Yes — Bhimashankar temple is open. It reopened on 15 June 2026 and ran extended 5:00 AM – 9:30 PM darshan through Shravan. Timings after Shravan had not been published as of 15 September 2026 — call the trust on 02135 222 880 before you travel. No online pass has been needed since 18 June; the official website is shreebhimashankar.com.
Status last checked 15 Sep 2026 against the trust's website and dated news reports — see the sources at the end.
2026 Timeline: Every Change, With Dates
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| 9 Jan 2026 | Temple closes to the public for construction of a new sabhamandap and stairway. |
| 15 Feb 2026 | Closed to the public over Mahashivratri; rituals continue inside. |
| 5 Jun 2026 | Online darshan registration opens ahead of reopening. |
| 15 Jun 2026 | Temple reopens: darshan 7:00–11:00 AM only, capped at about 1,000 devotees a day. |
| 18 Jun 2026 | Registration requirement dropped — direct darshan allowed in the morning window. |
| 8 Jul 2026 | Landslides: the ghat road is shut until further orders and visits are halted. |
| 13 Aug 2026 | Shravan begins: darshan extended to 5:00 AM – 9:30 PM. Large gatherings of devotees reported by mid-August. |
| 15 Sep 2026 | No post-Shravan timings published yet. The trust's website still shows the older 7–11 AM notice. |
What Are Bhimashankar's Darshan Timings Now?
The last dated timings we can find are from Shravan 2026, which began on 13 August: darshan from 5:00 AM to 9:30 PM, decided at a meeting in the Pune Collector's office to welcome the Shravan pilgrims. Shravan has now ended, and neither the trust nor the district administration has yet published the regular hours.
The trust's website still carries the construction-period notice that darshan is open only from 7:00 to 11:00 AM. That was accurate in the second half of June; it was superseded at least for Shravan. The same site lists the daily pujas at 5:00–5:30 AM, 2:45–3:20 PM and 7:30–8:00 PM.
Do You Need a Darshan Pass?
Not as of the latest reports. When the temple reopened, devotees had to register online (from 5 June) for a slot, with a cap of roughly 1,000 a day. After devotees ran into problems, the requirement was dropped on 18 June and direct darshan was allowed. We have not found any announcement bringing registration back.
The official website is shreebhimashankar.com, run by the Shree Kshetra Bhimashankar Trust — it is the site the district administration named for registration in June. Several look-alike domains and apps offer Bhimashankar "passes"; we could not confirm that any of them are run by the trust, so do not pay for darshan anywhere else.
The Stairway, and Visiting with Elderly Parents
The Bhimashankar temple sits in a valley below road level, so darshan means a staircase down to the sanctum and the same climb back up, with no lift. The 2026 works built a new stairway, so the step counts you will see online — anything from 200 to 300 — date from before the renovation. Doli (palanquin) carriers have been available at the top, but cannot be guaranteed. For older travellers, the climb back up is the part to plan around.
How Far Is Bhimashankar from Pune?
Bhimashankar is about 110 km from Pune: out through Chakan and Rajgurunagar, on to Manchar and Ghodegaon, then up the ghat road. Allow around 3 to 3.5 hours. The last stretch is narrow and winding, and it is the part that closes in heavy monsoon rain — as it did after the landslides of 8 July 2026. Mid-August reports described the approach road as muddy and potholed, so leave extra time. Our Pune to Bhimashankar by car guide covers the route, the ghat road and EV charging, and the two-day Bhimashankar, Trimbakeshwar and Shirdi guide shows how to add a second Jyotirlinga.
Before You Leave: a Five-Point Check
- Call the trust on 02135 222 880 (the number on its website) the day before, and ask for that day's darshan hours.
- Check shreebhimashankar.com for new notices — and book nothing through any other site or app.
- Leave Pune by about 5 AM if you want to be there for the morning; the last stretch is a slow ghat road.
- Budget the stairway: it is a climb down to the sanctum and back up, with no lift.
- Carry a warm layer and shoes with grip — mornings are cold and the steps get slippery in the rain.
Tolls, parking and charging are included. We are a cab service — darshan passes, pujas and offerings are yours to arrange.
Sources
- Shree Kshetra Bhimashankar Trust (official site, puja times, contact)
- Punekar News — reopening on 15 June and registration details (30 May 2026)
- Free Press Journal — closed during Mahashivratri
- Dainik Prabhat — online registration dropped (18 June 2026)
- News18 Marathi — landslide road closure (8 July 2026) and Shravan timings (11–12 August 2026)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bhimashankar temple open now?
Yes. Bhimashankar reopened for darshan on 15 June 2026 after a five-month closure for construction, and was last confirmed open with extended hours during Shravan (from 13 August 2026). Timings after Shravan had not been published as of 15 September 2026, so call the temple trust before you leave.
What are Bhimashankar darshan timings?
During Shravan 2026 darshan ran from 5:00 AM to 9:30 PM. When the temple reopened in June it ran a restricted 7:00–11:00 AM window, and the trust's website still shows that older notice. Post-Shravan timings had not been announced as of 15 September 2026. The trust's site lists daily pujas at 5:00–5:30 AM, 2:45–3:20 PM and 7:30–8:00 PM.
Do I need an online pass for Bhimashankar darshan?
Not as of the latest reports. Online registration was required when the temple reopened on 15 June 2026, but from 18 June direct darshan without registration was allowed. If the trust reintroduces passes, book only on its official website, shreebhimashankar.com.
What is the official Bhimashankar temple website?
shreebhimashankar.com, run by the Shree Kshetra Bhimashankar Trust. It is the site the Pune district administration named for darshan registration when the temple reopened in 2026. We could not confirm that other look-alike domains are run by the trust.
Why was Bhimashankar temple closed in 2026?
The temple closed on 9 January 2026 for construction of a new sabhamandap (assembly hall) and stairway. It stayed closed to the public over Mahashivratri on 15 February, with rituals continuing inside, and reopened on 15 June 2026. The ghat road was then shut after landslides on 8 July before traffic resumed.
How many steps are there at Bhimashankar?
The temple sits below road level, so darshan means a staircase down and back up. A new stairway was built during the 2026 works, so the old step counts you will find online (200 to 300) may no longer be accurate. Doli (palanquin) carriers have been available at the top, but are not guaranteed.
How far is Bhimashankar from Pune?
About 110 km, via Chakan, Rajgurunagar, Manchar and Ghodegaon, then up the ghat road — around 3 to 3.5 hours. The ghat stretch is slow and landslide-prone in heavy monsoon rain.