Its been a while away from blogging and I am back with another travelogue from recent trip to Bhandardara. This time with my ex colleague's from Greytrix, my previous employer. The dates were 14, 15 july 2018.
To start with, it was not so difficult choice between Lonavla and Bhandardara for rainy outing since the hype around lonavla is bringing in hell lot of crowd there nowadays. Its certainly not a place where you want to go for leisure anymore. Anyways so we set foot for first outing with this group to Bhandardara knowing little or nothing about the place.
Couple of pick up/Tea halts at Thane and Bhiwandi bypass and we were on our way through Mumbai Nashik highway. It was indeed one beautiful day for an outing. Climate on the way through Kasara ghat and around was simply amazing.
Just beofre Ghoti bypass driver decided to take a route well known to him (unknown to us:-)) and our journey from highway to bhandardara uphill started through narrow but very well maintained roads.
Few kilometers inside and we came acrosss this beautiful place called "Bhavli dam". A huge waterfall getting into the stream and passing through small dam to a beautiful lake.
It was almost like a private waterfall adventure here. Since it was Saturday and many people dont know this place, it was an ideal spot to have some fun. Everyone decided to take a dip here and not wait till reaching Bhandardara to get wet. Bus turned into a changing room and we got into the falls in no time.
After bit of playing in and around waterfall it was a round of music and dancing. Afterall this is what fun is all about. Many other groups halted to join us on the dance floor.
Moving on from the waterfall we came across another random beautiful place on the way. Well, the hault was unplanned though! There was a vehicle stuck in mud and we decided to help. It took good amount of efforts, mud bath for some of my colleagues and lot of joking around to get that vehicle out. Unplanned but well deserved halt, nature was at its best. Anyways "BEST moments happen when they are UNPLANNED".
Post this halt we travelled all the way up to Bhandardara and checked into the resort that was very next to the MTDC resort. After getting refreshed we walked out to have lunch. Its another time I was bit disappointed of facilities at the tourist places in India. There were no proper places to eat, shop anything. Finally we got into the MTDC resort and thankfully got good tasty food out there. Post lunch we moved on to visit first planned point in the outing "Wilson dam" aka Bhandardara dam.
Bhandardara dam and umbrella falls are 2 linked tourist places. When the dam doors open water flows our small rounded hilly portion to form umbrella falls. Since the dam doors were closed we did not get to see the falls however the place around the dam and nearby lake was simply mesmerizing.
Post visiting lower portion of the dam we moved up to visit Arthur lake a reservoir to wilson dam. The lake is formed due to the water from Pravara river. This is one absolutely serene place but lot of tourists around as its a popular picnic point. We were warned not to get into the waters since the lake is very uneven and deep at some places. Many people have lost lives here due to unwanted adventure.
As usual due to popular tourist attraction we got stuck here in the traffic; some foolish people parking vehicles in the middle of the road. Post bit of hustle we made our way to one of the sources of water for some 34km long Arthur lake that is the "Randha falls". This is one fall where you can safely enjoy the waters as there is a bridge built just below the falls where you can walk and enjoy the water sprays from the fall very closely. As I know this fall has hydropower generation plant. There were decent tourist facilities at this place like portable toilets, changing rooms etc. There are number of small stalls selling tea, maggie and snacks like wada pav, pakoda and samosas.
Since it was already late evening, we decided not to go any further and move back to the resort since the roads back were very narrow and risky. We reached the resort just after sunset. This time we ordered food from resort owner in room itself. A good round of partying, dancing, singing and everyone went to sleep only by break of dawn next day. Its a routine with these guys :-). It was a day well spent. Completely "Paisa wasool" fun.
Next day we got up and ready by 10 o clock and went out to nearby town. Had breakfast and started return journey. On the way back we decided to halt at the very first place we had stopped at on day 1 to cover the dam and lake side. We simply loved that spot. Since it was Sunday, crowd had increased. Climate was still very beautiful with on and off spells of rains.
On the way back home we took another halt at a beautiful valley view point near Igatpuri. Hot coal grilled corn and tea biscuits set the mood for return journey. We made it to Mumbai before dawn and the rains had arrived in Mumbai too.
Overall it was a fun outing, but we still could not cover many more places. Will have to definitely plan another trekking outing here to cover Sandhan valley and highiest mountain peak of Maharashtra i.e. Kalsubai. Till then let the memories of this beautiful trip soak in.
Will end the log with cautious note, nature is all for us and is always in giving mode, but do not play with its strengths. Stay safe and dont get into unwanted adventures.
Enjoy life! Have fun! Cheers!
