3 minutes of readingPuneFebruary 9, 2026 11:20 pm IST
Shri Kshetra Bhimashankar, one of the 12 Jyotirlingas, will remain closed from February 12 to 18, 2026, coinciding with the Mahashivratri period, as part of preparations for the Simhastha Kumbh Mela in Nashik in 2027.
The decision, taken by district collector Jitendra Dudi, is part of a broader review of infrastructure aimed at managing the expected surge in pilgrims. Officials anticipate that a large number of devotees attending the Kumbh Mela in Nashik-Trimbakeshwar will also visit the Bhimashankar shrine.
The Maharashtra government approved a Special Development Plan for Bhimashankar following crowd projections drawn from the Maha Kumbh 2025 in Prayagraj. The plan includes construction of a new Sabhamandap, improved entry and exit systems, renovation of staircase routes and strengthening crowd management infrastructure. The works are expected to last around three months.
While Bhimashankar normally manages the daily footfall of pilgrims, even during festivals, within a manageable framework, the 2027 Kumbh Mela is projected to bring in nearly one lakh visitors a day, far exceeding the capacity of the existing infrastructure. The administration has given priority to completing the work much before the Kumbh Mela.
Officials said the schedule is non-negotiable as Bhimashankar receives extremely heavy rains from June to September, making construction during the monsoon impossible. This leaves a narrow window to complete the project before the 2027 Kumbh Mela.
Earlier, a decision had been taken to close the temple for three months except during Mahashivratri. However, after reviewing the pace and scale of construction and the associated safety concerns, the administration decided to keep the temple closed during the festival as well. Officials noted that major stone masonry work is currently being carried out and heavy construction materials and stones cannot be moved, making it unsafe to allow entry of devotees during Mahashivratri.
Highlighting the impact on the local economy, Samir Kodilkar (49), one of the temple priests, said: “Local business owners such as vendors and transport operators catering to pilgrims and visitors have suffered problems due to the closure as their profits depend on it.” However, he added: “Our staff and local residents remain positive and support the development of the temple for the common good.”
District Collector Dudi has appealed to devotees and local residents to extend their full cooperation to the Temple Trust, district administration, police administration and local authorities during the lockdown period.
(Swasti Jain is an intern at The indian express)