Malshej Ghat
Malshej Ghat, famous for its waterfalls and thick mist, is a must visit destination during monsoons. During monsoons, cloud cover at Malshej Ghat is so thick that visibility reduces to mere five meters, letting you have the experience of walking in the clouds. Malshej Ghat shot into prominence as the location where the climax of Mani Ratnam's movie Raavan was shot. You will find plenty of waterfalls right near the highway and the fun is in getting hopelessly drenched under the cascade of water.
( See Video of Malshej Ghat )
It is just a couple of hours away from either Mumbai or Pune and can be visited either as a day trip or as a weekend break.
Where to Stay at Malshej Ghat? : Listing of Budget Hotels and Resorts at Malshej Ghat
Mumbai to Malshej Ghat Road Map
Take the Eastern Expressway , cross Thane and reach Bhiwandi
At Bhiwandi, turn right towards Kalyan. Proceed on the road till you see a sign board for Murbad.Turn towards Murbad and proceed straight to Malshej Ghat via Saralagaon
Mumbai to Malshej Ghat Route map : Mumbai > Bhiwandi >Kalyan > Murbad> Sarlagaon> Malshej Ghat
The road is well maintained and pleasent is drive with lush greenery all around.
Mumbai to Malshej Ghat Distance: 160 Kms (approx)
Mumbai to Malshej Ghat Road Map
Pune to Malshej Ghat Road Map
Pune > Narayangoan > Junnar > Naneghat > Madh > Malshej Ghat
Pune to Malshej Ghat Distance: 130 Kms Pune to Malshej Ghat Road Map
Resorts at Malshej Ghat
Though Malshej Ghat can be a good day trip destination from Mumbai or Pune, it is recommended to stay at Malshej Ghat to completely savor the experience. Unfortunately, there are not many resorts at Malshej Ghat as the season is only during the Monsoon period. For travel with family, MTDC resort at Malshej aptly called Flamingoes is the only good option. Resting on a small plateau and overlooking the Malshej valley, MTDC resort at Malshej Ghat has the best location.
During the monsoons, the entire resort is covered in a dense cloud of mist and is the best time to stay at MTDC Malshej Ghat. In fact, it might be difficult to locate the resort entrance as it will be hidden behind a sheet of fog. This photo was taken at afternoon 3 PM and you can check the visbility.
If there is something to complain about MTDC Flamingos resort at Malshej Ghat , it is the quality of food. It is edible but not tasty. That said, the location, the fun in the mist makes up for all the short comings.
Contact Number of MTDC head Office - 022 - 2202 6713 (Central Reservation Office of MTDC).
The other option at Malshej Ghat is Su - Shant Resort, Malshej Ghat (Mobile Number : 09860146030)
Where to Stay : Hotels and Resorts at Malshej Ghat
Key Attractions at Malshej Ghat
One of the best ways to enjoy your visit to Malshej Ghat is to sit in the spray of a waterfall. There are millions of waterfalls and finding the one that is right for you at Malshej Ghat should not be too difficult. There’s nothing better than these simple pleasures of life.
There are many trails that are ideal for a long walk in the rains. There are plenty of awe-inspiring sights of mountains and valleys as you walk. Sometimes, the dense fog means you cannot enjoy the views. Instead, you can enjoy the walk in the mist. If you do not want to follow any of the offbeat trail, walk on the road itself. The Malshej Ghat road in itself offers excellent views of waterfalls. However, it gets too crowded on Sundays.
Flamingos The most famous guests of Malshej Ghat are the Flamingos. Myriads of pink-legged European flamingoes arrive during the monsoon and breed in the waters of the Pimpalgaon-Joga Dam. It is just 4 kms away from Flamingo Hill and worth the visit to watch the mating dance of these birds. Apart from flamingoes, many species including the Alpine Swift, Purple Moorhen, Pitta, Quail, Whistling Thrush, Green Pigeon, Pied Crested Cuckoo can be sighted in and around Malshej Ghat.If you are visiting during the Flamingo season,do visit Pimpalgaon-Joga Dam.
Treks at Malshej Ghat
For those into trekking, Harishchandragad offers an excellent climb. To start the trek, reach Khubi village at a distance of 7 Kms from Malshej Ghat. It is advisable to hire services of a local guide. Peak monsoons may not be the best time for the trek. It is generally more enjoyable during winters.
Get on and get moving to Malshej Ghat and enjoy the rains.
Related : Weekend getaways from Mumbai | MTDC Resorts
Contribution by Razzak Baig