In today’s blog post, uncover the Bhandardara 2-day itinerary.

This monsoon, those looking for the perfect monsoon destination— head to Bhandardara.

To help you plan a stress-free trip, I’ve posted a Bhandardara Travel Guide.

One of the common questions when planning a trip to Bhandardara is— how many days are enough?

Assuming you want to visit the waterfalls and partake in an activity or two, you need 2-3 days.

Depending on the places you want to see and activities you want to partake in, you need 2-3 days.

I was in Bhandardara for two days, and there was ample time to visit and enjoy all the waterfalls.

If you don’t want to read the whole post, here’s a summary of the Bhandardara 2-day itinerary.

It’s how I spent two days in Bhandardara.

DAY 1

• Pune to Bhandardara 5-hour drive (5 a.m. to 10 a.m.) to
• Lake Arthur at 10:10 a.m. (30 minutes)
• Koltembe Falls at 11:10 a.m. (15 minutes)
• Vasundhara Falls at 11:40 a.m. (45 minutes)
• Lunch at 12:40 p.m.
• Nhani Waterfall at 1:30 p.m. (20 minutes)
• Necklace Waterfall at 1:55 p.m. (10 minutes)
• Amruteshwar temple at 2:05 (15 minutes)
• Sandhan Valley at 2:40 p.m. (45 minutes)
• Tea and snacks break at 3:50 p.m.
• Reach the hotel by 5:30 p.m.

DAY 2

• Breakfast at the hotel
• Checkout of the hotel at 10:30 a.m.
• The Umbrella Waterfall viewpoint at 10:40 a.m. (10 minutes)
• Bhandardara Dam spillage at 10:55 a.m. (15 minutes)
• Randha Falls at 11:30 a.m. (30 minutes)
• Lunch at 12:10 p.m.
• Bhandardara to Pune 5-hour drive (1:10 p.m. to 6:40 p.m.)

Well, that was the short version. Now for the detailed version.

DAY 1

PUNE TO BHANDARDARA (5 A.M. TO 10 A.M.)

It is a 5-hour drive from Pune to Bhandardara. I left my house at 5 a.m. and arrived in Bhandardara at 10 a.m.

There are two routes from Pune to Bhandardara: via Ozar and Sangamner.

I travelled via Ozar en route to Bhandardara and took the Sangamner route on the return journey.

VIA OZAR

Pune – Rajgurunagar – Manchar Narayangaon – Ozar – Otur – Brahmanwada – Kotul – Rajur – Bhandardara

It is 164 km and 4½ hours.

VIA SANGAMNER

Pune – Rajgurunagar – Manchar – Narayangaon – Alephata – Sangamner – Akole – Rajur – Bhandardara

It is 200 km long and takes 4 hours and 40 minutes.

If I had to recommend one route, I’d advise taking the longer route via Sangamner.

The reason is the Ozar route has a shorter ETA than the Sangamner route, but the roads are single-lane, and there are few restaurants along this route. Also, the route passes through villages, so you can’t increase your speed over 40km/hr, and the constant braking gets tiresome.

The Sangamner route passes through highways and big cities like Narayangaon, Alephata and Sangamner. So, finding a restaurant is easy.

By the time I reached Bhandardara, I was starving. The few restaurants I drove by were closed, even at 9 a.m.

Fortunately, one sweet shop was open. There was Vada pav, but they were not hot. Of course, I ate it. I was hungry.

LAKE ARTHUR AT 10:10 A.M.

Upon reaching Bhandardara, I headed first to Lake Arthur.

If you’ve read my Bhandardara Travel Guide, you’ll know that there is an entry fee.

Bhandardara and the surrounding area are a protected wildlife sanctuary. So, you have to pay car and individual fees.

Before leaving, I asked the attendant for directions to the boating area at Lake Arthur. He informed me that boating was temporarily closed due to the rains.

So, I headed to the next best thing, the Lake Arthur viewpoint. From here, you can most— if not the entire— lake.

However, if you’re travelling after the monsoon season, you’ll need about an hour for boating and other activities at the lake.

After a few (more like 30) photos, I drove to my next destination, Vasundhara Falls, 9.2 km away.

KOLTEMBE FALLS AT 11:10 A.M.

After driving for 20 minutes from the Lake Arthur viewpoint, you’ll see a small green board reading “Vasundhara waterfall”.

Find a suitable place to park your car on the side of the road and then follow the muddy trail.

Ten minutes into the trek, you’ll see two streams converging. Head right for Koltembe Falls.

