Devkund Waterfall

Devkund waterfall trek

Its a recently popular trek among the crowd of Pune and Mumbai.
Best time to visit is September to October after rainy days gets over. Waterfall disappears after October so no point to go after it. I visited recently on 7th October 2018.

How to Reach : Its about 110km from Pune. It will take almost 3 hours road drive.
Search Bhira dam on Google map to get a route of Devkund Waterfall. Bhira dam is parking point of Devkund trek.If search Devkund waterfall on google map it will show a top route of the waterfall which is used by professional trekkers with rappelling and climbing skills. So search Bhira dam for regular trek.

Pune-Paud-Mulshi Dam-Tahmini ghat- drive down from Tahmini ghat-Bhagad MIDC road - go straight to Vele village- Varachi wadi- take right to Patnus- take right to Bhira dam- Bhira Tata project - go ahead by slight left turn- Ask there about parking place - Park near trek starting point.

Parking : There are paid parking lots reserved by local restaurants. There are 2/3 parking lots. Go to the last parking which nearest to starting point.

Food a Water :
There is a food and water available at the parking. Veg and no veg can be served as per order.
No Full meal available on the trek. So better to carry food with you. Water bottles and lime juice, tea, biscuits, snacks and kandabhaji are available on the trek route. Running streams on the way aslo contains drinkable water.

Stay :
Stay is not allowed by govt at the Devkund waterfall. But there are many local hotels at Bhira village which give stay facility at the Bhira village. Tent stays also provided with charges like Rs.1500 a night with food and guide. Tree house stay also available. All these stay facilities are made available at the backwaters of Bhira dam.
Here are some contact Nos.
Pramod Shelar -7276283442
Shelar Sunil - 8446130788
Prakash Zore - 8793532972
Gujar Ashok -8793811870

About Trek :
The Trek starts from parking. Need to take entry ticket of village govt. Rs.10 per head.
They also insist to take a guide for Rs.50 per head of the group. Actually guide not much required other than rainy season. But Its very useful to have a guide in monsoon days.
They have chain system of guide. A guide is with the group up to specific spot, then next guide takes you upto next guide, how a team of guide take you up to Devkund waterfall. They really help to cross rivers with ropes in rainy season. You cant cross the forceful water without their help.
So don't debate about the compulsion of the guide on the entry point. Many accidents already happened on the destination. Some tourists argue about the hiring a guide, but Rs.50 per head is not much amount for it. Local should be always benefited form tourism. If employment is created for locals, then a place can be preserved better. Government cant reach everywhere to do it.

Its a trek of about 90 to 100 minutes. Total 6 to 7 hours required to return. The level is medium. There not much ascend or descend on the trek. You can call it a jungle trail. There are open spaces, jungles, rivers, water streams, stony paths etc. variety of routes on the way.
There are restaurants on the way run by locals where water bottles, lime juice, kokum juice, chips, snacks, Kandabahji, tea, biscuits etc. are available on weekends.

There are 3 main water streams to be crossed on the way. These are very risky in rainy season. Cross with the help of local guides. There is one wooden bridge built by locals which is very weak. You have to cross one by one and carefully.

After last bridge, high ascend starts of 15 to 20 mins. which may test your endurance. After ascend to start down to one more powerful water stream. you can listen to noise of crowd from the waterfall, which indicates that  you are near to it. Cross the last stream by river stones and you will standing in front of magnetic Devkund waterfall.

What to See :
The waterfall gives a look that you have not seen before. Waterfall falls down through a Curved mountain. The waterfall falls freely because of concave shaped overhang collapse.

There is plunge pool developed which is called 'kund' in Marathi. because of huge plunge pool the place is called Dev-kund. The plunge pool of God.

There is one small open worship place of Lord Mahadev behind the waterfall.

People used to swim in the kund. There a rope hand for showing a risk. Dont go beyond the rope. Its very risky. The pool is very deep and having whirlpool beneath the surface. The locals and sometimes police are present there to protect. There are some accidents happened in which some people died by drowning in the pool by over enthusiasm. Some tourists take too much risk  to click photos like standing on stones, going deep in  the pool, beyond rope, snatching each other in the water, making fun on fear of friends etc. Remember that risking  life.
The flow can be increased suddenly anytime due to rain in Tamhini ghat. So be aware when in water.
You can enjoy a fresh and cold water bath and splash here in safe area of a pool.

There is a small food stall where you can get water bottles, Vadapaw, Pithal-Bhakri, Lemon juice. Its a stony land, so find a suitable place for lunch.

Trek Safety :

• Best time to visit September and October.
• Some people died already here, so take care.
• Take guide in rainy days.
• Avoid in days of heavy rain.
• Don't go if local tells you.
• Carry food.
• Cross water streams with great safety.
• Look at the stepping stones in the water.
• Don't be hyper and over joyful with others during the trek.
• Don't get your self in water stream without consent of guides.
• Don't bring kids for this trek. if bring, look after kids, they can be over energetic. 
• Be in group, Don't be isolated.
• Mobile coverage is weak.
• Follow the safety instructions in the pool.
• Don't cross rope in the Pool.
• Remember photo is not more important than your life. 

