Bhandardara

Information About Bhandardara :

                           Bhandardara, a hill station nestled in the Sahyadri ranges of Maharashtra, has all the nature's blessings a place can get. The lush greenery, the humble waterfalls, and the surrounded high mountains make for the perfect holiday spot for city dwellers.

                         Situated in the Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra, Bhandardara is 117 km. from Mumbai and is easily accessible through roadways. This little village is packed with so many attractions coupled with the serenity of nature that it makes for an adventurous weekend to run away from the hustle and bustle of the cities.

Best Time To Visit Bhandardara :

               Although suitable for a visit any time of the year, Bhandara unveils its spellbinding charm in the monsoon months of June till September when the climate is cool and breezy as opposed to the summer when it's quite hot and humid. Temperatures range between 20 degrees C to 30 degrees C. Hence, the months between June and March tend to be an ideal time to visit Bhandardara. The downpours during these months create breathtaking sights for one to explore.

How To Reach Bhandardara :

                 Bhandardara is well connected to the rest of India by road. Regular bus services ply to and fro the city of Bhandardara; buses being operated both by private and government owners. There is no direct flight or rail connectivity, however, to Bhandardara Some 165 km away is the Mumbai airport, which is the nearest airport that connects Bhandardara to the rest of India. The nearest railway station to Bhandardara is in Igatpuri, which is 42 km away from Bhandardara.

1 . How To Reach Bhandardara By Flight :

                    The nearest airport is the Mumbai International Airport which is 177 km away. Taxis can be hired from the airport to Bhandardara.

Nearest Airport: New Pune International Airport - 79 km from Bhandardara

2 . How To Reach Bhandardara By Road :

              Mumbai is 180 km from Bhandardara and can be accessed through National Highway 3 (NH3) followed by a right turn from Ghoti toll post. Another 30 km from Ghoti and you arrive in Bhandardara. The distance from Pune is 175 km. and can be accessed through NH 50 up to Ghargaon, from Ghargaon take the State highway (SH 21) till Bhandardara.

3 . How To Reach Bhandardara By Train :

              Igatpuri is the nearest railway station which lies on the Mumbai - Nashik rail route and is 45 km from Bhandardara. From there, you can take a state transport bus or a taxi.

Places To Visit In Bhandardara :

1. Umbrella Falls :

                  The Umbrella Falls are the falls formed under the Wilson Dam and the force by which the waterfalls on the naturally placed rocks that give an impression of an umbrella.

             There is a little footbridge that connects the Pravara River that one can use to cross and enjoy a closer look at the falls and the dam.

Umbrella Falls

2 . Wilson Dam :

                        The Wilson Dam, built on the Pravara river in 1910 is the largest earthen dam in India which speaks of the engineering excellence of those days. The base of the dam has a garden that boasts of thick greenery, huge trees, and little streams.

                   In the monsoons, when the water level rises the gates of the dam open themselves to release water into the plains and you can go to the edge of the Garden to enjoy the sprinkles of the water. There is another popular spot here known as the Umbrella Falls - which is seen in its prime in the monsoons.

Wilson Dam

3 . Kalsubai Peak :

               Mt. Kalsubai is the highest peak of the Sahyadri Ranges. The view of this majestic mountain is an amazing sight in Bhandardara. It is also known as the Everest of Maharashtra, as it is the highest peak in the state.

                 The trek is a very tricky one and usually, the experienced trekkers find their way to the top with some difficulty. There are now man-made stairs to reach the peak if you don't wish to trek. However, the hills near the Kalsubai peak are relatively easier to scale.

Kalsubai Peak

4 . Randha Falls :

                       Another waterfall attraction in Bhandardara is the Randha Falls of the Pravara river. The clear water of the Pravara river ferociously falls from a height of 170ft into a magnificent ravine. However, this waterfall is only attractive in the monsoons.

Randha Falls

5 . Ratanwadi Village :

                Ratanwadi is a village near Bhandardara of the Kalsubai peak in Maharashtra that houses the famous Ratangad fort and the popular Shiva temple called Amruteshwar.

               It is a famous trekking spot as it is far from the main town and has a rustic charm to it. Ratangad is a 2000-year-old fort, captured by Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in his time. It is situated in Ratanwadi which is a base village and overlooks the Bhandardara. The beautiful temple of Amruteshwar carved out of stone, is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is one of the 12 Shiva temples build in 900AD by King Jhang.

Ratanwadi Village

6 . Arthur Lake :

                  Surrounded by the lush mountains of Sahyadri ranges, Arthur lake is a quaint little pool that gets its water from the Pravara River. It is a serene place to unwind and soak in the natural beauty.

Arthur Lake

• Tweet
• Share
• Share
• Share
• Share

Related Post