Koltembe Waterfall was not on my list. I mistook the Koltembe Falls for Vasundhara Falls.

When I reached the top, I saw a board reading “Koltembe Falls” with an arrow pointing to the waterfall.

The viewpoint is at the top of the 50 steps.

It was raining, and I slipped twice. So, watch your step.

The Koltembe Falls was beautiful and majestic. It falls and flows into a stream.

It was a beautiful stream with low-hanging trees on both sides and a stony embankment. So, my sister and I jumped into the stream for a quick photo op.

After splashing around in the freezing water, I retraced my steps when I saw another board— which I had initially missed— pointing to Vasundhara Waterfall.

So, that’s where I headed.

VASUNDHARA FALLS AT 11:40 A.M.

The Vasundhara Waterfall is another 10-minute trek from Koltembe Falls.

Walk along the stream if you can’t find the trail.

I was amazed by Koltembe Falls, but Vasundhara Waterfall left me speechless.

It was even taller than Koltembe Falls and formed a natural pool at the base before it flowed into a stream.

After navigating the giant slippery stones, I waded into the pool.

The water was freezing but refreshing. I had been in the pool for a while when it began pouring.

I would have stayed a little longer, but the trail back to the car was muddy; I didn’t want to hurt myself while trying to balance on the muddy trail.

LUNCH AT 12:40 P.M.

It was almost 1 p.m. when I returned to the car.

When I reached the small food stall at the start of the trek, I was shivering, soaked and famished. It has been a few hours since I ate the Vada pav.

While waiting for my traditional monsoon feast of spicy Maggie, crispy golden-brown onion bhajjis, steaming hot tea and Parle-G biscuits, I tried wringing my clothes to help them dry faster.

There are no big restaurants nearby. So, snack when you can. Also, a rainy afternoon is incomplete without Maggie, bhajjis and tea.

After eating, I headed to the next waterfall, Nhani Falls.

NHANI FALLS AT 1:30 P.M.

Less than 5 minutes away is the Nhani Falls.

It was my second favourite waterfall in Bhandardara after Vasundhara Waterfall.

The trees hid most of the waterfall, but the top and the green bridge across it were visible from the road.

The bridge reminded me of a movie whose name I can’t remember.

Anyway, there are steps to reach the bridge.

The waterfall flowed into a pool under the bridge.

I didn’t feel safe going there. However, there were a few people in the pool.

After walking the bridge, I was about to descend when I saw more steps leading up. I was curious and walked up.

Behind the waterfall was a crescent-shaped shallow cave in the mountain. It was beautiful.

I’ve always wanted to see a waterfall with a cave behind it.

After walking from end to end and taking a hundred photos, I returned to the car.

There are a couple of food stalls at Nhani Falls. You can eat it here if you haven’t had lunch yet.

NECKLACE WATERFALL VIEWPOINT AT 1:55 P.M.

A 2-minute drive away is the Necklace Waterfall viewpoint.

From across the road, above the tree rises a mountain. From there, small streams join and flow over the rocky mountain surface to form the Necklace Waterfall.

The waterfall looks like a necklace from a distance, therefore the name.

You can’t go to the waterfall, so you need only 5-10 minutes here.

When I was there, the mountain was dry, and I couldn’t see the magical Necklace Waterfall. So, I kept driving to my next destination.

AMRUTESHWAR TEMPLE AT 2:05 P.M.

The 12th-13th century temple is 10 minutes from the Necklace Waterfall viewpoint.

After paying for the parking, I walked to the temple, about 2 minutes away.

It is a beautiful temple nestled amidst green paddy fields and the Sahyadri Hills covered in clouds in the distance.

The temple is unique.

Shiva temples have a Shivalinga, but Amruteshwar temple has a yoni with three rocks stacked in the shape of a Kalasha. Usually, the Nandi faces the linga, but at Amriteshwar temple, the Nandi faces the backdoor.

However, I couldn’t see anything because the Linga was submerged underwater. I tried shining my phone’s flashlight over the water, hoping to see something. But it was too dark.

I don’t know whether the Linga is eternally submerged underwater or only in the monsoons.

Those who are hungry can order simple home cooked meals at one of the food stalls near the temple.

I wasn’t hungry, so I headed to my next destination.

SANDHAN VALLEY AT 2:40 P.M.

I almost drove past the turn to Sandhan Valley. It was not a part of my itinerary.

But I was curious to know if one could see the Sandhan Valley from the top of the gorge.

After parking the car, I asked a local guide for directions. He pointed me in the right direction but failed to mention that it was closed due to rain.

