Camping in Bhandardara
Bhandardara is a Maharashtra mountain station located in the Sahyadri Range. Beautiful scenery with rich foliage, pure hills, and, of course, several stunning waterfalls can be found in this untouched region. With the beautiful Arthur lake, Kalsubai climb, and other camping areas, Bhandardara is fast becoming a popular weekend destination for city people from Mumbai and Pune looking for a respite in nature.
Continue reading to learn how to arrange your vacation to the best of your ability! Imagine a romantic setting with comfortable tents erected on the shores of a glistening blue lake and a sky ablaze with thousands of stars.
The sky is painted diverse shades of blue, purple, and orange as the Sun sets and rises with ultimate elegance. Welcome to Arthur Lake, one of the hill station’s most popular attractions.waterfalls, as well as fishing and boating, making it a year-round tourist destination. Bhandardara provides an unrivalled range of possibilities for all types of travellers looking for a taste of nature and leisure. It is a must-visit weekend getaway place due to its closeness to Mumbai and constantly improving tourism infrastructure.
Traveling by road in a private vehicle is the best method to get to Bhandardara. Taking public transportation will take some effort, and it can be a long journey with bad roads. Having said that, the bulk of the trip is pleasant, with several restaurants and bathrooms strewn throughout the roadway.
– Bhandardara is roughly 160-190 kilometers from the city and takes about 3.5 to 4 hours to get by car. Mumbai and the town are connected via the NH 3 highway. Eastern International Highway, Mulund, Thane, Kalyan, Nashik Highway, Kasara, Igatpuri, Ghoti Tollbooth [turn right], Pimpalgaon, Bhandardara Dam is the best route to take.
From Pune: The hill station is about 170 kilometers from the city and takes approximately 4.5 to 5 hours to arrive. (State Highway) and NH 50 (National Highway) will be utilized. Pune, Narayangaon, Ozar, Otur, Bramhanwada, Kotul, Rajur, Shendi is the route to take (Bhandardara).
The mountain village is accessible by road from all regions of Maharashtra thanks to the State highway 44 that runs through it. Seek advice from locals or contact your travel operator for directions to the place. There is usually enough parking space close to the campgrounds, however you will have to go down a dusty road to get there. Bikes can ride almost all the way to the lake’s edge.
BY PUBLIC TRANSPORT: Trains like the Nandigram Express, Mahanagari Express, Kolkata Mail, and Howrah Mail may be boarded from CST to Igatpuri, or a local train can be taken to Kasara. (On the Central line) ST buses go between Igatpuri and Kasara Station to Bhandardara, however their regularity is minimal.
-If you are traveling in groups, you may rent a private car or jeep from Kasara Station to Bhandardara for Rs 1000-1200. This is not only more easy and pleasant, but it is also more cost-effective because the whole money may be divided among the group! If you’re travelling alone or with a buddy and don’t mind being crammed into a filthy,
overcrowded jeep for a few hours, you can take a shared jeep up to Varangushi village for around Rs 120 and then get on a jeep to Shendi for Rs.20! (Private car charges fluctuate depending on demand and weather conditions.)
Accomodation: Near the lake, there are a number of tourist businesses and individuals that offer tents, camping, and transportation as well as meals. Travel agencies and organisers charge between 1 and 1.5 thousand dollars per person for camping facilities such as tents, bonfires, and food.
– Transportation is available for an additional fee; meals, lodging, boats, and a free guide are all included. Triphippie
– Cicadas camping (pre-monsoon) by the lake in the Bhandardara forest costs around 1.5-2k, and Lakeside Camping (in winter) costs 1.5k.
– For an additional fee, provide internal transportation throughout Bhandardara, which includes meals, lodging, and a free tour. The months of July to September are ideal for seeing the cascades, and the rain brings the vegetation around the hills to its height. The months of October through February are perfect for activities such as camping and trekking, with the little chill in the air making for an ideal backdrop for a BBQ.
– Summer is often hot and dry, making it unsuitable for a visit. However, hotels provide excellent off-season rates, and the lake is still stunningly gorgeous with nice evenings. Here are some of the best places to visit in and near Bhandardara.
Arthur lake- The Pravara River flows the Arthur Lake, which has religious importance because Agastya Rishi meditated here for nearly a year. It’s around 34 kilometres long and serves as a reservoir for the Wilson Dam, which is close. The pristine skies and calm blue lake (with boating facilities) appear beautiful almost all day, as the sun rises and sets, and the stars come out to light up the night sky. Camping, bonfires, stargazing, and nature walks in the neighbouring lush forests are some of the activities that make this site a must-see in Bhandardara. Amruteshwar temple: The divinity of this temple, which is over 1000 years old, is Lord Shiva.
There is even a steam sauna beneath the Shiv Lingam. According to certain texts, the Pandavas erected this location during the Mahabharata. During the monsoons, even the temple’s inner sanctuary is inundated with water. These wonderful elements make a visit to the temple a one-of-a-kind experience, as one learns about the temple’s cultural and historical significance.
