Bhimashankar trek is the Best treks near Mumbai and July-February is the perfect time to visit this moderate difficulty trek via Shidi and Ganesh ghat. Bhimashankar trek offers a perfect escape from the city's hustle and bustle, immersing you in the serene wilderness of Bhimashankar. As we navigate through lush forests and mist-covered trails, you'll witness breathtaking waterfalls, vibrant flora.Famous for its ancient Shiva temple, Bhimashankar is one of the 12 jyotirlingas (the sacred shrines of Lord Shiva and the places where Shiva is believed to have appeared as fiery column of light) and dates back to 13th century CE. The temple is constructed in Nagara style architecture. The Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary is also home to diverse flora and fauna. Keep your eye out for Malabar giant squirrels when deep into the woods. This trek is an equal delight for photographers, nature lovers, history buffs and adventure enthusiasts. Keep an eye out for the rich biodiversity of the region, as Bhimashankar is known for its diverse range of flora and fauna. Our experienced guides will ensure your safety and provide fascinating insights into the local ecosystem and the religious significance of the Bhimashankar Temple.
Best time to visit Bhimashankar is during Monsoon, July-October 2023. Difficulty level is Moderate grade, and at short distance from Mumbai. Bhimashankar Trek is safe and suitable for girls, women, and solo travelers. Other Popular locations are Padargad, Diksal, Karjat Waterfall, Matheran, Wildlife Reserve.
- Witness the beauty of cascading waterfalls along the trekking route
- Enjoy panoramic views of the Sahyadri Mountains and the surrounding landscapes
- Keep an eye out for various wildlife species that inhabit the region, such as exotic birds, monkeys.
- View the early morning bliss from the top.
- Lord Shiva Temple
- Hanuman Lake
- Gupt Bhimashankar, Sakshi Vinayak, Origin of River Bhima
Bhimashankar Trek By Mischief Treks
Charges for Bhimashankar Trek:
- Without Jeep Pickup: ₹1800
(Participants need to reach the base village in their own vehicle) - With Jeep Pickup: ₹ 2200
(A Jeep Pickup from Station will be provided)
Height/Altitude | 990 Meters / 3250 feet |
---|---|
Base Village | Khandas Village |
Best Time to Visit | July to February |
Difficulty Level | Moderate ( Click Here ) |
Trek Distance | 8 Kilometers |
Trek Duration | 6 hours |
Charges/Fees | INR 1800 onwards |
Batch Size | 25 Participants |
Trek Organized by | Mischief Treks |
Detailed Itinerary - Bhimashankar Trek
Meeting Point: Neral Local Train Station.
Three hours prior to the event date and time, we will be creating a WhatsApp group for coordination purposes.
Catch the Karjat Fast Diva Local train from the station nearest to you
- 06:10 am CSMT
- 06:24 am Dadar
- 06:31 am Kurla
- 06:35 am Ghatkopar
- 06:49 am Thane
- 07:05 am Dombivali
- 07:15 am Kalyan
- 07:51 am Neral
Plan for the Bhimashankar Trek
Day 1 - Saturday
- Saturday morning 8.00am meeting at Neral Railway Station
- 09:00 am Reach Base village, breakfast
- 10.00 am Introduction round and brief on rules and regulations to be followed by everyone on the event
- And start trek via Shidi Ghat (Ladder Route)
- 01:00 pm Have lunch on route (self carried)
- 04:00 pm Summit the top and take some rest at stay
- 06:00pm Visit Bhimashankar Temple for Jyotiling Darshan
- 08:30 pm Dinner time; enjoy local cuisines specially cooked for us
- 10:00 pm Lights out and we call it a day.
Day 2- Sunday
- 06:00 am Wake up call freashup and breakfast
- 08:00 am Start the descend Ganesh Ghat Route
- 01.00 pm Reach base village , freshen up and get ready for lunch
- 03:00 pm Leave from Khandas for Neral Railway Station
- 04:30 pm Reach Neral railway station and disperse.
What is included in the tour
- Transportation from/to Neral Railway Station ( If opted for )
- Breakfast Day 1 & Day 2
- Dinner Day 1
- Lunch Day 2
- Stay at local home
- Forest Entry fees
- Govt / Local Body Charges as applicable
- Trek expertise charges
- Basic First Aid
What is NOT included in the tour
- Any personal expenses such as soft drinks etc.
