kilometres away from the reserve, is the closest rail hub to the Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary. In addition, the reserve is 226 kilometres away from Mumbai Central Railway Station. Nearly all of India’s main cities, including New Delhi, Chennai, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Mysore, and Puri, are connected to these two railway stations. The remaining distance to the sanctuary can be travelled by taking a beautiful road trip.

Traveling to Bhimashankar Sanctuary by road is undoubtedly enjoyable because it passes through the country’s diverse geography. From Pune, Mumbai, and other surrounding cities, as well as from smaller towns like Salgaon, Peth, Rajur, Utchil, Junnar, and other places, one can enjoy a beautiful road trip to Bhimashankar. If you don’t want to drive down to Bhimashankar, you can choose one of the several frequent bus services, book a taxi services in Pune that travel to and from the sanctuary for visitors from various cities, both large and small.

Entry Fee for Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary

Except for the charge for the vehicle you are using to conduct your safari excursion inside the sanctuary, there is no entry fee for Bhimashankar Reserve. The charges for entering the forest reserve in various types of vehicles are as follows:

INR 10 per person for two-wheelers

INR 50 per person for four-wheelers

For large vehicles, add INR 100 per person.

For further details contact

Name: Cab Service In Pune – Bharat Taxi

Address: A/105, UmashankarCo-op, Hsg.Soc,Paud Road, Rambaug Colony, opp. Kotak Bank, Pune, Maharashtra 411038 

Phone: 096960 00999

Title – Bhima Shankar Wildlife Sanctuary Pune

Desc – Book taxi for traveling to Bhima Shankar wildlife sanctuary Pune. Travel with the family to these beautiful detonation.