Bhandardara

Bhandardara is an exquisite holiday hangout on the hills and an excellent place for trekkers. It is a calm, quiet and serene place with lovely picnic spots. Bhandardara nestling amongst the Sahayadri's is an ideal stopover for tourists going to or coming from Shirdi. As Bhandardara is in the interior regions of Maharashtra, extreme changes in the climate can be experienced. The summers being very hot and the winters are very cold. Attire by the people of this place is worn according to the climatic conditions. Cotton clothes are preferred in summers while wollen clothes are used in winters. The Languages spoken by the people of Bhandardara is Marathi, Hindi and English. Bhandardara, set at an elevation of 750 meters above sea level, is located on the banks of the Pravara river. The place is endowed with striking view. The area extends a unique chance for nature based tourism. The place can be explored by those who wish to break up from the hustle and bustle of city life. Nature lovers and trekkers would be captivated at Bhandardara as there is a lot to see and do. The area is sprinkled with forts and history. Bhandardara, located in the Ahmednagar district, is one of the finest jewels of Mother Nature. Bhandardara with the luxuriant green vales and the clear sky help one in associating more with themselves. It is more enchanting in the rainy season with the trees soaked in rain and dew drops sticking to the leaves. The place shows with faultless preciseness the magnanimousness of the nature.

When To Go
Bhandaradara experiences hot climate as ell as pleasant climate. Summers (March to May) in Bhandardara are very hot and dry when temperature gets almost high as 40 C. Monsoons (June to September) offer relief from the hot temperature and the humidity levels goes up during this season. Monsoon seasons make the humidity high and sultry due to heavy showers and cold winds. Rainy seasons are quite enjoyable and offers good views of waterfalls. Winters (December to February) are cooler here with temperature dropping down to 10 C. Typically the tourists prefer this climate for visit in Bhandaradara. Best season to visit Bhandaradara is just after the monsoons and winters from October to February. March to June is good for exploring the natural attractions. In July to September, the scenic umbrella falls are seen only during monsoon and post-monsoon seasons. October to February is amazing with pleasant climate and is ideal for sightseeing.
Attractions

Bhandardara Lake (Lake Aurthur Hill)

Bhandardara Lake is also known as Lake Aurthur Hill. It is formed by the dammed up waters of the Pravara river. It is a major tourist attraction. It is located amidst the dense green forest. Shri Agasti Rishi meditated continuously for a year at this place so it has a religious importance too. The lake was built in 1910. The lake is a reservoir for Wilson dam and is 34 km long. The lake is quiet deep at certain places. Rivulets from the lake rush down 45 m and is known as the Randha Falls. The falls have big implication because it is used for hydro-power generation.

Mt Kalsubai
Mount Kalsubai is the highest peak (1,646 meters) of the Sahyadri range. The peak point served as a tower to watch the enemies during the Maratha rule. It is an nonpareil place to enjoy trekking. A small temple can be seen at the top. The temple has an old well in its backyard. According to legend the water level of the well never drops below 3 feet. From the top of Mount Kalsubai, one can get great view of the Bhandardara lake and Wison dam. Immediately after the rainy season, the place is covered with variety of flowers. During the months October to November people neighbouring region organize a religious fair at this place.

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Randha Falls
Placed in the Igatpuri region of the Sahyadris is the Randha Falls. It is a 45 m high waterfall. The falls is 11 km from Wilson Dam. The water of the falls is used for generation of hydro-power. The falls is a tourist spot at Bhandardara. 10 km down river, the serenity is zonked by the thunder of the Randha Falls. The Pravara river plunks 170 ft down into a gullet and creates a breathtaking sight. This is the third largest falls in India. On the drops behind there are nearly a dozen huge beehives. They are very interesting to watch.

Ratangad Fort
Ratangad Fort was captured by Maharaj Chhatrapati Shivaji. This fort was one of his favorite forts. He loved to spend most of his leisure time in the fort. The fort is set in the realms of the nature. The fort has grounds for trekkers. The view from the fort is beautiful and breathtaking. There are two caves to be seen at the top of the Fort. These caves can be used for staying. One can go round the fort to look at the Kalsubai mountain range. The fort has a natural opening. A visitor can spend his time by sitting in the opening.
Distances

Pune 137 km 2h, 30m Mumbai 163 km 3h Hyderabad 635 km 13h, 20m

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