Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary

Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected area located in the Ambegaon and Khed talukas of Pune district, Maharashtra, within the Western Ghats. Established in 1985 primarily to conserve the habitat of the Indian Giant Squirrel, the state animal of Maharashtra, it spans approximately 131 square kilometers across Pune, Raigad, and Thane districts. The sanctuary features diverse flora and fauna, sacred groves, and serves as an important biodiversity hotspot in the Sahyadri mountain range.

Visitors can expect dense evergreen and deciduous forests typical of the Western Ghats, with opportunities to spot wildlife such as the Indian Giant Squirrel, leopards, sambar deer, barking deer, and various bird species including the Malabar Grey Hornbill. The sanctuary offers trekking routes like Ganesh Ghat and Shidi Ghat, jungle safari rides in private vehicles on designated roads, and access to natural features like Hanuman Lake and sacred groves. Visitors may also encounter bioluminescent fungi during monsoons and fireflies before the rainy season.

The sanctuary was notified by the Government of Maharashtra in 1985 under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, primarily to protect the habitat of the Indian Giant Squirrel. It encompasses nine tribal villages and contains sacred groves that have been preserved for generations, with some climbers estimated to be 800–1000 years old.

The sanctuary includes 14 sacred groves (Doris) traditionally protected by local tribal communities, which serve as gene pools for endemic species. The area is culturally linked to the Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga Temple, one of the twelve sacred Shiva shrines, situated within the sanctuary boundaries.