- Any emergency evacuations/rescue (if required)
- Any other expenses that are not mentioned above.
- Saturday lunch
- Proper bedding / sleeping bag
- Identity proof.
- Reliable shoes with good grip and extra pair of floaters.
- Water (minimum 3 Ltrs) Compulsory.
- Rain gear - windcheater/raincoat/poncho.
- Torch with extra batteries - do not depend on the phone.
- Keep your phone fully charged.
- Mosquito repellent (optional)
- Some ready-to-eat food like biscuits, plum cake, etc to keep your tummy happy.
- Medicines (if you need any), Glucon D / Electrol / Enerzyl Powder (We will have a basic first aid kit with us).
- A haversack to put all your things. Your hands need to be free while trekking.
- And most imp thing, carry lot of enthusiasm and team spirit.
- Please do not apply to join our group if the terms and details mentioned on this page are not agreeable to you.
- Fitness: Please make sure you are Physically Fit to complete the event and BEFORE Booking you have gone through all the details, FAQ, Points to note, About Us, and Disclaimer.
- Food: The food during the event is home cooked food provided by local villagers living in tribal (Aadivasi) region. If you are choosy, cranky and grumpy about food, please avoid joining this event.
- Transport: Mischief treks does not own busses, Jeeps, Trains, or Flight. The transport options are hired by us just like people hire Ola/Uber/Auto/Taxi/Train. Any issues regarding the transport vehicles need to be addressed to concerned transport service provider. Pickup-and-Drop for the event is arranged only as "help" towards common means to travel together, Mischief Treks does not provide transport services or takes any liability regarding the same. Our role and responsibility starts from base village where the trek conducted by us begins.
- Trekking Shoes: Wear reliable shoes with good grip, the sole of the shoe gets ripped off if the shoe is not in good condition.
- About us: Don't forget to check the About-Us page if you are new to trekking in Maharashtra.
- Punctuality: In any adventure or sport event punctuality and discipline is utmost important. If you are late in catching the train/bus/cab, you will miss-out the pickup and will be considered dropout. If you are travelling in your vehicle, you may miss joining the group you are late. This is a group event and will not be personalized as per your timing.
- Discounts: To be honest, Discounts and coupon codes are just a marketing trick to fool people. No one offers something below the pre-decided rate slab. The charges on website haven't yet been adjusted (inflated) to provide for discounts. Mentioned amount is the lowest actual charges and hence discounts are currently not possible. Each organiser charges a certain amount based on his understanding regarding 'Worth' of his own event.
- Batch Size: We Do-Not conduct trek with 100-150 people in the group. Our batch size is limited and we prefer to have a Non-Crowded group for safety reasons.
- KYC Form: Once you have paid for the event you will receive a KYC form on WhatsApp as soon as your payment is verified by system. You need to submit this form within 3 hours of receiving the form. If you have booked for your friends too, you need to ask each of your friend to get this done. If you are booking just 1 day prior to event, the form needs to be submitted immediately to avoid any inconvenience (Refer FAQ section below)
CAUTION: Please be aware that even the easiest trek is fundamentally a "Trek," not a Tour, Hike, or Picnic. It's crucial to understand that an unfit individual might struggle to complete even half of an easy trek. Based on our prior experiences, an unfit person might perceive an easy-grade trek as the most difficult trek. Prior to making a booking for the event, ensure that you are in good physical and mental condition for trekking.
To understand What is Trek ( click here )
Points to Note and FAQ's for Bhimashankar Trek
Following are the frequently asked questions regarding Bhimashankar trek.
Q. Can someone read out event details for me on phone?
Ans. All the details are mentioned on this page itself, once you scroll up you will all info on your screen. Sorry we do not verbally provide details on phone as it usually creates lot of misunderstanding and miscommunication. Also, its extremely important to read and understand all the details before you book the event so that you have absolute clarity. If something mentioned on this page is confusing , you can get clarity on chat by clicking on chat with us button on top. To discuss things that are not mentioned on this website we can arrange a callback from one of our trek leaders.