So, I started following the trodden trail. In the distance, I could see rain clouds approaching and picked up my pace.

After about 15 minutes, I saw an arched gateway reading Sandhan Valley. Behind the gateway is a cluster of trees, which seems scary with the thick fog and lack of light.

I continued walking till I reached a stream flowing over stones and boulders. It was a dead end.

I was about to give up and turn when I saw a couple coming up the stream.

I stepped into the water and carefully navigated the rocks when I caught sight of a gap in the mountains. It opened into a natural pool that fell into the Sandhan Valley.

The water was rushing at the edge of the pool. I wasn’t feeling confident, so I stayed away from the rope.

Suddenly, it started raining heavily, so the guard told us to return.

Upon reaching the parking lot, we heard people discussing a reverse waterfall. But it was raining, and a thick fog had descended, making it difficult to see ahead. So, I decided to forgo the Kokankada reverse waterfall.

If you want to undertake the Sandhan Valley trek, it’s best trekked post-monsoons.

TEA BREAK AT 3:50 P.M.

After the trek, I returned to the parking lot.

When I reached the parking lot, it was almost 4 o’clock, the ideal time for a tea break. So, I headed to the nearest food stall for tea.

While waiting for the tea, I got talking with the owner.

She said that the pool where they had tied a rope, and from there, trekkers rappel into the valley below.

Soon, my tea arrived, and the conversation seized.

Wet clothes, hot tea and biscuits while watching the rain— What better way to enjoy the monsoons?

I was soaked from head to toe on the way to the car. The hot tea helped, but I was cold and shivering. So, I decided to call it a day and headed to the hotel.

HOTEL AT 5:30 P.M.

I stayed at the Yash Resort by Cotton Stays. It was a 40-minute drive from Sandhan Valley.

We were a family of five, so they gave us adjoining rooms. One room was triple, and the other double occupancy.

The rooms were spacious, and the bathrooms were clean.

Yash Resort is spread over a large area and has a disco tec, basketball court, library, board games and more to entertain guests for the weekend.

The staff is kind, hospitable and active. There was one incident that proved the staff’s efficiency and quick service.

The rain had stopped when we reached the hotel, but soon it was pouring. After warming up, I was too lazy to go to a restaurant for dinner. So, I decided to order room service.

After all the walking and trekking, I was out like a light.

If you’re looking for good hotels, they are near my hotel, on the other side of Arthur Lake.

DAY 2

BREAKFAST AT THE HOTEL

My stay included breakfast. So, around 8:30 a.m., I headed to the restaurant.

After breakfast, I thought of going for a swim in the pool. When I dipped a toe in the water, I quickly changed my mind. The water was ice cold.

I wasn’t in the mood to take an ice bath early in the morning.

Instead, I decided to get ready for the day.

After packing the bags and loading them in the car, I checked out of the hotel at around 10:30 a.m.

I wanted to visit a couple of places before heading home.

UMBRELLA WATERFALL AT 10:40 A.M.

The first stop for today was the Umbrella Waterfall.

It was a short drive from the hotel.

The Umbrella Waterfall is next to Wilson Dam and is visible only during the monsoon or after torrential rainfall.

There’s a viewpoint next to the Wilson Dam from where you can see the Umbrella Waterfall in all its glory.

Unfortunately, it hadn’t rained heavily, and Umbrella Waterfall was dry. So, I kept driving to my next destination.

BHANDARDARA DAM SPILLAGE AT 10:55 A.M.

5-minutes from Umbrella Waterfall is the Bhandardara dam spillage.

If you are in Bhandardara when the Wilson Dam spillage gates open, you are in for a treat.

A few feet from the spillage gates is a bridge. From here, you can see the floodgates and below the bridge is a rocky shore that breaks the fall of the water when the floodgates open. From there, the water drops down several feet into the valley.

Unfortunately, the floodgates were closed when I visited. Maybe next time. 😊

After a glance around, I headed to Randha Falls.

RANDHA FALLS AT 11:30 A.M.

The Randha Falls was the last stop in Bhandardara before I headed home.

What better way to end the tour than a magnificent waterfall?

Randha Falls is a short drive off the main road.

Just opposite the Randha Hotel is a single-lane road that leads to the waterfall.

Park your vehicle and walk to the waterfall. Once you’ve walked downhill, you’ll see the wide Pravara River. On its bank are walkways leading to various viewpoints.

Each walkway leads to a different viewpoint, so explore them all.

One walkway offers a view of the wide Pravara River; another has a breathtaking view of the river flowing into the stony tubs formed by years of falling water; the third pavilion is where the Randha Falls are.

