Road Trip

adventurous rucksack
Nov 24, 2016
4 min read

PUNE - MALSHEJ GHAT - BANDARDARA - NASHIK - BHIMASHANKAR - PUNE

The most cherished trip!!

We started on the 24th Nov at 6.00 am from Pune. It was chill outside but the skies were clear and we were way too excited!!

We rode past Chakan and continued until Narayangaon, Maharashtra which took us about 3 hours early in the morning, without any traffic. We halted at Narayangaon for bf. Had mouthwatering and garma garam onion pakoda, Vada Paav and Misal Paav.

Content and stomach full, we proceeded further and continued through various villages like Junnar , Panshet, Shiroshi and Gunda and finally Sakurli TIP: Remember there are absolutely no petrol bunks on the way so please tank up in NarayangaoN before you enter these villages.

We ran out of fuel and happened to enquire with some locialites and figured out that in the villages there are small shops that actually sell bottles full of petrol but they are exorbitantly priced. Plus it was available only in Sakurli. They charged us Rs. 90/- per litre and refused to reduce the price even if you decide to buy 5 litres. We had no choice but to tank up.

So after tanking up, we proceeded further and finally reached Malshej...Please note : The village roads are not good especially Gunda and Sakurli. The roads were uneven, half tarred and very bumpy, full of potholes. So please take care to go slowly so that you don't land up with a puncture.

MALSHEJ GHAT - What can I say about this place...!! Its completely breathtaking!! The view is splendid. We were surrounded by peaks and lush green patches. Beauty to the eye I cannot describe... We were greeted by this beautiful structure ive shown below. So pretty.

At this spot you could get a complete view of the entire range. There were so many monkeys to greet us too and also a few vendors who sold corn. There were a lot of bikers like us trying their best to capture the view with their cameras. But I am telling you, even though I tried my best I could not capture it nor can i describe the beauty. You have to be there to witness it.

So we spent a good 1 hour there chilling and admiring the beauty of nature. We were a bit upset coz most of the waterfalls had dried up and only a few rivers and streams had a bit of water left. So i felt the best time to visit Malshej would have been September end when the monsoons would have just ended. But nevertheless it was still completely worth it.

We proceeded further toward Bandandara. The roads I tell you!!!! A pleasure to ride on... and so beautiful.

We used GPRS which showed us the route through Kalsubai Harischandragad Wildlife Sanctury, so we went right up the ghats all the way just to find that the road was a DEAD END. They have blocked the road (tunnel). We enquired with one police guy there and he said that since the gps showed the shortest route everyone was coming upto that point and were returning. so guys pls dont make that mistake. Ask the locals and proceed to Bandandara from Malshej DO NOT USE GPRS. Ask the localites for DOLCOME MARKET and then for Kasara. Proceed via Igatpuri and then Bandandara.

So, after returning all the way down, we took the right road to Bandandara.

Again here, due to lack of rain, it was not so great. The umbrella falls were also not such a sight as it would have been in the monsoon season. But we still enjoyed the little water that remained. We spent time till around 5.30 and decided to ride up to Nashik as there are no proper rooms or lodges in Bandandara to stay. (We lunched at Baba the Dhaba on the way. Trust me reasonably priced yummy lunch :))

We reached Nashik at around 8pm. (passing by Igatpuri- Gonde - Vilholi)

We stayed at the hotel called Silver inn. (Read my detailed review of this place on Trip advisor). https://www.tripadvisor.in/ShowUserReviews-g303883-d3916645-r440541016-Silver_Inn-Nashik_Maharashtra.html

This was the end of our DAY 1

Day 2 - NASHIK DARSHAN ;)

We started out at about 10 am in the morning. The sun was already out and it was pretty hot. We rode first to City centre first and spent some time shopping there. Its a beautiful mall in Nashik. ( we lunched at the hotel Shivaneri - terrible food please don't ever eat there. Its en route to the mall). We stayed there till about 2 pm and rode back to the hotel. We were planning to go to Triyambakeshwar by 3 pm.

We left the hotel by 3 pm and started our ride to Triyambakeshwar. The roads of Nashik are a pleasure to ride on. So wide and so clean.

We are not allowed cameras and mobile phones inside the temple so please leave it outside with any shop vendor. They give you a token as well. (5 for mobile and 10 bucks for camera).

There was a line inside to see God. It took about 1 hour to get done. But it was very beautiful. Jothirlinga means that the shiv linga has appeared on its own. Completely worth the wait. A very clean temple.

We had to hurry back to Vilholi as the Jain Mandir closes at sunset and we def could not miss that, so we rushed back just in time for that.

The Jain Mandir - Vilholi

A magical temple with the most brilliant architecture.

All i can say please have a look at the photos - its breathtaking. The sunset can be seen beautifully from the back of the temple. Its so clean and so beautiful. A must must must visit. Entry is free.

We later proceeded to Sita Gufa and Kala ram Mandir.

Sita Gufa- Such a cute place and so well maintained. It's a really small Mandir sought of structure. So we had a line before of us waiting to get in. Photography is prohibited (however, you can take your cameras and phone inside but not using the same obviously ). SO as you enter there is a cave kind of structure. you need to slide in. Its a great experience. You can see the idols as soon as you slide through. Its a very small temple but worth the visit completely.