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🇮🇳 India · Maharashtra

Bhimashankar Jungle Trek (Ganesh Ghat / Shidi Ghat)

A wildlife sanctuary trek to a Jyotirlinga pilgrimage site — two routes, two very different difficulty levels

Last verified: 2026-07-01

Solo-friendly 1,100m 1 day Moderate Jungle trek

Max Altitude1,100mBhimashankar Jungle Trek (Ganesh Ghat / Shidi Ghat)

Duration1 dayFrom Pune / Mumbai (via Karjat)

Distance~7 kmOne-way

DifficultyModerate

Guide RequiredNo

TrailheadKhandas

About this trek

A wildlife sanctuary trek to a Jyotirlinga pilgrimage site — two routes, two very different difficulty levels

Trailhead

Khandas
Nearest city: Pune / Mumbai (via Karjat)

Stats

7 km · 500m elevation gain
1 day · Moderate

Best time to go

Jun – SepMonsoon — waterfalls and greenery at their best; Shidi Ghat especially risky wet

Oct – FebDrier, safer footing especially on Shidi Ghat

Mar – MayHot, less wildlife activity visible

Route options

Most of these treks have more than one approach — pick the one that matches your fitness and experience.

Ganesh Ghat (from Khandas)

Easy 7 km 3–4 hrs

Gradual, beginner-friendly ascent through sanctuary forest.

Shidi Ghat

Expert 6 km 3–4 hrs

Three ladder-like rock steps ('shidi' = ladder) — treacherous when wet. Experienced trekkers only; not recommended in monsoon.

How to reach Khandas

Khandas is the base village, reached via Karjat or Neral. You can exit down the other side to Pune by bus.

Reach Karjat or Neral

Local train from Mumbai CSMT/Dadar/Thane/Kalyan on the Central line, about 1.5–2 hrs.

Onward to Kashele

From Karjat or Neral, take a shared tum-tum or van to Kashele (about 20–40 minutes).

Kashele to Khandas (base village)

From Kashele, a shared jeep, van or occasional ST bus covers the final stretch to Khandas (about 30–40 minutes).

The climb

From Khandas, two options — Ganesh Ghat (more technical, with ladders and rock patches) or Shidi Ghat — lead up to the Bhimashankar plateau and temple, roughly 4–5 hours.

Return, or exit toward Pune

Same-day return to Mumbai is tight; many solo trekkers overnight in Khandas or near the temple. Alternatively, direct ST buses run from Bhimashankar down to Pune (about 3 hrs) if you'd rather exit that side.

ℹ️Bhimashankar is a wildlife sanctuary. A nominal entry fee applies mainly to vehicles entering the plateau by road — walking trekkers usually pay little or nothing, but this varies by season and forest-post staffing. Leopard sightings are reported here; trail dogs often signal an animal's presence before you spot it.

What it costs

Transport

Train: Mumbai → Karjat/Neral

One-way

₹20–40

Shared van: Karjat/Neral → Khandas (via Kashele)

Combined, per person

₹40–70

ST bus: Bhimashankar → Pune

If exiting that side

₹150–200

On the trail

Local guide

Optional; useful on the Ganesh Ghat route

₹500–800 per group

Sanctuary / vehicle entry fee

Mainly applies if entering by road vehicle

₹10–50

Food

Basic dhabas at Khandas and near the temple

₹150–300

Safety

This trek passes through a wildlife sanctuary with reported leopard activity, and the Shidi Ghat route adds real technical/fall risk on top of that.

⚡Leopard sightings reported in the sanctuaryBhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary protects the Indian giant squirrel and has occasional leopard sightings. Local trail dogs often signal an animal's presence before trekkers spot it — take that seriously if it happens.

⚡Shidi Ghat's ladder-like rock steps are treacherous wetThis route has three step-like rock sections that become genuinely dangerous in rain. Take Ganesh Ghat instead if conditions are wet or you're not experienced with technical scrambling.

Before you go

Choose Ganesh Ghat if solo or inexperienced — save Shidi Ghat for a dry-season, experienced-group attempt
Check current sanctuary entry rules and timings

On the trail

Make noise on forest sections at dawn/dusk given wildlife activity
Carry a whistle in case you need to signal for help in dense forest

Solo-specific

Prefer Ganesh Ghat solo — it's the more traveled and less technical route
Tell someone your exact route choice given the two options differ so much in risk

Emergency contacts

Khed Police Station02135-222033

Maharashtra Tourism Helpline1800-22-1363

Packing list

Footwear & clothing

Grippy trekking shoes (essential, especially for Shidi Ghat) Quick-dry clothing

Gear

2.5L water Whistle Trekking pole

Bhimashankar — common questions

Is Bhimashankar Jungle Trek (Ganesh Ghat / Shidi Ghat) safe to trek solo?

This trek passes through a wildlife sanctuary with reported leopard activity, and the Shidi Ghat route adds real technical/fall risk on top of that. Solo-specific: Prefer Ganesh Ghat solo — it's the more traveled and less technical route.

Do I need a guide for Bhimashankar Jungle Trek (Ganesh Ghat / Shidi Ghat)?

No — this route can be walked without a guide, which is why it's on a solo-trekking site. That said, hiring a local guide is still worth considering if it's your first time on this terrain or you're going outside the main season.

Do I need a permit for Bhimashankar Jungle Trek (Ganesh Ghat / Shidi Ghat)?

Yes: Sanctuary entry (obtained at Sanctuary checkpoint). Standard wildlife sanctuary entry rules and a modest fee apply.

When is the best time to trek Bhimashankar Jungle Trek (Ganesh Ghat / Shidi Ghat)?

Best in Oct – Feb (Drier, safer footing especially on Shidi Ghat). Avoid Mar – May — hot, less wildlife activity visible.

How do I reach Khandas without a car?

Khandas is the base village, reached via Karjat or Neral. You can exit down the other side to Pune by bus. Reach Karjat or Neral: Local train from Mumbai CSMT/Dadar/Thane/Kalyan on the Central line, about 1.5–2 hrs.

How many days does Bhimashankar Jungle Trek (Ganesh Ghat / Shidi Ghat) take?

1 day, covering roughly 7 km and topping out at 1,100m. Most trekkers start from Pune / Mumbai (via Karjat).