Just past the temple, continue walking straight to the raised pavilion. On the opposite mountain is the Randha Falls.

I was about to walk up the first walkway when I heard a booming sound. It didn’t click at first for a few seconds.

Then it clicked that it was the waterfall’s sound. So, I quickly retracted my steps and headed to the pavilion.

It is a beautiful waterfall. After admiring the Randha Falls for a while, I headed back.

LUNCH AT 12:10 P.M.

I had corn, peanuts and other things at Randha Falls, so I wasn’t hungry. So, I decided to stop for lunch on the highway.

If you’re travelling via the Ozar route, you might want to have lunch in Bhandardara before heading home.

There are not many good restaurants on this route.

Those travelling via the Sangamner route can stop for lunch on the highway. There are plenty of good restaurants on this route.

I stopped at “Surabhi Patilwada”, a popular restaurant in Ahmednagar serving delicious vegetarian and non-vegetarian food.

Their non-veg thali is tasty and plentiful. Fish starters are delicious.

They also have a separate section for misal and other things.

BHANDARDARA TO PUNE

On the return journey, I decided to take the Sangamner route. It was a bit longer, but it connected to the highway.

I would have reached home early, but as soon as I entered the city limits, congestion was everywhere. It was 7:30 p.m. when I reached home.

That was my Bhandardara 2-day itinerary.

1-DAY BHANDARDARA ITINERARY

If you’re short on time and don’t want to stay overnight, you can do it in one day.

Here’s how you can fit the entire itinerary in one day.

• Pune to Bhandardara (5 hours drive from 4 a.m. to 9 a.m.)
• Randha Falls at 9:15 a.m. (30 minutes)
• Lake Arthur (viewpoint) at 10 a.m. (10 minutes)
• Koltembe Falls at 10:45 a.m. (15 minutes)
• Vasundhara Falls at 11:10 a.m. (55 minutes)
• Nhani Falls at 12:10 p.m. (15 minutes)
• Necklace Waterfall at 12:40 p.m. (10 minutes)
• Amruteshwar temple at 1:10 p.m. (15 minutes)
• Lunch at 1:30 p.m. (1 hour)
• Sandhan Valley (partial trek) at 3 p.m. (1 hour)
• Tea break at 4 p.m. (30 minutes)
• Umbrella Waterfall at 5:10 p.m. (10 minutes)
• Bhandardara Dam Spillage at 5:15 p.m. (15 minutes)
• Bhandardara to Pune (5:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.)

According to the Bhandardara 1-day itinerary, you won’t be able to go boating on Lake Arthur. You have time to visit the viewpoint, nothing else.

Also, if you want to play in the waterfall, the Vasundhara Falls is your best choice. That’s because it has a big pool at the waterfall’s base and is safe for children.

I advise that you begin your journey early in the morning, so you have enough time to visit all these places. Also, avoid weekends.

CONCLUSION

That brings us to the end of the Bhandardara 2-day itinerary.

Apart from the Bhandardara 2-day itinerary, I’ve also suggested a 1-day itinerary.

Here’s a summary of the Bhandardara 2-day itinerary:

DAY 1

• Pune to Bhandardara 5-hour drive (5 a.m. to 10 a.m.)
• Lake Arthur at 10:10 a.m. (30 minutes)
• Koltembe Falls at 11:10 a.m. (15 minutes)
• Vasundhara Falls at 11:40 a.m. (45 minutes)
• Lunch at 12:40 p.m.
• Nhani Waterfall at 1:30 p.m. (20 minutes)
• Necklace Waterfall at 1:55 p.m. (10 minutes)
• Amruteshwar temple at 2:05 (15 minutes)
• Sandhan Valley at 2:40 p.m. (45 minutes)
• Tea and snacks break at 3:50 p.m.
• Reach the hotel by 5:30 p.m.

DAY 2

• Breakfast at the hotel
• Checkout of the hotel at 10:30 a.m.
• The Umbrella Waterfall viewpoint at 10:40 a.m. (10 minutes)
• Bhandardara Dam spillage at 10:55 a.m. (15 minutes)
• Randha Falls at 11:30 a.m. (30 minutes)
• Lunch at 12:10 p.m.
• Bhandardara to Pune 5-hour drive (1:10 p.m. to 6:40 p.m.

I hope that was helpful, and if I missed something or you have any queries, let me know in the comments.

I hope this ignites your wanderlust because

Sometimes, one day in a different place will give you more than ten years of life at home.

anatole france