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. Book taxi service in Pune for a wonderful ride.
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.
What is renowned about Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary?
There is no limit to what can be discovered in Pune’s sizable forest reserve. But let’s start with the most important query. What is the source of Bhimashankar Reserve’s fame? What importance does it have in terms of ecology? Role it play in protecting biodiversity?
A subspecies of the Indian Giant Squirrel (also known as the Malabar Giant Squirrel), the state animal of Maharashtra, can be found in the Bhimashankar Sanctuary (Scientific name: Ratufa Indica Elphinstone). It is one of the three endangered species of Indo-Malayan squirrels, and the management of the sanctuary take significant measures to preserve its preservation and survival.
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. The remaining distance can be travelled by vehicle.
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.
By Road:
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 that travel to and from the sanctuary for visitors from various cities, both large and small.
Pune to Bhimashankar cab service
Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary Timings
The woodland reserve is accessible to both visitors and locals at all hours of the day. However, it is prohibited to enter the Bhimashankar forest after dark, say 7 PM, unless you are in a covered vehicle with a licenced guide.
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.
Ideal duration of a trip to Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary
The best time to visit the Bhimashankar Forest Reserve is for a two-day tour that lasts one night. While two to three hours is more than enough to explore the sanctuary and partake in all the main activities—such as a safari, a visit to a temple, a lake visit, and more—thrill-seekers who come here for trekking and hiking spend much more time to take advantage of everything this place has to offer and satisfy their wanderlust.
Wildlife Reserve Bhimashankar’s Flora and Fauna
Numerous rare or endangered species of flora and wildlife can be found in the Bhimashankar Reserve. Though Malabar Giant Squirrels are the most well-known inhabitants of the Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary, a wide variety of other animals and birds can also be seen there. Every year, a large number of wildlife photographers and bird watchers visit the forest to shoot or observe the variety of animals, birds, insects, and plant species that it is home to.
Flora:
Southern tropical semi-evergreen forests, followed by deciduous and evergreen forest types, make up the bulk of the reserve’s natural vegetation. In this area, there are many different kinds of trees, plants, herbs, and bushes. Mango, Hirda, Bamboo, Jamun, Behda, and other trees and plants that predominate the local plant species are readily seen. If one ventures into the park during the monsoon, they could also be able to identify different moss and epiphyte species, as well as trees that, if they’re lucky, carry bioluminescent mushrooms!
Fauna:
Numerous different animal species may be seen in the reserve area, including leopards, sambar deer, striped hyenas, golden jackals, common langurs, wild boar, mouse deer, indian pangolins, macaques, and of course, Malabar giant squirrels. Numerous specialised and endemic species of amphibians, reptiles, butterflies, and insect species can be found at the Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary.
Avifauna (Birds):
Numerous bird species, including the Black Eagle, Malabar Whistling Thrush, Grey Junglefowl, Green Pigeon, and Quaker Babbler, among others, may be found at the Bhimashankar reserve. In addition to these, the reserve is home to numerous endangered bird species. It is a result of BirdLife International’s recent designation of it as an Important Bird Area (IBA). Greater Spotted Eagle, Lesser Kestrel, Jerdon’s Baza, Nilgiri Wood Pigeon, Malabar Parakeet. Some other are Malabar Grey Hornbill, Small Sunbird, Southern Tree Pie), critical species (Long-billed Vultures, White-backed Vultures), vulnerable species (Austen’s Babbler, Lesser Kestrel, Nilgiri Wood Pigeon), near threatened species (Pallid Harrier, Mala
Tips for Bhimashankar Wildlife Reserve
In order to enjoy Bhimashankar Forest to the utmost while also insuring their safety. One needs to take a number of precautions both before entering the park and while travelling through it. Below is a list of some of the most significant ones.
Prior to travelling to Bhimashankar, do thorough study on the weather. Avoid if it’s raining (if you don’t like hiking)
There are no smoking or drinking restrictions inside the Bhimashankar Reserve.
When embarking on a safari in the Bhimashankar Reserve, one must bring essentials. Like bug spray, a simple first aid kit, water, and dry food.
The park is devoid of qualified guides, safari jeeps, and safari routes. It is necessary to go on a self-guided safari. Therefore, plan properly and always take the necessary precautions to ensure your safety.
Avoid wading into rivers and marshes, among other water sources.
For further details contact
Name: – Bharat Taxi
Address: A/105, UmashankarCo-op, Hsg.Soc,Paud Road, Rambaug Colony, opp. Kotak Bank, Pune, Maharashtra 411038
Phone: 096960 00999
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