Bhandardara

Set along the Sahyadri Range in Maharastra, the village of Bhandardara is a gift of nature. Ornamented with breathtaking waterfalls, the facade of mountains is a real treat to the eyes. Tall peaks of the mountains touching the blue sky, dotted with thick green forests look like a painter’s creation. The legendary Pravara River flows by this beautiful suburban area of Maharashtra. With its pristine nature and scenic beauty, Bhandardara allures nature lovers round the year. This region has some picturesque lakes and other spots where tourists come for picnics. Adventure lovers too have great opportunities of trekking and hiking in the mountainous trails near Bhandardara. This picturesque village on the western coast of India has come up as one of the favourite tourist places of West India.

Located in Ahmednagar District of Maharashtra, Bhandardara is home to the state’s highest peak Mount Kalsubai. Bhandardara is known to have mythological and historical significance. There are historical structures and several ancient temples on the mountain peaks surrounding the place. Ratangad Fort, known to be a favourite of Maratha King Chatrapati Shivaji, had one of the largest rainwater catchments in the olden days. Harishchandragad Fort is another such monument in the vicinity of Bhandardara village. Both these spots are trekkers’ delight and among the major attractions of Bhandardara. The region is replete with numerous vegetation, mammal, avian and amphibian species. Summers here can be extremely hot and dry. Sections of this travel guide will unveil many more aspects of the place.

October to May

There are many splendid locations which are must visit places at Bhandardara:

Bhandarara has some eating joints offering native food. Rice, cereals, vegetables and fruits form a part of native diet. Chapattis or flatbread prepared with wheat and yellow gram flour and sweetened with jaggery is a popular item known as puran poli. Snacks called bonda and batata vada are prepared with fried potato fillings. Non-vegetarian items include meat and sea fish made pungent with garlic and ginger. MTDC resort has an eatery called Yashanjali Hotel which offers both vegetarian and non-vegetarian foods. According to our tourist guide, there is a restaurant named Kaka Hotel which offers Gujarati meal. It is located in Bhandarara’s main market area.

Important tourist information for people who love shopping - Bhandardara does not provide much scope for shopping. Local artisans are skilled in weaving fabrics and saris. One can check out the local market for such handloom items. The exquisite craft of bidriware which is an intricate artistry of silver inlay on metal ware are also available here.

Bhandardara is well connected by road with nearby cities of Mumbai and Pune. The distance between Mumbai – Bhandardara is about 164 km. From Pune, it is about 161 km. away. Regular buses and taxis ply to Bhandardara from both the cities. The nearest railhead is Igatpuri at a distance of about 45 km. State transport busses and taxis connect Igatpuri to Bhandardara. The nearest airport is at Mumbai (about 164 km. away). Bhandardara can be reached by bus, taxis or private cars from Mumbai. Buses and taxis are also available to explore the place and nearby towns and villages.

Randha Falls, Ghatghar and Mount Kalsubai are other attractions worth visiting. Angling at the local water bodies is a much-loved activity.

After sightseeing in Bhandardara, there are some fascinating places which you can explore: Ratangad Fort (about 22 km.): Tryambak Darwaza is the main entrance to the fort leading through narrow passages. There is a hole on mountain top named Nedhe, meaning eye of needle in native language. The fort is named following its shape. Harishchandragad Fort (about 44 km.): This is another historical monument which has many caves with idols of different Gods and Goddesses. Amruteshwar Temple (about 16 km.): This temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is located in Ratanwadi, the base village for reaching Ratangad Fort. It is famous for its carvings and ancient architecture. Agastya Rishi Ashram (about 36 km.): This Ashram is located on the banks of River Pravara and is a pilgrimage place for Hindus. The Ashram and sage Agastya finds mention in Hindu scripture ‘The Ramayana.’ It is believed that Ram, Lakshman and Sita visited Agastya Rishi during their exile.