Today’s blog post describes a scenic route from Pune to Karde Beach and why you should travel down this road.

Recently, I travelled to Karde Beach for a short weekend getaway.

En route to Karde Beach, I was left speechless by the beauty of the Western Ghats.

If you are a shutterbug, you will want to save this route.

For those wondering what and where is Karde Beach– here’s my detailed Karde Beach travel guide.

PUNE TO KARDE BEACH BY ROAD

Karde Beach is a beach in Karde village, 12km from Dapoli. Karde village is accessible by road, trains and flights.

But roads– especially self-driving – are the simplest and easiest way to travel and explore Karde.

From Pune, Karde Beach is 202 km and takes 5-6 hours.

If you search for routes from Pune to Karde Beach, Google Maps presents two options– via Tamhini Ghat and Bhor.

I chose the Bhor option, but there was a slight deviation in my route.

Google Maps leads you directly to Bhor from Kapurhol, and my route takes you to Bhor via Bhatghar village. From Bhor onwards, the route is the same.

Pune (Hadapsar) – Dive Ghat – Saswad – Bhiwandi – Narayanpur – Kapurhol – Necklace Point – Bhatghar – Bhor – Nira-Deoghar Dam viewpoint – Deoghar bridge – Varandha Ghat – Mahad – Dapoli – Karde Beach

The above route is 196 km and takes 5½ hours. This route is ideal for those residing in Hadapsar, Viman Nagar, Mundhwa, Loni, etc.

For those residing in Camp and Deccan, follow the NH48 up to Kapurhol.

Pune (Deccan) – Kapurhol – Necklace Point – Bhatghar – Bhor – Nira-Deoghar Dam viewpoint – Deoghar bridge – Varandha Ghat – Mahad – Dapoli – Karde Beach

Stunning views of valleys, mountains, dams and rivers grace this route.

TRAVEL TIP:- Leave as early as possible so you have ample time to stop at the numerous viewpoints.

CURRENT ROAD CONDITIONS

When I travelled this route, the road was under construction.

Kapurhol to the Necklace Point road expansion is underway.

The road was in the early stages of construction and is a paved gravel road. There is a tar road from Necklace Point to Mahad.

Except for a few repairs in Varandha Ghat, the road conditions were good up to Mahad.

A short distance from Mahad, the road conditions deteriorate. Road construction and expansion are underway from Mahad to Dapoli.

When I travelled, only one lane was open for traffic. En route to Dapoli, I encountered a few local vehicles and trucks. The roads are not bad, but it does slow you down.

Once the road repairs are complete, it will cut down the travel time by 30-40 minutes.

I was supposed to leave my house at 7 a.m., but due to car troubles, there was a delay, and I was back on the road at 7:45 a.m. On the way, I stopped at numerous viewpoints for snacks and photos.

Despite the various snack and photo stops, I reached Karde Beach at 2 p.m.

SCENIC VIEWPOINTS ALONG THE ROUTE

The route from Pune to Karde Beach has numerous viewpoints and stunning views.

NECKLACE POINT

The first viewpoint on this route is Necklace Point, 7 km from Kapurhol.

If you had taken the road directly to Bhor, you would have missed this beautiful scene.

The Necklace Point is a platform from where you can see the joining of the Nira and Gunjawani Rivers.

The confluence of the two rivers resembles a necklace, hence the name.

Necklace Point is crowded on weekends and in the monsoon months.

Visitors often stop here en route to Bhatghar Dam.

NIRA-DEOGHAR DAM

The Nira-Deoghar Dam is a short drive from Necklace Point.

A few kms from Necklace Point, you will notice blue water in the distance. It is the Nira-Deoghar Dam.

The dam is widespread and flows into the canyons in the surrounding mountains. You can see the canyons and gorges on the left side while driving.

There are several places on the drive for photo ops– The cafe “Selfie Point” is one such place. It has a spectacular view of the dam.

Another viewpoint is the Deoghar bridge. From here, you have a view of the entire dam.

The blue and green shades of the water are beautiful and soothing.

I travelled this route in February when the dam was not at capacity. So, you can only imagine how majestic the dam looks in monsoons.

TRAVEL TIP:- If you come here during the monsoon months, you can witness hundreds of waterfalls.

VARANDHA GHAT

Up next is the Varandha Ghat.

The Varandha Ghat is narrow and dotted with sharp turns and hairpin bends. It is an adventurous drive.

While the entire Ghat is beautiful, there is a specific point visitors like. You will know when you have reached here.

Stalls selling tea, coffee, Vada pav, onion bhajis, and Maggie mark this.

