Weekender to Bhandardara

Lonavala, Mahabaleshwar, Matheran have become the cliche of Maharashtra hill stations. Bhandardara, a quaint little hillstation enroute to Shirdi is a beautiful place to get away from the daily hustle of Mumbai life. About 170 km from Mumbai via the Nashik highway, this place has been protected from the tourism encroachment.

With just couple of good hotels, you need to plan and book early. The MTDC hotel is newly renovated and provides splendid views of the dam. The breeze or wind is so strong that you literally need to hold on at some times. A must do is the approx 60 km round trip through the Sahyadrirs with a local guide. A scenic road through the greenery, waterfalls, valleys, dam, temples provide some breathtaking photos and views.

The next day, we planned for the ambitious Kalsubai trek - the highest peak in Maharashtra at 1646 meters above sea level. Alongwith a couple of more friends, we started early morning parking our car in a nearby village. We pre-ordered a homely desi chicken lunch and started our climb. It was an extremely difficult and slipary terrain that only two of of my friends could overcome and reach the peaks. Luckily, by the time we came down our lunch was waiting for us with a perfect setting besides a waterfall and stream surrounded by wild animals and local villagers.

Back to the foothills by 4 pm, we managed an early exit back to Mumbai. A perfect weekend trip surrounded by lush green nature, beautiful foggy weather and an adventurous trek that folks from Mumbai and Pune can easily plan.