Pune’s Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga Temple to Reopen for Devotees on May 31

Pune, 7th May 2026: The revered Bhimashankar Temple will reopen to devotees on May 31 after remaining closed for nearly three-and-a-half months due to renovation and infrastructure development works. District Collector Jitendra Dudi said the reconstruction of the main assembly hall, along with several safety and facility enhancement projects, is nearing completion, allowing devotees to resume darshan at the temple.

One of Maharashtra’s prominent Jyotirlingas, Bhimashankar Temple attracts lakhs of devotees every year. The redevelopment work was undertaken as part of a pilgrimage site development plan aimed at improving crowd management and enhancing the safety and convenience of visitors.

The temple was initially scheduled to remain closed for three months from January. However, the closure was extended until May 31 due to the scale and pace of the ongoing work. Officials said the redevelopment has also been planned keeping in mind the expected rise in pilgrim footfall during the 2027 Simhastha Kumbh Mela in Nashik.

The project includes the construction of a grand new assembly hall, demolition of the old structure, improvement of stairways and entry-exit routes, installation of crowd management systems, and the creation of rest areas for devotees. According to the district administration, nearly 90 per cent of the work has been completed, with the new assembly hall being constructed using traditional architectural techniques.