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Bhandardara is located 70-km away from Nasik. It is a small and serene locale for those who need a break from their tedious and tiring lives. An exquisite holiday resort and an ideal getaway for fun-loving trekkers and picnickers, Bhandardara houses exhilarating waterfall - Radha Falls, a deep valley, a clean and large Arthur Lake, a historical Ratangadh Fort, an ancient temple - Amritheshwar Temple, a peaceful Agasti Rishi Ashram, Wilson Dam also known as Bhandardara Dam, and Viewpoints. It also hosts an ideal trekking destination - Mount Kalusubai.
Wilson Dam/ Bhandardara Dam
The
Wilson Dam also known as Bhandardara Dam at a height of 150m is the
largest earthen dam in the country and one of the oldest in Asia. At the
base of the dam is a circular garden & a swimming pool. It is a beauty
in itself and a very serene spot for the regular picnickers. An attraction
of this place is the Umbrella Falls, which provides a most picturesque
sight. The falls are best enjoyed in monsoon, when the water level is
amazingly high.
Arthur Lake
Bhandardara hosts an extravagant Arthur Lake amidst the dense greenery.
The lake water originates from the Pravara River. Streamlets from the lake
gush down 45m and are known as the Randha Falls. A scenic spot, these
falls have a great significance of being used for hydropower generation.
On the bank of the Pravara River is the Agasti Rishi Ashram. The ashram
attracts crowds from all over.
Amriteshwar Temple
For the religious-minded there is a historical temple, the Amriteshwar
Temple, which houses the idol of Lord Shiva. It is reachable by boat, and
is 8-km in the interior of the Arthur Lake. It is known for its beautiful
carvings, built in the discrete Hemadpanti style, which can be traced down
to 1,200 years back in history.
Mount Kalsubai, standing 1,646m above sea level is the
highest peak of Maharashtra on the Sahyadri range. It
gives a panoramic view of the lake and the dam. This Mount is most popular
spot for trekkers in Maharashtra.
For those who yen for trekking there is another trekking point - the
Ratangadh Fort. This Fort was captured by Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and
was one of his favorite forts. The fort has a breathtaking view and
provides the necessary ambience for the budding trekkers. One of the many
attractions that captivate the tourist's eye is the Konkan Kada, which is
often termed as the trekker's delight.
If it's the sheer thrill of a drive that one seeks and is ready to
grapple with some absolutely 'Kutcha' stretches of road, Ghatghar is the
spot one should head for. Ghatghar, a picturesque spot located 22-km from
Bhandardara, has on offer a point from where the view would no doubt be
terrific except that in the monsoons as the chances of the entire view
being blocked out are more likely than not.
Bhandardara is a place whose beauty emerges only after the rains. Bhandardara without the rains is an ordinary, dull & forming into the rising wind.
Air:
Nearest Airport is Nashik at 93- km.
Rail: Nearest railway station is Igatpuri at 45-km on Central
Railway Line.
Road: Bombay - Bhandardara 185 km. Pune - Bhandardara 191-km.
Buses ply regularly from Igatpuri to Bhandardara.
MTDC has a holiday resort at Bhandardara and there are also private hotels available in Bhandardara