India, Dec. 28 -- The Bhimashankar Temple will remain closed to devotees for three months starting January 9, 2026, to facilitate construction work and ensure the safety of visitors. However, the temple will be open for darshan during Mahashivratri from February 12 to 18, 2026, Pune district collector Jitendra Dudi announced on Friday.

The closure is part of a plan by the Bhimashankar Devasthan Trust to build a new sabhamandap (hall) and a stairway approach. The construction aims to be completed in a planned, time-bound manner without compromising safety, said Dudi.

While the temple will be closed for general darshan, daily rituals, abhishek (ritual bath), and other religious ceremonies will continue as scheduled.

Development plan

The...