Somewhere down the state highway to Malshej Ghat, Mumbai, everything it stands for vanishes, and the show begins to unfold. You don’t need a signboard pointing out the route to heaven, you will know when you have reached Malshej Ghat. The drive to Malshej is truly breathtaking, but when you set your eyes on the backwaters of Pimpalgaon Joga Dam, the picture is so ethereal that you will be compelled to catch your breath in excitement.
Malshej Ghat is a wildly beautiful haven of towering peaks and bottomless valleys, home to a hundred different kinds of flora and fauna, and mountain air so fragrant and pure, that you wish you could pack some to take back home. Miles and miles of rolling meadows and paddies neatly stitched into a huge quilt of varying greens, the peaks hiding behind rolling mists and blue-grey monsoon clouds – all vie for your attention. You almost don’t know where to rest your gaze.
How to Reach Malshej Ghat from Mumbai
By Road: The best way to reach Malshej Ghat from Mumbai is by taking the NH3 to Bhiwandi, the state highway to Malshej Ghat via Kalyan, Saralgaon, and Vaishakhare. The road to Kalyan is excellent with light traffic.
By Rail: Nearest Railhead is Kalyan (86km/ 1.5 hours). The best option is to catch the Gitanjali Express(the route starts at Mumbai CSMT and covers Dadar and Thane). From Kalyan share an auto to Malshej ghat. ST buses leave at a good frequency from Kalyan Bus Stand (W), platform no. 6 for Malshej ghat, morning to night.
By Car: Drive to Malshej Ghat via Bhiwandi, Kalyan, Saralgaon and Vaishakhare.
When to Visit Malshej Ghat
The best time to visit Malshej Ghat is from June to September during the monsoons when the waterfalls are in spate and the flamingoes come visiting. Malshej in monsoons is sheer poetry. Something just happens to these hills when the monsoon comes. The ghats come into their own when the rains begin to lash against them. Wet barks and soaked valleys, lush green hills, and a feeble breeze in between August rain that is sometimes gentle and sometimes harsh.
Things to See in Malshej – Gravity-Defying Rain & Waterfalls
Gravity-Defying Waterfalls & Rain
Perched on the edge of a plateau is the MTDC hotel (managed by a private party) which is gifted with the best location. But just 160 feet from its restaurant, in the hotel’s backyard, is land’s end. The plateau ends its life suddenly and the next piece of land emerges several hundreds of feet below. When you look down the valley, the drizzle changes the direction suddenly. It begins to rain from down under as if the valley is pushing out the rain toward your face to clean it!
Such is the force of the wind in some parts of the mountain heights that the water falling over the peaks is forced back over the peaks in the form of a reverse waterfall or water rise. This is a natural wonder that you will not find anywhere else.
Malshej ghat is perfect for long walks down twisting mountain trails screaming down the slopes and waiting for an affirmation from the hills. Malshej is also home to a variety of nature’s amazing creations – the giant Indian squirrel and the giant Asian moth are among the more famous ones.
Pimpalgaon Joga Dam
The Pimpalgaon Joga Dam, about 4 km away from the Flamingo Hill Resort, is a long bund blocking Pushpavati River, which springs out of Malshej Ghat. the dam has created a lake that swells in the monsoon. And its expansion quietly submerges vast tracts of trees, leaving the taller ones standing with their heads barely out of water.
For a month between July and September every year, droves of Flamingoes arrive at Malshej Ghat. If you visit during this season, as per the villagers, you can also see the mating dance of the bird lovers.
Lenyadri Girijatmaka Temple
Lenyadri Village in Junnar Taluka houses the holy Girijiatmaka Ashtavinayak temple. The drive itself is a wonderful experience, most of it on a dirt track with sugarcane fields on either side and later through a canopy of green formed by giant eucalyptus trees. The first sight of the Lenyadri Vinayak Temple, perched high up on one of Sahyadri Range’s most majestic peaks is phenomenal, to say the least.
From the ground level, you can see the entire face of a mountain in which Buddhist monks at some point carved caves (dating back 3rd Century) for their monasteries. One of the caves came to be the home of the Girijatmaj Ganpati. You have to walk up about 307 winding stone steps, frequently stopping to catch your breath, to reach the temple in the cave. The temple itself has been declared as a national monument.
Harishchandragad – The Triple Crown
About 7 km from Flamingo Resort is the base of a mountain that rises about 4,671 ft in the air. Harishchandragad is the kind of peak that trekkers boast of having climbing. The grand hill fort of Harishchandragad is crowned by no less than three pinnacles – Harishchandra, Rohidas, and Taramati.
The trek to the top is tough and certainly not for the uninitiated. Atop the fort is a huge plateau and the 11th-century Harishchandreshwar Mandir, dedicated to Shiva, Vithoba, Rakhumai, and Ganesh. The Mangalganga stream flows here, and if you follow it down to the Kedarsheswar Cave. you will come across an enormous Shivaling, that is surrounded by a pool of cold water.
After a grueling climb to the fort, you are treated to some incredible views. You may also get lucky and spot flamingos on the way up. From behind the temple, you have to climb over a hillock to get to the majestic Konkan Kada viewpoint, a fantastic horseshoe-shaped valley with sheer cliff faces. Eddie currents created by the cliffs create a boomerang effect, throw a twig over the edge and it will come back to you.
A Note of Caution
If you are visiting the Narayangaon Malshej belt, here is a word of caution. The thick forests of Malshej and Junnar have long been a natural habitat for leopards. But with an increase in the human populace now encroaching into the forests, the subsequent scarcity of food has caused these magnificent cats to come into the farmer’s fields at night to prey on cattle and pets.
So when travelling through the belt, please avoid stepping out especially at night and on two-wheelers when you would be more vulnerable to attack.
Malshej is the perfect weekend destination if you want to spend some time surrounded by greenery, calm, and nature.
FAQ
What is Malshej Ghat famous for?
Malshej is famous for its lush green valleys and misty hills. More importantly, it is known as the land where rain and waterfalls defy gravity.
Which district is Malshej Ghat in?
Pune District.
If you are looking for other options in Kashmir, check out my posts on Pahalgam, Gulmarg, Snowfall in Kashmir, and Best time to Visit Kashmir. If you are looking for options in Ladakh, check out Ladakh Weather, Nubra Valley, 5 Days Kashmir Itinerary, Best Packing tips for Ladakh & best tourist places in Ladakh.
If you are looking for places to visit in the Andaman Islands, please check my post on Radhanagar Beach & Ross Island.
If you are looking for other seaside options, check my posts on Murud Janjira, Kashid, Pirwadi Beach, and Kihim Beach in Maharashtra. Alternatively, if you are interested in some Religious tourism, please check my posts on Golden Temple, Kamakhya, Trimbakeshwar, and Kashi Vishwanath. If you are looking for North East Adventure tours, check my posts on Shillong, Meghalaya, Dawki, Double Decker Living Root Trek, and 7 Day North East Itinerary. If you are looking for something in Sikkim, check Tsomgo Lake.
You can also check out my post on Best Places to Visit Mahabaleshwar.
If you are looking for some spirituality, you can check out Ganga Aarti in Dashashwamedh Ghat or Ghats in Varanasi.
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