Necklace Falls, Bhandardara, Maharashtra

Location-  Bhandardara

District - Ahmednagar

State - Maharashtra

As the name suggests, looking from a distance this waterfall appears like a necklace because the water flows down  from two places and meets at a lower point thus giving it a shape like a Deep U like a necklace. 

Situated at a distance of 1 km from Ratangad and 11 km from Bhandardara, the falls lie on the same route to Nani falls and Koltembhe falls.

There is a man-made bridge as well where the visitors can stand and enjoy the scenic view.

However the waterfall can only be visited during the monsoons when there is enough rain water.

As with all other attractions in Bhandardara, it is quite enjoyable and a must-visit tourist point.

Picture credit - maayboli

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Agastya Rishi Ashram, Bhandardara

Location- Akole, 40 km from Bhandardara

District - Ahmednagar

State - Maharashtra

What to visit in the Ashram -

• Ram kund

• Lord Ram temple

• Agastya Rishi Ashram hall

• Agastya Rishi temple 

Events to attend - 

• Ram Navmi

• MahaShivratri

• Akhand Harinaam Saptah held every three months

Agastya Rishi Ashram is a religious place located in Akole taluka, on the banks of the holy river Pravara in Bhandardara.

The Ashram has been mentioned in the Hindu epic, Ramayana and the Puranas.

The Ashram has much religious significance for the Hindus who visit here to pay their respects to the great Hindu Sage, Agastya who resided here. 

He was very earnest in his penance, and pleased with his meditation and devotion, God blessed him with a stream of the holy river Ganga, called as Amrit Vahini which is now known by the name Pravara.

As per the mention in the Ramayana, Lord Ram and his brother visited the revered Sage for his blessings in their battle with the King of Lanka, Ravana who had abducted Lord Ram's wife Sita.

The Sage gave him an arrow blessed by him that would kill Ravana.

The underground cave through which they had come is still there and it's exit is visible from the temple.

The Ashram is full of peace, natural beauty, tranquility and calm. It rejuvenates the heart and mind of the visitor, both the devotee and the history-lover.

The events worth attending are Mahashivratri, Ramnavmi and Akhand Harinam Saptah that is arranged by the Ashram Committee every three months. Devotees throng here on such events with their offerings and prayers. 

The Ashram also arranges three Dindi ( Marathi word for Annual pilgrimage ) to the holy places, Alandi, Pandharpur and Trimbakeshwar.

Nowadays, the hall is used to hold functions, public gatherings, marriage ceremonies and receptions etc.

Pictures sources -

• Agastya Rishi - wikipedia

• Agastya Rishi Ashram - Akole.in

Ratangad, Bhandardara, Maharashtra

           

District - Ahmednagar

State - Maharashtra

Distance from Bhandardara - 23 km

Best time to visit - 

• June to September ( Monsoon months )

• October to February ( Winter months ) 

Picture source - goibibo

Ratangad fort  

Ratan ( रत्न ) means Jewel in Hindi and Ratangad fort is aptly called the "Jewel of the Sahyadris".

Simultaneously, the fort is also named after Ratnabai Mandal,  one of the three sisters, the other two being Katrabai and Kalsubai.

There is a small temple in the fort dedicated to her.

The fort is 400 years old and is at an elevation of 4255 feet.

It was captured by Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and is believed to be his most preferred fort for leisure.

Situated  in the Ajoba mountain range of the Sahyadris, it is surrounded on all sides by great mountains like Kalsubai, Alang, Katrabai, Ghanchakkar, Ajoba and Kulan.

The top of the fort  provides a panoramic view of Chor Darwaza, Tryambak Darwaza, Bhandardara dam and the neighboring ancient forts , Harishchandragad, Kulang, Mandangad, Patta and Alang. 

The fort has four gates, named Konkan, Ganesh, Trimbak and Hanuman with the sculptures of Lord Ganesh and Lord Hanuman on the main gate. The top of the fort has developed a hole, perhaps due to soil erosion. The hole is 10 feet in height and 60 feet in width. It appears like the eye of a needle and hence is called Nedhe in Marathi.

There are a number of functioning wells on the fort with some providing potable water.

A couple of caves on the eastern side are functional and used for the purpose of overnight stopover by the trekkers. 

picture source -ahmednagar.nic.in

 Ratangad trek - 

Trekking up to the 400 years old fort is one of the most popular tourist activities in Bhandardara.The trek's base starts from the village, Ratanwadi, just opposite of Amruteshwar temple.  The twisting trail is fairly medium challenging and leads through lush and dense forest paths that provide coolness even in the summer season. There are a couple of iron ladders  installed by the forest department to climb up the fort.

The trail provides an opportunity to gaze at the scenic beauty of the surrounding peaks, the Pravara river, the Bhandardara dam and the Ratanwadi village.

There are no waterfalls on the way up to the fort. Though the trail is marked for guidance it is still preferable to take along a local guide from the village.

As regards availability of food items, the villagers do put up small stalls on the weekends with the local fare of poha, instant noodles, tea etc. Lunch and dinner orders can also be placed in the village, though the fare will be fairly simple and traditional Maharashtrian. 