Q. I have booked/paid for the event, is my booking confirmed for the Bhimashankar Trek?
Ans. No !, your booking can become invalid if you do not submit the "Most Important Details" required for emergency situations. For any Trek/Adventure event the organizers need to have your details at least 24 hours prior to the event. We do not allow anyone to the campsite until we have complete and authentic details of the person. This info is crucial in case of an emergency and is a mandatory KYC parameter. The link for the "personal details form" will be sent on WhatsApp immediately after you complete the booking instructions mentioned on the website. Submitting incomplete/incorrect/fake details in the form will make your booking invalid and no refund will be provided in such case.
Q. Why is submitting emergency contact details and KYC information mandatory?
Ans. Its a standard protocol and also a guideline by Govt of India. We are accountable for every "Human-Body" present at our campsite or trek is our responsibility and in case of any unfortunate event we will be asked by authorities to provide all relevant information about you. In order to comply with the authorities we have to take authentic information from you. Fake/Incomplete information or non-submission of the details will make your ticket (paid amount) invalid and no refund will be provided in such case. You will not be allowed to participate in the event.
Q. If I have opted for "with transport", which vehicle will be provided?
Ans. Transport for this event is done by Local Jeep from Neral Station.
Q. Does the cancellation policy/rescheduling policy apply to me if I book on event day or last day?
Ans: Yes, the policy is applicable irrespective of the booking date. The cancellation / reschedule policy is applicable to everyone with immediate effect from the date and time of booking. The refunds/rescheduling requests will be processed based on the date and time of cancellation/reschedule request saent to us and the date and time of booking the event are irrelevant.
Q. What is the basis of cancellation/reschedule policy in case of medical or personal emergency of participant or organizing team?
Ans: The cancellation policy is based on fairness towards the participant and the organizing team. In case of medical/personal emergency, the loss arising out of cancellation/reschedule will be borne by the respective person. i.e. if the organizing team faces an emergency situation and the event gets canceled, the participant will not have to suffer financial loss. Similarly, if the participant faces an emergency situation, the organizing team will not have to suffer financial loss. The cancellation policy is designed with a completely unbiased approach towards the participant and organizing team and is aimed at fairness towards both.
Q. What if there is an issue with transport, i.e. the bus breaks down, AC is not working, tyre gets punctured? will we get a refund?
Ans. Mischief Treks as a team conducts treks only. All the support functions like transport, food etc are sourced from various other vendors to help the participants have it streamlined. Equipment failure can happen any time with any piece of machinery and we can try to get a replacement/repair from the vendor. This may consume time and the trek leader may decide to continue the trek as deemed fit to get the event completed. We as well as the participants have to bare with it. There are no refunds possible in such case. The Trek leader's decision to terminate the trek or continue the trek with available resources will be final and binding.
Q. We are coming by our own vehicle for the event, where should we reach for the event?
Ans. You need to reach the Meeting point at scheduled meeting time. This is where we will be meeting, from here you can follow our vehicles. You will be given exact coordinates after you finish booking formalities. We will be creating a WhatsApp group for coordination, you will be provided all relevant details in the group. Please do not be late, we cannot keep other participants waiting. If you are not able to reach on time you will be considered a Drop-Out and no refund will be provided in such case.
Q. How many people will be coming for Bhimashankar Trek?
Ans. Depends on the number of people booking the event. Generally, the batch size is approximately 20-25 participants. It is a Public place and we have no access to data on other organizers' bookings hence we cannot comment on the exact number of people planning to visit this place on a given date.
Q. Can kids participate in Bhimashankar Trek?
Ans. Age does not matter, Fitness and adaptation is extremely Important. Once we had a 4 year old girl who completed entire trek easily, and sometimes even 22-25 year old people cant complete 10% of the event . If you are planning to trek with a kid , I recommend you to go through this Check this Blog: https://www.mischieftreks.com/can-kids-trek-in-maharashtra
Q. Is Bhimashankar Trek safe for solo participants?
Ans. Yes Trek is safe and comfortable. Mostly 40% of the participants come solo and blend in with the trek leaders and the rest of the group.
Q. Is Bhimashankar Trek safe for girls?
Ans. Mischief Treks has a track record of making our trekking and camping events extremely safe for girls. Normally 60 – 75 % of our participants are females. Apart from standard risks of any adventure activity, Mischief Treks events are safe for girls, women, kids and especially Men.
Q. How long is the Bhimashankar Trek?
Ans. Normally it takes two hours to ascend and two hours to descend.
