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Bhandardara – the perfect weekend getaway for the stressed out
Mumbaikar! Situated at a distance of about 180kms, it can be reached in
about three to four hours from Mumbai.
Get on to the Mumbai Nashik highway (NH3) and just
beyond Igatpuri, you will see an exit to the right for Bhandardara via
Ghoti village.
We left Bandra around 0730hrs and reached Bhandardara at 1130hrs
including a half hour breakfast break at ‘Bhagat Tarachand’ a pure veg.
restaurant which is fastidiously clean, airy and serves wholesome food.
If there are no tables available you can opt for self service too. This
restaurant is about 80kms from Mumbai, just before Shahapur. Or you can
halt at ‘Manas Resort’ near Igatpuri or the Prestige food plaza. These
are some of the good places to take a short break on the way. 
The roads overall are excellent except for the roads in the Ghoti
village which are narrow and crowded. The signage all along to
Bhandardara and back is good to ensure you do not lose time asking for
directions.
The MTDC resort overlooks the placid Lake Arthur which is formed by the dammed waters of the Pravara river. 
Legend has it that Shri Agastya Rishi meditated continuously for a
year, living only on water and air. Pleased with his tremendous
devotion the Lord came down to earth, blessed him and left leaving
behind a stream of Ganga - now known as Pravara River.
 The Wilson Dam built in 1910 on the Pravara river, is almost 150 meters above sea
level. When the sluice gates of this dam are opened, the Randha
waterfalls are in action. The water cascades down 45 meters - an ideal
place to relax and enjoy nature. Besides being a scenic spot, these
falls are also used for hydropower generation. If
you are energetically inclined, hike up to Mount Kalsubai, Mahrashtra's
highest peak at 1646 m. This is a day's trek from Bhandardara, and can
be combined with Ratanwadi, 22 km away; the 8th century Amruteshwar
temple; and the 400-year-old Ratangad Fort where the Maratha warrior
Shivaji rested on his laurels. The ancient Agastya Rishi Ashram on the
banks of the Pravara River is another attraction. The ashram is
mentioned in the Ramayana as the spot where Ram met Agastya Rishi. In Bhandardara, you can hire a guide to take you around for fees ranging between Rs.100/- to Rs.200/- for the day.  If
you just want to chill out you can do exactly that and maybe go for a
boat trip across the lake. The fishermen, when not using the boat for
fishing, will gladly take you around the lake for a small price. The
price varies depending on the season.  Fish
lovers can enjoy the freshly netted catch from the lake. The MTDC
restaurant serves a pretty good ‘Fish curry and rice’ and is a
multi-cuisine Value For Money eatery. The MTDC accommodation can now be booked online at www.maharashtratourism.gov.in The
railhead closest to Bhandardara is at Igatpuri, 45 km away on the
Central Railway. From Igatpuri, State Transport buses and taxis take
around one hour to get to Bhandardara. From
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