The Tamhini Ghat Mulshi Dam region is abundant with natural landscapes, and greenery. After a hard working week, you need some time for yourself where you can relax and enjoy.
Lonavala and Khandala have become the go to places for folks from Pune or Mumbai. These have become too commercial now. So if you are looking for a different place where you can spend time over the weekend then you continue to read our blog.
Tamhini Ghat is a pass which connects Pune with the coastline of Maharashtra. You can locate Tamhini Ghat Mulshi Dam in the Mulshi region of Pune district. The Dam was built in the 1920s. And now this region is developed as a tourist spot.
How to Reach
The Tamhini Ghat has a road through the Sahyadris and connects Pune with the Konkan region. It is a small ghat with curvy roads and its beauty is such that one needs to stop and experience it.
It has 3 sides to approach, one approach is from Pune. The other approach is from Kolad, Indapur and Mangaon. The third one is from Pali which then connects to Lonavala.
At a distance of 35 Kms from Pune, it takes 45 mins to 1 hr to reach Tamhini Ghat. You will be driving along the bank of the backwaters of the Mula River on your way.
It is a scenic drive of about 10 Kms. You will have the backwaters of Mulshi lake on one side and the Sahyadri mountains on the other side. This drive is beautiful as you will pass through small villages and tiny huts on the way.
The roads are now concretised and the drive is much better than before.
If you approach from Mumbai then you can divert at Lonavala and reach Pali. We will discuss in detail ahead.
There are many small eateries along the road which serve hot tea and snacks. Also, you will get some restaurants along the way. Many resorts have now come up in this area due its natural beauty and proximity to both Mumbai and Pune.
Best Time to Travel to Tamhini Ghat & Mulshi Dam
You can visit here at any time around the year. The summers here are dry and without any fog or rain. Still you will get magnificent views of nature which includes the Mula River, the fields, mountains and a lot more.
During the winters this place is pleasant and calm. If you visit here in the early winter then you won’t miss the waterfalls of the rainy season.
You will have a lot of fun if you come here during monsoons. The whole region of Mulshi is lush green with fields on both the sides. There are white streams of waterfalls in every corner of the hills and mountains. Dark clouds in the background of the mountains add to the beauty.
Attractions of the Tamhini Ghat Mulshi Dam Trip
Tamhini Waterfalls
During the rains, there are dark clouds over the mountains. One can hardly miss the waterfalls formed by the rain from these clouds. During the Rains there are plenty of small and big waterfalls here. Small shrubs growing along the main road with the water stream passing by, it is a treat for your eyes.
People love to be in the waterfalls and have a lot of fun here. Due to this the Waterfalls gets a lot of crowd on weekends during the rains.
Palse Waterfall
This is the main waterfall in this region which attracts a lot of crowd. Good and huge flow of water and it is safe to travel to. It has a main entrance and one can park their vehicle outside. Then you can walk towards the waterfall.
Mulshi Dam
The Mulshi Dam gets water from the Mula river. Different waterfalls and mountains water goes into this river. The River spread over a large area almost up to Lonavala towards the Aamby Valley side.
You can have an extensive view of the backwaters from the viewpoint created near the dam. The Mulshi dam water gets used for storing water as well as hydroelectricity. The viewpoint gives you beautiful views of the water and the mountains behind it.
Fort Kailasgad
On the opposite side of the Mulshi Dam is Fort Kailasgad. It is a good one day Trek of medium to high difficulty level.
The walking trail passes through a lot of bushes and small trees (chest to head in height) which is a minor challenge.
The Rear Side of The Tamhini Ghat
There are beautiful waterfalls and scenic locations on the rear side too. Here you will find waterfalls with a lot of water gushing and hardly any crowd. This is because few people visit the rear side of the ghat. Most of the people who travel from Pune miss the beauty here as they do not travel to the rear side of the Ghat.
The Pune side of the Tamhini Ghat ends around the Kamath Hotel. The Kamath Hotel serves the regular South Indian and a mix of Maharashtrian and Punjabi food. There is ample space to park your car here. The Kamath Hotel serves as a point to relax and think over if you want to move ahead or go back.
Check the photos of the parking space with the Mulshi Backwaters and mountains in the backdrop.
If you visit the rear side during the monsoon or winter season, then there is a possibility of a lot of fog here. This will make the visibility low and driving with caution is necessary.
There are some points from which you can click beautiful sunset photos. If you come on this side in the evening or night you can view beautiful lights of the nearby cities from the top.
Nearby Places to Tamhini Ghat and Mulshi Dam
The Tamhini Ghat connects Pune with the entire coastline of Konkan region. This includes places like Murud Dapoli, Guhagar, Ratnagiri etc.
Beyond the Ghat, there are some beautiful places which one can explore on this trip. You would view these places if you travel here from Lonavala. Any one traveling from Mumbai will have to take this road.
Andharbhan Forest and Trek
‘Andhar’ means darkness and ‘ ban’ means forest. As the name suggests, this is a forest trek. The forest is dense and while you trek it feels as if you are walking here at night. You need to be careful and should avoid this trek at night if you are a beginner and new to the trek.
It will take you a total of 4 to 6 hours to complete this trek. The trek is from easy to moderate level.
Devkund Waterfall
As you move towards Pali, you will find a gorgeous and secretive waterfall. Its name is the Devkund Waterfall. It is not easy to locate as it is not on the main road. You will need to hike your way to reach the Devkund Waterfall. It has a lot of visitors since it has now become popular.
Since it is in the interior and is secluded, you should avoid it after sunset or late evening.
Drive to Pali
Pali is a city which is on the way to Lonavala. As we drove towards Pali we saw life in a primitive way. This is a tribal area. You can see the tribals take the road, walking through the forests without any fear.
This is an area hardly visited. Only if you love slow and leisure travel will you discover such beauty. After sunset, it is very dark around here as well. But the place is full of natural beauty.
As you reach Pali city you will see the hustle and bustle of city life. Pali is famous for the it’s Ashthavinayak Ganesh Mandir.
Tikona Fort
On the Pune side, before you enter Mulshi Region on the Pune Side, you need to divert to reach this beautiful fort Tikona. It is a one day trek visit. You can reach the top of the fort in around 1 or max 2 hours. The trek is of Easy to Moderate level. Check out some of its Photos.
If you would like to know more about this fort, please visit Our Blog on Tikona Fort
Our Road Story
We have visited the Tamhini Ghat and Mulshi Dam in all seasons. We must say that this region is abundant in natural beauty. The drive here is beautiful as it takes you along the Mula river on one side and the Sahyadri Mountains on the other.
It is a bonus if you travel here in the raining or early winter season to watch Sahydris with their waterfalls.
It is well suited for families who want to have a great time with their loved ones in nature. Even if you do not want to visit the places here, a drive along the banks of the Mula river to Tamhini Ghat is pure bliss which you should experience.
Have a Happy Road Story !!!
Please share our blog to people who are interested in family road trips. And also to travel, wildlife and nature lovers.
Thank you for reading and your support.