Bhandardara
title: "Bhandardara" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["tourist-attractions-in-ahmednagar-district", "cities-and-towns-in-ahmednagar-district", "hill-stations-in-maharashtra"] topic_path: "geography" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhandardara" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::data[format=table title="Infobox settlement"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Bhandardara |
| settlement_type | Village |
| image_skyline | Bhandardara lake.jpg |
| image_caption | Arthur Lake |
| pushpin_map | India Maharashtra |
| pushpin_label_position | right |
| pushpin_map_caption | Location in Maharashtra, India |
| coordinates | |
| subdivision_type | Country |
| subdivision_name | India |
| subdivision_type1 | State |
| subdivision_name1 | Maharashtra |
| subdivision_type2 | District |
| subdivision_name2 | Aahilyanagar |
| established_title | |
| governing_body | Government of Maharashtra |
| unit_pref | Metric |
| elevation_m | 740 |
| population_density_km2 | auto |
| demographics_type1 | Language |
| demographics1_title1 | Official |
| demographics1_info1 | Marathi, |
| timezone1 | IST |
| utc_offset1 | +5:30 |
| postal_code_type | |
| area_code_type | Telephone code |
| area_code | 02424 |
| registration_plate | MH-17 |
| blank1_name_sec1 | Nearest city |
| blank1_info_sec1 | Nashik |
| blank2_name_sec1 | Lok Sabha constituency |
| blank2_info_sec1 | Shirdi |
| blank3_name_sec1 | Vidhan Sabha constituency |
| blank3_info_sec1 | Akole |
| :: |
| name = Bhandardara | other_name = | nickname = | settlement_type = Village | image_skyline = Bhandardara lake.jpg | image_alt = | image_caption = Arthur Lake | pushpin_map = India Maharashtra | pushpin_label_position = right | pushpin_map_alt = | pushpin_map_caption = Location in Maharashtra, India | coordinates = | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = India | subdivision_type1 = State | subdivision_name1 = Maharashtra | subdivision_type2 = District | subdivision_name2 = Aahilyanagar | established_title = | established_date = | founder = | named_for = | government_type = | governing_body = Government of Maharashtra | unit_pref = Metric | area_footnotes = | area_rank = | area_total_km2 = | elevation_footnotes = | elevation_m = 740 | population_total = | population_as_of = | population_rank = | population_density_km2 = auto | population_demonym = | population_footnotes = | demographics_type1 = Language | demographics1_title1 = Official | demographics1_info1 = Marathi, Hindi | timezone1 = IST | utc_offset1 = +5:30 | postal_code_type = | postal_code = | area_code_type = Telephone code | area_code = 02424 | registration_plate = MH-17 | blank1_name_sec1 = Nearest city | blank1_info_sec1 = Nashik Sangamner | blank2_name_sec1 = Lok Sabha constituency | blank2_info_sec1 = Shirdi | blank3_name_sec1 = Vidhan Sabha constituency | blank3_info_sec1 = Akole | website = | footnotes = Bhandardara is a holiday resort village near Igatpuri, in the Western Ghats of India. The village is located in the Akole tehsil, Aahilyanagar district of the state of Maharashtra, about 185 km from Mumbai, 155 km from Aahilyanagar and 73 km from Nashik.
Bhandardara sits by the Pravara River, and the natural environment, waterfalls, and mountains are notable tourist attractions.
Bhandardara attractions include Wilson Dam and Arthur Lake.
There are a number of historic and natural places of interest near the dam. From Bhandardara, visitors can climb up to see the Ratangad and Harishchandragad forts. Visitors can also follow the trails that lead to Ajoba and Ghanchakkar peaks. The highest peak in Maharashtra, Mount Kalsubai is 1646 m, and the starting point for the trek is Bari Village, located 12 km away from Bhandardara.
Tourist attractions
Bhandardara is home to Mount Kalsubai, the highest peak (5400 ft) in Maharashtra.
Another tourist attraction is the Wilson Dam on the Pravara River, which was built in 1910. The Umbrella Falls also draw visitors, although it can be seen only during the monsoons between July and October. About 10 km away from Shendi Village is the Randhaa Waterfalls. The Ratangad fort is around 22 km from Shendi/ Bhandardara, and is connected by both roadway, and ferry across the Lake Arthur. On the Kalsubai side, at the far end of a 22 km roadway across forests and tribal villages, is Konkankada from where there are views of the plains. Harishchandragad is another nearby mountain hiking spot with an ancient temple on top.
Bhandardara has a number of treking and hiking routes, including a trek to Ratangad fort, which is reached by boat over a small lake near the village Ratanwadi.
Other attractions include:
- Ratangad (Fort)
- Agasti Rishi Ashram
- Amruteshwar Temple
- Sandhan Valley
- Randha Fall
- Necklace Fall
- Harishandragad (Fort)
- Kokankada (Ghatghar)
- Reverse Fall
- Nhani Fall
- Umbrella Fall
- Fire Flies
- Nilwande Dam
File:Bhandardara Village.jpg|A village near Bhandardara File:Bhandardara Village1.JPG|Village Folks at Bhandardara File:Amruteshwar temple.jpg|Amruteshwar Temple, Ratanwadi, Ratangad File:Randha Falls in 2016.jpg|Randha Falls
Places of interest
| name = | image = Wilson Dam- Bhandardara Dam.JPG | image_caption = | name_official = Wilson Dam | dam_crosses = Pravara River | location = Ahmednagar District, Maharashtra India | dam_type = | dam_length = | dam_height = | dam_width_base = | spillway_type = | spillway_capacity = | construction_began = | opening = | cost = | owner = | res_name = Arthur Lake | res_capacity_total = | res_catchment = | res_surface = | res_max_depth = | plant_operator = | plant_turbines = | plant_capacity = | plant_annual_gen = | plant_commission = | plant_decommission = | location_map = | location_map_caption = | coordinates = | website = | extra = Wilson Dam: Built in 1910 across the River Pravara, Wilson Dam is situated at a height of 150 m above sea level. The opening of sluice gates creates two 60 to 80 feet cascades of water that plummet to the rocks below.
Arthur Lake: The clear and placid lake is bounded by thick canopied forests of the Sahyadri hills. The Lake gets its water from the Pravara River. File:Umbrella falls bhandardara.jpg|Umbrella falls formed under wilson dam, bhandardara File:Bhandardara dam 1.jpg|Wilson dam backwaters File:Bhandardara dam.jpg|water level in rainy season at Wilson Dam
Transportation
Bhandardara is easily accessible by road also from Mumbai which is around 185 km away and Pune which is around 191 km away.
The nearest airport is in Nashik around 90 km, while Igatpuri Railway Station, 45+ km away, has the nearest railhead. One can board a state transport bus from Igatpuri to reach Bhandardara.
References
References
- Roy, Ainul. (2017-06-28). "Top 10 Tourist Destinations You Must Visit At Bhandardara".
- Praveen Kurup. (13 October 2016). "Lake Arthur Loop". motovore.com.
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