Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the Ambegaon taluka of Pune District, in the Western Indian state of Maharashtra. Spread across 120 km² (75 mi²) on the Western Ghats (Sahyadri Ranges), this thickly forested area receives heavy monsoon rainfall and is a popular weekend getaway from Mumbai and Pune.

Biodiversity : Bhimashankar is a home to a relic of near virgin forest in the Northern part of the Western Ghats. It is of added significance as two measure tributaries of river Krishna namely river Bhima and Ghod originate from this areas. Bhimashankar forest harbors many threatened and endangered faunal elements like giant Indian squirrel, panther etc.

Flora : The main forest of this sanctuary is the southern tropical semi evergreen forest. Tourists can find wide range of plant life, magical herbs, and shrubs. Dominant species are Mango, Jamun, Hirda, Behda, Bamboo, Shrub, Herbs, Climber, Grass, and Fern.

Fauna : The area is rich in fauna since there is variety of forest types in the sanctuary. The wild life found here includes Leopards, Barking Deer, Sambar, Wild Boar, Langur, and Hyena. Among the birds one will be able to find Malabar Grey Hornbill, Quaker Babbler, Malabar Whistling Thrush, Green Pigeon, Black Eagle, Grey Jungle Fowl and many, many more. One might get to see the great butterfly brigade and Malabar Giant Squirrel, one of the largest of tree squirrels found over here, well over three feet long.

Other attractions : Temple of Lord Shiva, Bombay point, Nagphani point, Hanuman tank, Vanaspati point, Gupt Bhimashankar are important tourist attraction within the sanctuary. Devotees of Lord Shiva visit the temple in thousands on the day of Mahashivratri and in the Shravan month (Hindu calendar, corresponding roughly to July-August) on every Monday.