Stop here and order a cup of tea and a plate of onion bhajis. Munch on your hot onion bhajis while enjoying the view.

Also, beware of the monkeys.

My uncle forgot to roll up his car window. A couple of baby monkeys saw the opportunity and set about exploring. Fortunately, they didn’t take any valuables from the car. They just checked through the handbags for food.

A short distance from this spot is the Kavlagad. If time permits, you can undertake this trek.

TRAVEL TIP:- Eat up at Varandha Ghat because there are no restaurants or dhabas for a while.

ADDITIONAL VIEWPOINTS ALONG THE ROUTE

If you’re travelling via the Dive Ghat route, you can see these viewpoints en route to Karde Beach.

DIVE GHAT

For those travelling from Hadapsar, Dive Ghat is the first viewpoint.

Dive Ghat is a popular pit stop for photos and long drives.

I have many fond memories of Dive Ghat.

In the summer, my uncle used to take us to see deer in Dive Ghat (development has driven away the deer). Other times, I have gone trekking or for a picnic. The palkhi procession as it ascends Dive Ghat is another stunning sight.

Those were some good times.

One of my favourite times to visit Dive Ghat is in the monsoons. An emerald green blankets the mountain, and there are small waterfalls as far as the eye can see.

The view of Pune from Dive Ghat is one of my favourites, and I’m sure many Punekars will agree.

The view reminds me of a miniature model.

Try to locate your house among the hundreds of matchbox-size buildings. Each time I visit Dive Ghat, I try to find my house. Sometimes I do, sometimes it’s too confusing.

Youngsters come to Dive Ghat for a long drive, eventually heading to Saswad for misal.

Coming to Dive Ghat and not having misal is unheard of; It is customary. 😉

TRAVEL TIP:- Have breakfast in Saswad because there are few restaurants ahead.

Dive Ghat is busy all day, but more so on weekends; bikes and cars stop at every corner to enjoy the view and a cup of tea.

Also, don’t miss the statue atop the Ghat. A few years ago, a hotel erected a Vittal statue at the top of Dive Ghat.The beautiful statue stands tall against the Sahyadri mountains and Pune City.

CHIVHEWADI VIEWPOINT

Continue driving to Chivhewadi viewpoint, a few minutes from Narayandham.

This viewpoint is just before you descend the Ghat.

Park your vehicles on the roadside and walk to the first curve; a stunning view of Chivhewadi village amidst the giant mountains awaits you.

There is a cafe on the right side of the road, before the curve; their outdoor seating has the best view of the valley.

Unfortunately, the cafe was closed the last few times I travelled this road.

I have travelled this road countless times, and now the scenery is almost like a blur in my mind.

But a few months back, I was returning from a trip; I was tired and just wanted to get home.

On the way home, my father decided to stop at this cafe for a cup of tea. While waiting for the tea, we headed to the outdoor seating.

And the view that welcomed me was one I won’t forget; Watching that scene washed away all my tiredness.Instead of reading my description, I’ll show it to you.

TRAVEL TIPS

Here’s a list of travel tips for a worry-free drive from Pune to Karde Beach.

• The drive from Pune to Karde Beach takes 5 hours. But, if you want to stop at the numerous viewpoints, it will add to your travel time. Therefore, leave home early. So you have ample time to stop at each viewpoint.
• Traffic is another reason for early morning departure. If travelling via NH48 or Dive Ghat, the roads are busy after 8 a.m. During the weekends, the routes are busier with people leaving town.
• Have a heavy breakfast in Saswad or Kapurhol. That’s because there are hardly any restaurants up to Mahad. The lack of eateries is good because the sharp curves of Varandha Ghat make you nauseous.
• Carry change and smaller notes (Rs.100 or Rs.200) because many cafes and stalls don’t have change or don’t accept cards, and online payment is off the table due to the spotty network.
• Fuel up your vehicles before leaving Kapurhol because fuel stations are few and far. Google Maps shows several fuel stations, but most have yet to open.
• Once you leave Kapurhol, the network gets spotty. Jio had a network for a while, but it stopped at Varandha Ghat; Idea and Airtel had no network, and BSNL had a strong network for almost the entire time.

PUNE TO KARDE BEACH ROUTE CONCLUSION

That brings us to the end of the “Pune to Karde Beach scenic route” blog post.

In the “Pune to Karde Beach scenic route” blog post, I have explained the route, added a map, the current road conditions, listed all the places to visit en route to Karde Beach, and some travel tips.

I hope this was helpful. If you have any queries, let me know in the comments.

I hope this ignites your wanderlust because

The road less travelled is the road to adventure.

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