Bhandardara is 3.5 hrs drive from Mulund and located in the Shayadri Mountain Ranges and about 1.5 hrs from Igatpuri. We had booked rooms in MTDC Resort which has pretty reasonable tariff but can give only ** ratings. There are very few resort/hotel options available in Bhandardara and has remained far off from the commercialization. May be that is why nature could stay intact there.
MTDC resort is located on the Bhandardara lake and we got the lake facing rooms. The lake is more like an ocean, it’s that huge and deep. And wind blows pretty hard at the resort because of the open space around it. At night time it gets scary with the fog, whooshing sound of wind and minimum lights in the resort. Though nothing to be scared of. ?. It’s just 5 min of walk upto the lake from the MTDC resort.
There are rice paddy fields everywhere in Bhandardara. On day 1, we went to Wilson dam, an umbrella waterfall and saw another lake which was overflowing and water was coming over the levee on to the road and falling down. The lake also has the spill way underneath the road and all the access water from the lake comes out from that spill way and forms a big-heavy waterfall. It reminded me of the Niagara falls.
We visited the same place next day and the road and the open area between and lake and the road was completely submerged in the water and still the vehicles were allowed to pass on that road. It was pretty scary sight!! One has to see this to believe it!! Wind was blowing so hard that to open/close the car door we had to literally push and pull the door.
Next day we did 45 km drive around the lake. We did pass through the jungle. The whole 45 km drive is very beautiful with numerous water falls, more dams, levees, an old temple, mountains-completely covered with greenery, river, streams and small villages passing on the way.
There are several hiking trails in that area too!! Kalsubai (highest peak in Sahayadri Mountain Ranges), mini Kalsubai, Raja Harishchandra Gagh to name the few.
Our guide told us that he also pitches tents for tourists.
On top of all this, we get to enjoy Gujarati food in the “Kaka Hotel” in the Bhandardara village.
All in all an excellent weekend gateaway from Mumbai!!
the photos can be seen here
Great article and great photos Amisha. Thanks for the post. It will be useful to others planning a trip there.
Amisha, thank you for the detailed post. Nice pictures as well. Love it 🙂
Amisha, nice pics and article. Interesting only 3.5 hrs drive.
Nice to see you guys. Great pics. Thats the beauty of Sayadari and konkan range.
Yet to explore Konkan 🙂
I I agree . It is surely a great place. Also try ujjaini dam near Aurangabad.
“the road and the open area between and lake and the road was completely submerged in the water and still the vehicles were allowed to pass on that road. It was pretty scary sight!! ” – Did you also cross the road or just watched??
We crossed the road twice and on the 2nd day it was pretty scary!! On the day before people parked their cars on the side and were having fun in the overflowing water but next day no one was stopping there. Just passed by and watched the scene after/before passing the lake.