Andharban - The Dark Jungle Trail

Andharban - अंधारबन 

Important : You need to take prior permission from Forest dept of Maharashtra state to enter the Andharaban. Only limited trekkers allowed  per-day.

For detail communication email to rfotamhini@gmail.com 

There is compound to the entry of Andharban near Pimpri Dam. There is entry fees has been taken from July 2018 i.e. Forest entry Fee Rs. 150, Land owner Rs.50, Bheera Dam entry (Exit point) Rs. 50/, total Rs.250 per head to be paid in advance on site. 

Also entry can be restricted due by forest dept due to bad weather conditions ! 

It is a deep jungle trails which give you pure experience of the jungle.

                                      

How to Reach : Its about 80 km from Pune.

Pune – Chandani Chauk – Pirnagut –Paud – Mulashi – Tahmini – Right turn to Bhamburde-Ghangad-Lonavla road –MCKS Ashram road – Ashram – Kundlika valley – Pimpri dam – Parking – starting point of the jungle trail.

Google map

Parking : Sufficient open space is available for buses, cars and bikes. If you planing complete trail, then make arrangement that the vehicle will be available at the end point, i.e. Bhira dam. So when you reach at the end, the vehicle ready. Generally no one back to the starting point because it will take 14/16 hrs to a round trip done by experienced trekkers. Better to start from Pimpri dam and complete at Bhira dam.

Food : No food available on the trail. Carry water and food more than required. In the weekends of monsoon you will found small restaurants with tea, Maggie, Kandabhaji and Packets of chips etc.

About the Trail : The whole trail is about 6 hrs one side. Generally trekkers start from Pimpri dam and end it at the Bhira dam which is situated on the down base. 

The route starts from the left hand side of the Pimpri dam next to Kundalika Valley. The dam is small. Go to the left side wall of it towards the high power electric cable and poles along with the valley.

 
 

After reaching at the corner of V shape, take left turn. You will reach other side of the trek. 

Keep whole trek route on the edges of the Kundlika Valley. It is in V shape. Then take left turn.

 

after 15/20 mins walk you will enter deep and dark forest. Hardly sun-rays reaches. Complete dark with a shade and multilayered trees. No trails can be found. Every chance to be lost. Watch and identify the footprints and ribbons tied by trekkers. 

Walk slowly, carefully and in group. Don't let isolate any members. Many wild animals are noticed by trekkers and villagers. Keep vessels with you. Don't make too much noise. In case of confusion of route, follow the edges of Kundlika valley. No man made signs are found.

After approx. 120 mins. you will reach open space from where you can have enchanting view of Kundlika canyon and starting point of trek exactly opposite side of the valley. Take rest and do photography. Have some food here.

 

Don't sit in the jungle for food because animals may attracted by smell. Again you will be in dark deep and calm jungle. instead of talking or music just listen the sounds of jungle and feel it.
Take care while crossing water streams.

Some logs or temporary arrangements may be there. Carefully cross these water channels. Control over-confident and over enthusiastic friends.
Somewhere you may go strait in to the jungle by footprints. But just don't follow blindly. Keep eye on Valley. next 40/50 mins. will in the jungle. Be alert when near to water sources, because animals may there. Keep watching all around.

Again you will be in open land after 2/3 hrs of walking. Here the Andharban Jungle ends. Big confusion about the selection of the route. So explore properly.

After 15/20 mins. you will find farms and few electric poles. means you are near Hirdi village. The Tailbaila mounts can be seen to right hand side. (west). 

10/15 mins walks and you will be in the Hirdi village of 5/10 huts. Few villagers are there, they welcome you warmly. You can have food her carried with you. 

After Food and rest you can start to the last phase of the jungle trail. Now you move away from Kundlika canyon. It will take 40/50 mins. descend to the Bhira dam where the trek ends. Your vehicle may be ready to take you back.

What to see : The whole trek give you the sight of dark forest with bushes, trees, climbers, creepers and grass and noise of insects and birds. observe the biodiversity. Feel no-man land. Valley, canyon, mountains and unique structure of anthills.

Best Season : Except Rainy days and May due to heat and humidity.

Trek Safety :

• Plan it in daytime only. 7 am to 6 pm  recommended. 
• No mobile coverage.
• No clear trail. In case of confusion of route, follow the edges of Kundlika valley. 
• No human settlement.
• Be aware of animals and insects.
• Risky turns and streams. Don't swim in the water bodies. 
• Don’t show over confidence; find a proper trail with common sense. Chance to lost in jungle is more.
• Be with group. Don't let anyone be isolated.
• Carry extra food and water.
• Don't stop for food in the jungle. eat in the open space. 
• Don't carry Non-veg food, wild animals may be attracted to it. 
• Keep vessels, Torch, lighter and first aids kit.
• Keep strong wooden sticks with you to support and protect. 
• In case of wild animals encounter make a group/huddle and make maximum noise as you can. Bigger shape and louder noise may work.  

TAKE CARE !!