Go Malshej

As I am getting older in IT world - many good habits of mine are getting screwed up; I had a habit of blog writing in the near past – but since last 2.5 years – i could not pen down even a small write-up after any travel trip. Writing a blog is always a matter of passion and patience; I think – I am loosing these two P slowly. But this time I really feel passionate to write something on my recent Malshej Ghat trip. Travelling in November to any hill stations always remains pleasant; I had a plan to visit the same during monsoon; but could not manage; except a small visit to Tamhini Mulshi and Lonavala Khandala. On 5^th November - we left at 5:30 AM from Vishal Nagar for Malshej. It was not completely dark that time. We got into the Indica with some fast foods and of course the full camera set; the journey via NH50 Pune Nasik Highway was really pleasant. Road was excellent. We crossed RajguruNagar, Narayangan within 90 minutes. From Alephata, we took an immediate left turn and took NH222 highway. This NH222 actually originates from Ahmednagar and connects Kalyan. The outside perspective was changing rapidly; It looks like we were passing long Mountain Pass; The all over greeneries in the lap of Western Ghats was eye-soothing; at 8:15 – we reached Pimplegaon Joga dam, nearly 20km ahead of Malshej. We did stop there and had some birding near to that Dam; snapped Malabar crested lark, stonechat, purple sunbird, pied bushchat, yellow eyed babbler, kestrel etc. But found real pleasure to watch the blue waters of the Dam with the background of sahyadri Hills; after having some tea on the road, we left for Malshej Ghat and reached there within next 30 minutes. Malshej Ghat is a mountain pass in the Western Ghats near the Pune and Thane Border at distance 130 km from Pune. It has got number of waterfalls during the monsoons; our driver Ganesh was driving was telling his experience of Malshej ghat during July. Several water streams we saw on the road side and realized how they used to decorate this Ghat during monsoon. We had our breakfast there with some steamed corn and bara pao. Took many shots of the lofty rugged hills, the zigzag road turning and the monkeys;

How to reach: To reach Malshej ghat from Pune, take NH50 (Pune-Nasik highway), turn left at Narayangaon and pass through Junar. State Transport buses are cheaper and available from Kalyan, Karjat and Pune at regular intervals.

Accommodation: Flamingo Hill is a resort run by MTDC – Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation in the vicinity of Malshej Ghat. You can do a online booking via MTDC website. There is another private hotel Su-Shant Holiday resort (Contact T.S. Shah 9527007374/9860146030).

Best time to visit: July to September. But winter is much pleasant and good for photography and birding.

Birds seen: Malabar crested lark, Chestnut shouldered petronica, Yellow eyed babbler, Common kestrel, Pied Bushchat, Common stonechat, Sunbird, Wagtails, Alpine swifts etc.