Weekends were coming and going. Friends were busy. Not much interested in watching television. My best friend (thats me) told not to stay this weekend at home. Thats what I did, charged the camera put some clothes in the bag and picked up my bike on a fine Saturday morning 6:30AM and started my bike trip towards Bhandardara hill station.
Album cover
Took left from Toll towards Mumbai Nashik Expressway. This road is one of the most nicely maintained highway which has made the Mumbai Nashik distance easy. Sometimes one may face too many lorries and trucks plying on this route.
Usually I ride at 60-70kmph but 85-90 on this road seemed an average speed.
There aren't much curves before Kasara Ghat. Take right from Highway after Ghoti Budruk.
Route map for Bhandardara
Tunnel near Kasara ghat
Good road ends at this turn and from there starts crater roads. But instead of riding and cursing throughout, I feel one should enjoy every part of the journey. We have to leave the Igatpuri Aurangabad higway and take right turn for Bhandardara.
Ascend and beauty starts from here. Roads are typical village road not much broad but scenic.
Ride upto Bhandardara was very nice.
Rural life
Out on a routine
Beautiful village enroute
Scenery before Bhandardara
As usual parked my bike next to Cafe Bhandara dam. Don't go with the name considering something with Air condition and nice aromatic space. It is a small hut like shop with two long wooden benches to sit.
Nevertheless, this place is charming and attracts travelers.
Placed my belongings on one of the old wooden bench and asked the owner for a chai, two vada pav and one mix bhaji. If you are here do not forget to ask for thick yellow chatni and Pav Vada. Mind it Vada Pav and Pav Vada are different here.
Vada pav is Aloo Vada inside Pav. and Pav Vada is the fried mixture of Pav in besan. Both are tasty.
Tried Bhandardara MTDC:
After naasta I had to look for accommodation. Recently number of hotels and resorts have sprunged up. I went inside Bhandardara MTDC. Resort is beautifully located right at the lake side and this is the reason why Bhandardara MTDC resort bookings are always full. Receptionist at the first instance said all accommodations are full. I asked if they can give me one cot in dormitory. She said dormitory are the first things to be booked.
Batliwala Guest House:
This was expected. I didnt knew about other hotels in Bhandardara. Came out and saw another guest house with its wall sharing boundary with MTDC. Board read Batliwala guest house. It look deserted from outside. Went inside the small lobby room no one was there. Room was quite dirty. Sofa along with its covers almost appearing black with dust. Paintings on the wall hanging tilted and Sun mica of the reception table worn out.
I came out and went inside the small room on the left little ahead, where a lady of around 50 came out and said 'room pahije'. I said Yes. She asked me to come inside the two floored building which was behind the reception building and to the left of the small room. Climbed the narrow stairs designed only for one person to walk at a time. I asked her why all the rooms are empty she said the season will start soon. This is what I wanted her to say herself as I would repeat this while negotiating.
Room was crap with smelling bed and attached toilet. I had no options though. Placed my luggage there and came with her on the ground floor. She said Rs.1500 for one day. I said I am going. She came down to Rs.1000. I said this amount is not justified for that smelly room. She said Rs.900 is the last she can offer. Then I repeater her words that season hasn't yet started in full flow and all the rooms were empty. She was caught and deal was final at Rs700. I knew this is too much for that bad room. But the worse has yet to come.
Handed the money and went back to room. Just to confirm if flush was working I flushed it. To my surprise a cloth popped out of the flush, it was choked completely. And a big black lizard from bottom of the toilet started jumping, trying to come out of the commode. I ran outside and asked the elderly woman to see what she gave.
She shifted me to a much better room on the second floor. Settled and left immediately for eye delight i.e. sightseeing.
View of Shendi village from the terrace of Batliwala guest house
I was there in the month of October that means the dam must be full which mean amazing sights. When reached there the scene was wow. Lake was full and water was overflowing on the roads.
Photos of Bhandardara lake:
Some photos of the lake in blue hours next day.
