“Where Faith Meets Forest”

✨ 1. Introduction – Why We Rode to Bhimashankar

For months, we had talked about it over chai and late-night group chats—a ride to Bhimashankar Temple, one of the 12 Jyotirlingas and a top trek in Maharashtra. Finally, on 26th November 2024, six of us mounted our bikes and set off into the Sahyadris—not just for a trip, but for an adventure of faith, nature, and friendship.

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🧭 2. Who We Were

We were 6 college friends—each with our quirks and responsibilities—finally making time to ride out.
3 bikes, 6 helmets, and a dream.
We carried backpacks with rain gear, snacks, Bluetooth speakers, and loads of energy.

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🗓️ 3. The Plan & Preparation

• 📍 Destination: Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga Temple, Pune District

• 🛣️ Route: Pune → Chakan → Wada → Khandas → Bhimashankar

• 🕓 Start Time: 5:00 AM from Pune

• 🛏️ Return: Same day (late night)

• 🥾 Trek Route: Ganesh Ghat for ascent

• 🎒 Essentials Packed: Water, ORS, raincoats, dry fruits, torches, extra socks

• 📸 Intentions: Photos, reels, memories

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🌅 4. The Bike Ride – Fog, Ghats & Friendship

The road was chilly, with fog swirling in front of our headlights. We stopped for cutting chai at Chakan and took a 10-minute break near Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary—soaking in the sunrise and cool breeze.

• 🚩 Total Distance: ~110 km

• 🛤️ Terrain: Curvy roads, forest ghats, monsoon-kissed slopes

• 🎶 Vibe: Bluetooth speaker played Kesariya and Kun Faya Kun

• 🪵 Side Stops: Waterfalls, green valleys, photo ops

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🙏 5. Bhimashankar Temple – The Heart of the Journey

Reaching the temple around 9:30 AM, we parked and headed straight for darshan.

• 🕉️ Temple Facts: Ancient Hemadpanthi-style, 12th Jyotirlinga

• 🌲 Surroundings: Wrapped in a blanket of clouds and green hills

• 🔔 Experience: Calm chants, bell sounds echoing through the valley

• 🌧️ Weather: Light fog, cool breeze—perfect for prayer and peace

• 🛐 Bonus: We explored Gupt Bhimashankar (a cave shrine behind the temple)

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🥾 6. The Trek Begins – Ganesh Ghat Trail

Around 11:00 AM, we began our Ganesh Ghat trek from Khandas.

What made this special:

• 🏞️ Forests so green they looked fake

• 💧 Streams flowing beside the trail

• 📷 Countless photo breaks

• 🐒 Langurs and birds making surprise appearances

• 🌧️ Mist, fog, and that magical silence only a forest can provide

Trek Duration: ~3.5 hours
Trek Distance: ~6.5 km
Trek Level: Moderate

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🐍 7. Descent via Sidhi Ghat – A Test of Courage

Post-lunch and rest at the top, we took the more adventurous Sidhi Ghat route to descend.

• 🪜 Iron ladders clinging to rocky walls

• 🐾 Slippery sections made us crawl and slide

• 📍 Stops at Nagfani Point gave us incredible panoramic views

• 😅 Moments where adrenaline took over fear

We reached base by 6:15 PM—tired, proud, and a little muddy.

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🍲 8. Post-Trek Chill – Food & Laughter

Dinner was at a local dhaba near the temple:

• Hot bhakri with thecha

• Sabzi, dal rice, and sweet sheera

• Solkadhi (our MVP for recovery)

• Unlimited laughter, teasing, and leg pain jokes

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📸 9. Moments We’ll Never Forget

Each of us captured something different:

• Helmet selfies mid-fog

• Temple bells through the mist

• All six of us on a ledge at Nagfani

• Forest floors covered in flowers

• A reel we edited on the spot that went viral in our friend circle

“That photo of the fog rolling over the ridge? Still my wallpaper.”

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🧭 10. Info for Riders & Trekkers

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🔁 11. Why I’ll Return

It wasn’t just about riding or trekking—it was about reconnecting with nature, with faith, and with the people who know you best.

The fog didn’t just roll over the hills; it cleared our minds.
The silence wasn’t empty; it was full of meaning.
We left a bit of ourselves in Bhimashankar—and took back something greater.

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💬 Want to Plan Your Own Trip?

Drop a comment below or message me on Instagram @piyush_a_269 —I’d be happy to help you plan your own Bhimashankar adventure.