Malshej Ghat - India HillTop Trips - Splendid hills and Majestic retreats

Malshej Ghat, that forms a part of the Western Ghats of India, falls under the Pune district of Maharashtra. Perched amongst the ghats, at an altitude of approximately 700 m above sea level, the tourist spot can be visited throughout the year. However, the monsoon season forms one of the best times to visit the Malshej Ghat. This is because during this time, the entire hill resort seems to be covered in the shade of mint green, with its locales presenting a very pristine and beautiful sight.

Hill Resort | Elevation | Travel | Season | Tourist places | Accommodation | Location | Malshej Ghat Map

The Hill Resort

Apart from its breathtakingly beautiful landscapes, the hill resort is also known for its rich and varies fauna. Bird lovers residing in the nearby area make it a point to visit Malshej Ghat, to see its rich avian population, comprising of Quails, Rails, Crakes, Flamingos, Cuckoos, etc.

The adventure lovers, especially trekkers and hikers, will find the hill resort a blessing. The unending expanse of rolling hills provides them with the perfect opportunity of undertaking long treks. Whether they want to go uphill, scaling the peaks of the hill, or downhill, exploring the intricate jungle paths, they wouldn't get disappointed here. One of the must-see places in Malshej Ghat is the Shivneri Fort, the birthplace of Chhatrapati Shivaji - considered to be one of the greatest rulers of Maharashtra.

Apart from its attractions, another feature that attracts tourists to this hill resort is its undisturbed peace and solitude. Unlike most of the other hill stations in India, Malshej Ghat is not visited by tourists in too large numbers. So, if you want to escape from the exasperating hubbub of city life, this hill resort is just the place for you. It is well connected with the cities like Pune and Mumbai and you will hardly face any difficulty in reaching here. As far as accommodation is concerned, the resort run by Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) will serve as the perfect solution to your problem.

Elevation

Malshej Ghat - 700 m.

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Location Details

Sahyadri Hills (outskirts of Pune)

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Best Season to Visit/Weather

Infact, during the months of August and September, the weather is also at its best - being neither warm nor cold. It is that time of the year when the cascading waterfalls flow with ice cold water. In the winters, the misty surroundings of the Malshej Ghat add to its splendor.

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How to Reach There and Distances

Air - Nearest airport is Mumbai at 154-km.

Rail - Nearest railway station is Kalyan.

Road - Mumbai to Malshej Ghat, via Murbad is 154-km Pune to Malshej Ghat via Alephata, is 164-km and from Alephata to Malshej Ghat it is 39-kms.

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Tourist places near Malshej Ghat

Malshej Falls

A hilltop with countless cascading waterfalls, Malshej Ghat is adorned with natural beauty and splendor. This magnificent hill station is full of waterfalls during monsoon and some of them are too big that they even fall down to the road. It is a sheer joy to walk through the gush of water, which makes waterfall canopies on the road. Monsoon with its extraordinary charm of rain, make Malshej Ghat a symphony of waterfalls. When the cold breeze blows, the scores of falling water move upwards, and it creates the marvelous scenario of a water rise. Rain, mist, fog and the cascading water falls amidst of woody forest are an eye catching sight one can never forget for a life time.

Trekking, Malshej Ghat

Located in a hilly terrain, Malshej Ghat is a favourite place for adventure lovers. The peaks, and the gallant forts in the dense forest of this hill station are perfect places to explore through trekking and rock climbing. Trekking in Malshej offers one to be in the lap of mother nature and helps to communicate with the surrounding more effectively. Gifted with a mountainous topography, Malshej provides so many places, which are perfect spots for trekking. The darkoba peak (the tallest moumtain in the locality), Ajoba hill fort are ideal location for trekking enthusiasts. Nane Ghat, Jivdhan Chawand Fort also are hot spots of trekking favourites. Those who are little bit spiritual can take the rout to Ozar and Lenyadri, where the two Ganesh temples honoured by all devotees is located. Trekking in Malshej provides the excitement of adventure along with the dharsan of holy temples. Trekking in Malshej Ghat gives an opportunity to watch the excellent greenery of the dense forest of the majestic Sahyadris, which makes this hill station so popular.

Harishchandragad

A 6th century old monument, located at an altitude of 1424 meter near Malshej Ghat, in Maharashtra, Harishchandragad Fort is a thriving center of trekking for adventurous people. Famed for its height and stoutness, this magnificient fort is a challenging destination of nature lovers. The nearby interesting attraction of this valiant fort is the Harishchandragad peak. Here the semi-circular rock wall of the Konkan Kada causes a coin to defy gravity and be blown upwards from the basin because of the atmospheric pressure. This brilliant edifice of ancient Indian history is believed to have constructed by the Kalchuri dynasty. A beautiful temple of Lord Vishnu found in the fort is very charming. Other fantastic idols and numerous caves with excellent carving works give the fort a stunning appearance. Another vital attraction of this gallant fort is the centuries old Buddhist caves. Situated in a hilly terrain, Harishchandrag fort offers the picturesque view of the surrounding greenery and the majestic mountains of the sahyadris. The fort itself has three peaks and tremendous caves which are perfect spots of trekking.

Pimpalgaon Joga Dam

A five kilometer long bund, blocking the plain waters of gorgeous Pushpavati River Pimpalgaon Joga Dam is located in Malshej Ghat in Maharashtra. The dam with its lofty cliffs and the vast expanse of backwaters presents spectacular scenery. A haven of so many bird species like purple moorhen, pitta, alpine swift, whistling thrush, green pigeon, quail, and pied crested cuckoo, Pimpalgaon Joga dam is a bird watchers delight. The backwater of this beautiful structure is the shelter of the exotic migratory Flemingo birds. A large number of beautiful birds mating with each other in the serene backwater is an amazing sight which holds our breath.

Around Malshej Ghat

Lenyadri Shri Girijatmak

a 35 km Lenyadri Village in Junnar houses a holy Ashtavinayaka. The first sight of the Lenyadri Vinayak Temple perched high on a Sahyadri peak is phenomenal. What you see from ground level is an entire face of a mountain in which Buddhist monks carved caves dating back to the 3rd century for their monasteries. One of the caves came to be the home of the Girijatmaj Ganpati. You have to walk up 307 winding stone steps to reach the cave. A waterfall that cascades down from the mountain peak above hides the temple inside. You pass through this natural curtain before entering the temple, which has been declared a national monument.