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The Miraculous Shrine of Bhimashankar
Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga Temple is located near Pune, Maharashtra. Bhima, as the name goes, is a river that flows through Bhimashankar and merges with the River Krishna. Bhimashankar Temple in Maharashtra was built in the 13th century and the architecture was well done in Nagara style.
The emperor Shiva made many contributions towards the development of Bhimashankar, as a temple. The holy shrine is often referred to as Jyotirlinga. Out of 64 jyotirlingas in India, 12 are considered to be extremely sacred. Out of these 12, one is Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga. It is believed that the shrines of Shiva are made only in those places where the Lord appeared as a column of light.
The sculptors of the 13th century have carved the Bhimashankar temple really well. Buddha’s style of carvings can be seen in the structure. There are both new and old structures in the temple. Bhimashankar Jyotirling Mandia has a huge bell at the entrance door, which is unique, and was presented to the temple by Chimaji Appa, one of the warriors of the 13th century.
Bhimashankar is a place known for its wildlife sanctuary as well. Bhimashankar is blessed with plenty of birds, animals, flowers, and plants. It is also known as the Red forest area. Bhimashankar temple is situated about 127 km away from Pune and about 200 km from Mumbai.
State transport buses bring passengers from Pune in 5 hours. During, Mahashivratri festival, Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga Temple is flooded with devotees by the buses which move to and from daily. Bhimashankar is also a popular tourist destination for nature lovers.