SJ
To start with, it was not so difficult choice between Lonavla and Bhandardara for rainy outing since the hype around lonavla is bringing in hell lot of crowd there nowadays. Its certainly not a place where you want to go for leisure anymore. Anyways so we set foot for first outing with this group to Bhandardara knowing little or nothing about the place.
Couple of pick up/Tea halts at Thane and Bhiwandi bypass and we were on our way through Mumbai Nashik highway. It was indeed one beautiful day for an outing. Climate on the way through Kasara ghat and around was simply amazing.
Just beofre Ghoti bypass driver decided to take a route well known to him (unknown to us:-)) and our journey from highway to bhandardara uphill started through narrow but very well maintained roads.
Few kilometers inside and we came acrosss this beautiful place called "Bhavli dam". A huge waterfall getting into the stream and passing through small dam to a beautiful lake.
It was almost like a private waterfall adventure here. Since it was Saturday and many people dont know this place, it was an ideal spot to have some fun. Everyone decided to take a dip here and not wait till reaching Bhandardara to get wet. Bus turned into a changing room and we got into the falls in no time.
After bit of playing in and around waterfall it was a round of music and dancing. Afterall this is what fun is all about. Many other groups halted to join us on the dance floor.
Moving on from the waterfall we came across another random beautiful place on the way. Well, the hault was unplanned though! There was a vehicle stuck in mud and we decided to help. It took good amount of efforts, mud bath for some of my colleagues and lot of joking around to get that vehicle out. Unplanned but well deserved halt, nature was at its best. Anyways "BEST moments happen when they are UNPLANNED".
Post this halt we travelled all the way up to Bhandardara and checked into the resort that was very next to the MTDC resort. After getting refreshed we walked out to have lunch. Its another time I was bit disappointed of facilities at the tourist places in India. There were no proper places to eat, shop anything. Finally we got into the MTDC resort and thankfully got good tasty food out there. Post lunch we moved on to visit first planned point in the outing "Wilson dam" aka Bhandardara dam.
Bhandardara dam and umbrella falls are 2 linked tourist places. When the dam doors open water flows our small rounded hilly portion to form umbrella falls. Since the dam doors were closed we did not get to see the falls however the place around the dam and nearby lake was simply mesmerizing.
Post visiting lower portion of the dam we moved up to visit Arthur lake a reservoir to wilson dam. The lake is formed due to the water from Pravara river. This is one absolutely serene place but lot of tourists around as its a popular picnic point. We were warned not to get into the waters since the lake is very uneven and deep at some places. Many people have lost lives here due to unwanted adventure.
As usual due to popular tourist attraction we got stuck here in the traffic; some foolish people parking vehicles in the middle of the road. Post bit of hustle we made our way to one of the sources of water for some 34km long Arthur lake that is the "Randha falls". This is one fall where you can safely enjoy the waters as there is a bridge built just below the falls where you can walk and enjoy the water sprays from the fall very closely. As I know this fall has hydropower generation plant. There were decent tourist facilities at this place like portable toilets, changing rooms etc. There are number of small stalls selling tea, maggie and snacks like wada pav, pakoda and samosas.
Since it was already late evening, we decided not to go any further and move back to the resort since the roads back were very narrow and risky. We reached the resort just after sunset. This time we ordered food from resort owner in room itself. A good round of partying, dancing, singing and everyone went to sleep only by break of dawn next day. Its a routine with these guys :-). It was a day well spent. Completely "Paisa wasool" fun.
Next day we got up and ready by 10 o clock and went out to nearby town. Had breakfast and started return journey. On the way back we decided to halt at the very first place we had stopped at on day 1 to cover the dam and lake side. We simply loved that spot. Since it was Sunday, crowd had increased. Climate was still very beautiful with on and off spells of rains.
On the way back home we took another halt at a beautiful valley view point near Igatpuri. Hot coal grilled corn and tea biscuits set the mood for return journey. We made it to Mumbai before dawn and the rains had arrived in Mumbai too.
Overall it was a fun outing, but we still could not cover many more places. Will have to definitely plan another trekking outing here to cover Sandhan valley and highiest mountain peak of Maharashtra i.e. Kalsubai. Till then let the memories of this beautiful trip soak in.
Will end the log with cautious note, nature is all for us and is always in giving mode, but do not play with its strengths. Stay safe and dont get into unwanted adventures.
Enjoy life! Have fun! Cheers!
SJ
Thanks for sharing this blog, Sachin. It was really very well written. You have good writing skills and I recokn, you must continue to write blogs, travelogue etc. Thanks once again.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the nice words sir!
DeleteNice blog Sachin,Keep writing & updating new destination
ReplyDeleteNice detailing and facts with some superb pictures buddy...
ReplyDelete