Harishchandragad, Bhandardara, Maharashtra

 

Location - Bhandardara

District - Ahmednagar

State - Maharashtra

Situated about 4665 feet above sea-level, this fort is believed to be built in the 6 th century.

There are quite a few caves that seem to have been carved in the 11 th century. They have idols of Lord Vishnu.

Many diverse constructions and structures  point to the existence of diverse cultures down the centuries.

 The  creator of the epic TatvaSaar, Rishi Changdev used to meditate in these caves in the 14th century.

Historically the fort was of much significance as it played a major part in guarding as well as controlling the surrounding region. 

Trekking up to the top of Harishchandragad is one of the most popular treks and trekkers have the option of multiple routes to choose from. Needless to say, the views along the way are absolutely mesmerizing.

Harishchandeshwar Mandir 

Built by Zanz belonging to the Shillar dynasty, this temple was built in the 6 th century. Its height is about 16 metres and it has been carved from a single rock.

It has entrances from all the four sides.

Dedicated to Lord Shiv, the temple has a typical North Indians architectural design.  There are many water tanks, one of which is the origin of the river Mangal Ganga.

Saptatirtha Pushkarni

To the east of the Harishchandreshwar temple is the lake, Sapta Tirtha Pushkarni.

There used to be temple-like constructions with Lord Vishnu idols. These have now been shifted to the caves near the Harischandeshwar temple.

Kedareshwar Cave

This cave is situated to the right of Harishchandreshwar temple and is filled with ice cold water with 5 feet Shivling submerged partly in it. The uniqueness of the cave is that water seeps in continuously from the walls. 

On top of the Shivling is a structure that was originally supported by 4 pillars.Now only the fourth pillar is intact and the local belief is that the world will end when the fourth pillar also crumbles.

The cave is not accessible in the monsoon months. 

Taramati peak ( तारामती माची )

Ranked as the sixth highest peak in the state of Maharashtra it gives an amazing view of the whole range of Nanhe ghat, Malshej ghat, Kalsubai and many forts near Murbad like Ghodishep, Kulang, Alang ,Napta twin peaks, Siddhagad.

Trekking up to the peak is truly an enjoyable and unforgettable experience.

Nageshwar Mandir 

An ancient temple very much well-known for its artistic carvings and sculptures  on the ceiling, the most prominent being that of a sleeping Lord Vishnu which is 1.5 metres in length.

Konkan Kada 

Kada means cliff in Marathi and this cliff faces the Konkan, hence its name,  Konkan Kada.

This western facing cliff provides a spectacular  view of Konkan and the surrounding regions. A couple of unique features of this cliff are The Circular rainbow and the vertical cloud burst .

The sunset from the cliff is also a not to  be missed sight due to its beauty. 

In conclusion, a trip to Harishchandragad is a unique and unforgettable experience.

Pictures - wikipedia

Arthur Lake, Bhandardara, Maharashtra

 

Location - Bhandardara

District - Ahmednagar

State - Maharashtra

Activities -Trekking, Hiking, Swimming , Boating , Angling, Camping etc 

Arthur lake ( Bhandardara lake) is a man-made lake built as a reservoir to the Wilson Dam.

It is formed from the water of river Pravara. 

Surrounded by the lush green hills of the Sahyadri ranges, it is a sight to behold. 

The serene, calm, placid, crystal clear water of this 34 m long dam along with the peaceful vibe  make it one of the must-see places in Bhandardara.

A very popular attraction for all types of tourists, be it families, nature-enthusiasts, adventure-seekers, it has something for everyone.

Boating, angling, swimming and trekking are some of the activities that are enjoyed by the visitors. 

 It has a loop of 50 km that encircles the lake and provides space for camping, picnics, hiking and sightseeing. 

Many tourist packages are available for overnight camping that includes a number of amenities and activities for the campers. There is ample space for parking as well as for the setting up of tents.

Watching the spectacular sunset, bonfires, early morning walks / hikes, swimming, boating and jungle safaris are included in the schedule.

Also, this place has religious significance for the Hindus for it is here that Rishi Agastya had spent a year for the purpose of meditation, references of which are there in the Ramayana.

Picture, courtesy goibibo 

Umbrella Falls, Bhandardara, Maharashtra

Location - Bhandardara

District - Ahmednagar

State - Maharashtra

This is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Bhandardara.

Umbrella waterfall is so named due to the peculiar umbrella shape the falling water makes.

At a distance of about 500 metres from the Bhandardara bus-stop, the waterfall can easily be reached by foot or vehicle.

Close to Arthur lake, located under the Wilson Dam, the water falls down from a height of 500 feet on a semi circular rock that makes the falling water look like an open umbrella. 

This can be seen only in the monsoon months from July to October when the Wilson Dam overflows and the excess water gushes out from an opening on the northern end of the dam.

There is a bridge built right under the waterfall on which the tourists can stand and enjoy the spectacular view.

Needless to say, it is a very scenic tourist spot that is enjoyed by all nature lovers.

 A hydro-electric power plant is also located here.

( Picture from wikipedia )