Malshej Ghats: Where you can be in Clouds!

Tripoto
22nd Jul 2018
Photo of Malshej Ghats: Where you can be in Clouds! by Priya Parashar

Malshej ghat is situated at height of approx 700 m near the borders of Thane and Ahmednagar districts. It is at 130 km north of Pune and 154 km from Mumbai towards northeast. The site is nestled in the lofty rugged hills of the Western Ghats. One of the beauties here are many waterfalls in the hilly regions. Various waterfalls from small to the huge ones are worth seeing. The monsoon months from July-September are a good time to visit Malshej Ghat, with green hills and exotic flamingos visit this area.
We did a bike trip to this place this monsoon from Mumbai. It took us about 3 hours to reach. The road trip is truly mesmerizing in monsoon. We were fortunate enough to witness an amazing weather. The entire to & fro journey to Malshej was laced with drizzles & short bursts of rains.
The valley has abundant of beautiful views. The lush greenery is a treat to the eyes. The rolling grasslands add to the charm along with the natural waterfalls interspersed on the roads

How to reach
By Air: Pune and Mumbai are the nearest airport. At the airport, you can find private taxis and cabs for hire
By Train: Kalyan is the nearest railway station. At the railway station, there is local transportation system available that ensures easy moving
By Road: Numerous buses and taxis are available for hire. Self-driven vehicle is one of the best ways to reach Malshej Ghat

Where to stay
Flamingo Hill is a resort run by MTDC – Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation in the vicinity. Other than MTDC resort, there are other private resorts where you can spend a night.

What to see
There are numerous trekking trails in the surrounding hills to be traversed, gushing waterfalls and the verdant flora and fauna to be enjoyed. We were thrilled at the sight of the pink flamingoes that swoop down here.
Also, if you have ample time you can explore following places: -
Harishchandragad- is a 6th century fort which is good for adventurous trekking
Pimpalgaon Joga Dam is one of the beautiful attractions in Malshej Ghat. The lofty cliffs of the dam and vast expanse of the beautiful backwater contribute to the beautiful scenery of the place
Shivneri Fort- a 17th-century military fortification located near Junnar which is the birthplace of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj

Photo of Malshej Ghats: Where you can be in Clouds! by Priya Parashar
Photo of Malshej Ghats: Where you can be in Clouds! by Priya Parashar
Photo of Malshej Ghats: Where you can be in Clouds! by Priya Parashar