Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary, Pune


Landscape of Bhimashankar wildlife sanctuary Waterfall in monsoon in sanctuary area

Location:
Bhimashankar sanctuary is located in  Ambegaon tehsil,Pune. The area of the sanctuary is 130.78 Sq.Kms.

Biodiversity:
Bhimashankar is a home to a relic of near virgin forest in the Northern part of the Western Ghats. It is of added significant as two measure tributaries of river Krishna namely river Bhima and Ghod originate from this areas. Bhimashankar forest harbours many threatened and endangered faunal elements like Giant Squirrel, panther etc.

Flora:

Southern tropical semi evergreen forest is the main forest type of the sanctuary and dominent species are Mongifera indica (Mango), Syzygium cumini (Jamun), Terminalia chebula (Hirda), Terminalia bellirica (Behda), Bambusa arundinacea (Bamboo), Carvia callosa (Shrub), Cassia tora (Herbs), Acacia sinuata (Climber), Eleusina carcara (Grass), Athyrium falcatus (Fern).

Fauna:

The area is rich in fauna since there is variety of forest types in the santuary. The main wild speies are Giant Indian squirrel (Ratufa indica elphinstoni), Panther (Panthera paradus), Sambar (Cervus unicolor), Mouse Deer Tragulus memina, Hyaena (Hyaena hyaena), Wild boar (Sus scrofa).

Other attractions:

Temple of Lord Shiva, Bombay point, Nagphani point, Hanuman tank, Vanaspati point, Gupt Bhimashankar are important tourist attraction within sanctuary area.

Devotees of Lord Shiva visit the temple in thhousands on the day of Mahashivratri and in the Shravan month (Hindu Calendar, corresponding roughly to July-August) on every Monday. 

Dimbhe dam is a picnic spot 40kms from Sanctuary on Manchar-Bhimashnakar road. 

Tourist Information:

Best time to visit: August to February. 

Nearest Airport: Pune (130 Km.)

By Rail: Pune (130 Km.)

By Road: Manchar (62 Km.) (Pune-Nasik highway)

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Watch tower for tourists

Accommodations:

Type

No. of suites

Reservation authority
M.T.D.C.

 16

Central Building,Pune
Forest Rest House

2

Dy.C.F.,(Wildlife),Western Region, New P.M.T.Building,Pune-42.

Address & Phone Number:
Deputy Conservator of Forests,
Wildlife, Western Region, New P.M.T. Building, 
Swargate, Shankarshet Road, Pune 411 042 Maharashtra, India

00-91-20-4471465
Wildlife Sanctuaries in Maharashtra....

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