Q. Can we pay in cash or installment ?
Ans. Sorry we do not accept cash payments. For installment scheme you will have to pay one-time processing fee of Rs.500 per person.
Q. What is the last date of booking Bhimashankar Trek?
Ans. Bookings close once tickets are sold out. Ideally you need to book atleast 2-3 days in advance.
Q. How should I book Bhimashankar Trek?
Ans. All you have to do is press the book now button on this page and follow the instructions.
Q. How do we get in touch after reaching meeting point?
Ans. We will be creating a whatsapp group for coordination where you will be provided all the necessary information regarding contact person, exact point to meet etc..
Q. Will we be returning at exact time mentioned in the itinerary?
Ans. The Itinerary is for reference purpose only, it is based on average time taken during our previous events. Actual timeline for a particular date depends on Weather conditions, Traffic Conditions, Participants speed and endurance.
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Aggregate Rating: 4.85 out of 5
Rating count: 2431
Bhimashankar Trek and Gupt Bhimashankar
Bhimashankar is situated in the Pune district of Maharashtra, India. It is a part of the Sahyadri mountain range and is surrounded by dense forests and lush greenery. The trek starts from Khandas Village in Karjat Taluka of Raigad District.
Trek Difficulty:
The trek to Bhimashankar is considered moderately challenging. It involves hiking through a combination of gradual ascents, rocky patches, and forested trails, which might require a moderate level of physical fitness and endurance.
Trekking Season:
The best time to undertake the Bhimashankar trek is during the post-monsoon season, from July to February. The weather during this period is relatively cool and pleasant, making it suitable for trekking.
Age and Fitness:
The trek is open to people of various age groups, but it does involve some challenging sections that may not be suitable for very young children or elderly individuals. A reasonable level of fitness is recommended for a comfortable trekking experience.
Trek Duration:
The trek to Bhimashankar can take around 6 to 7 hours to reach the top, depending on the trekker's pace.
Cultural Aspects:
Bhimashankar is home to an ancient temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and is a significant pilgrimage site for Hindus. The trek provides an opportunity for trekkers to experience the cultural and religious aspects of the region.
Group Size:
Trekkers often undertake the Bhimashankar trek individually or in small groups of friends but one should never go to trek locations on their own as it involves life-risk. Always plan to go for trekking with a professional and reputed trek group. The group size may vary based on the preference of the trekkers or the trekking organizers. Low cost trek groups have large batch size ranging from 80-150 people, if you don't like to be treated like sheep, avoid signing up on cheap deals.
Ecological Considerations:
Bhimashankar and its surrounding regions are ecologically sensitive areas with diverse flora and fauna. Trekkers are encouraged to follow responsible trekking practices, such as not littering and respecting the natural environment.
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September, 2023 Update: Weather conditions at Bhimashankar Trek
The weather in the month of September is pleasant, slight drizzle is expected late at night. The visibility is clear and night sky looks splendid. Average temperature for the day expected to be around 28°C. Chance of rain 20%.
- 90% will be refunded if canceled 15 days (360+ hrs) in advance.
- 75% will be refunded if canceled 10 days (240+ hrs) in advance.
- 50% will be refunded if canceled 05 days (120+ hrs) in advance.
- 0% refund if canceled in less than 05 days (120 hours) of the event date and time.
- 0% refund if the participant drops out, misses bus pickup, does not reach the meeting point on the scheduled date and time.
If the event itself gets canceled, you will be given the option to switch to any other event or any other date, Or you can opt for 100% refund. If you need to cancel your current booking and/or reschedule your booking to any other date, it can be done free of cost if the rescheduling request is sent 120 hours prior to the trek. From 0hrs - 120 hours prior to trek date and time, free rescheduling is not permitted. It will be counted as cancellation done in less than 120hours of event date and time. It's a humble request, please do not give medical reasons, crib, argue or try to blackmail us if you drop out or cancel/reschedule the trek in the last 5 days. The basis of the cancelation policy is to protect the participant and the organizers from undue financial losses arising out of unforeseen situations. If the event gets canceled due to the medical/personal emergency of the organising team member, the participants will not have to suffer financial loss. Similarly, if there is a medical/personal emergency at the participant's end, the organizing team will not have to suffer financial loss.