Malshej Ghat-Weekend Trip

 

Malshej Ghat is a popular weekend picnic spots of tourists. Malshej Ghat is also referred to as Marshes Ghat or Maljesh Ghat by some people. The holiday destination of Malshej Ghat is located in the Thane district of Maharashtra state in India. It connects Kalyan with Ahmednagar. The mountain pass of Malshej Ghat is situated on the Kalyan–Ahmednagar Road in Western Ghats range. 

 

The average height of Malshej Ghat is 2297 feet or 700 meters. The main attractions of Malshej Ghat are its numerous waterfalls in monsoon, village walks, flamingos and breath-taking views of the verdant valley. The tall mountains, waterfalls and lakes of Malshej Ghat add to its beauty.

Enroute To Malshej Ghat

The route towards Malshej Ghat offered some of the nicest views and we could not stop praising the massive greenery and the tranquil surroundings during the journey through the curvy Ghat roads.I Immersed in the beauty of the surroundings. . 

 

 It is a sight to behold for its wholesome greenery, village life and a layer of mist as clouds descend into the region.

 

 We stopped at few places to click photos of the picturesque scenery around. On the highway. The sun blazed high on the sky, as the distant mountains flew past into the blur, some of them still covered in a thin layer of snow. These lofty ranges were constant companions and unsurprising.

 

Almost at every curve of the road, one is bound to find a cascading waterfall. 

 

 Walking through the gushing water is a lifetime experience. Rolling hills and the misty clouds descending into the hills which looked fabulous.

Malshej Ghat Waterfalls:

This hill station is renowned for its waterfalls, placid lakes and serene mountains. Beautiful waterfalls, verdant green hillsides, interesting rock formations, the hill station of Malshej Ghat has all of this its spectacular flora and fauna, Malshej Ghat also has historic forts, resorts and sanctuaries.

 

When I visited Malshej Ghat, I was amazed to see so many gushing waterfalls right on the road. The hilly areas of Malshej Ghat come alive with numerous waterfalls in the rainy season. .

 

 While some waterfalls ate located deep in the forest, many are located right on the highway itself. Some waterfalls can also be seen in the far distance but they are inaccessible.

 

 

Small, big, huge, mighty, high, low, noisy, calm, rocky, dry, steep, shallow, scenic, sparkling, beautiful  you’ll get waterfalls of every type here. It is a fantastic getaway for people looking to spend some quality time with nature.

Valley View Point:

This offbeat place offers bird’s eye view of the gorgeous valley which sprawls over a vast area of land.

 

 From here, you can appreciate the view of valley till as far as the eye can see. It is a must-visit place in Malshej Ghat.

 

There is a viewing platform here as well from where you can enjoy the views of the green hills and waterfalls. I love to sit and chill at such places for at least 30 minutes. 

 

It is an amazing feeling to stand at the top of the mountains with all the clouds beside you and the nature below you! 

 

During the rainy season, you can just stand here and the clouds will come to kiss your face gently. Yes, it is one of those places.We can see many street vendors selling piping hot Vada Paos here. Binging on hot Vada Pao in rainy season is heavenly indeed! Malshej Ghat Tunnel is a tourist attraction in itself!

Pimpalgaon-Joga Dam:

Pimpalgaon Joga Dam is in Malshej Ghat in Maharashtra. It is about a 5 KM long dam. The dam has the very scenic surroundings which give it a panoramic view.

 

 A lot of bird species such as Alpine Swift, the Whistling Thrush, the Quail and migratory birds like the Flamingos can be spotted at this location. Many birding enthusiasts visit Malshej Ghat only for spotting various avian species.Beautiful lake with mountain backdrop. Feels so calm and rejuvenating.

 

There is no entry fee at Malshej Ghat. All the places to visit in Malshej Ghat are free. Malshej Ghat is one of those places where there are many free things to do. Not only can you have a free walking tour of Malshej Ghat but also enjoy the bounty of nature without spending on any entrance fee.

 

The drive to Malshej Ghat has amazing views of the dense valleys, waterfalls, and forests.

 

 We took many stopovers in between for the splendid waterfalls and landscapes along the way.These long drives in enchanting greenery are what really energies and refreshes me and feel so peaceful.

You can experience the beauty of nature only when you sit with it, observe it, breathe it and talk to it.”

Experiencing the Wild Side-Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve

Travel through beautiful wooded trails is always exciting and soothing and appreciate the rich diversity of plant and animal life as the colours, scents and textures of this extraordinary landscape unfold before you  gives lot of excitement. Last month I got opportunity to visit wild life one is the Mundanthurai Wildlife Sanctuary, and another one is Bannerghatta National Park.

Ambasamudram is my husband native place of whenever we go to native we also made a detour for the famous Agasthiyar falls, which is also a religious centre. The Agasthiyar Falls lies inside the Kalakadu Mudunthurai Tiger Reserve Forest. After Pappanasam check post the entire journey is uphill and very scenic.First we went to Agasthiyar Falls.

 

Papanasam Falls (also known as Agastiyar Falls) are located in the town of Papanasam. It is a small town, yet popular tourist destination situated in the Ambasamudram taluk of the Tirunelveli (Nellai) district of Tamilnadu. The nearest towns are Ambasamudram, Vikramasingapuram,. The place is also called as Papavinasam.

The Papanasam town is a famous picnic spot amongst the locals and the tourists. The Pothigai Hills beautifully provide background to the Agasthiar Falls.

 

 Rich in culture and heritage, Agasthyamalai was at the core of the reserve, while several temples and teerthams set deep inside the wilds added a mystic touch to it.Tirunelveli’s perennial river Tamirabarani was joined by smaller rivers like Manimuthar which cascaded down the rocks. The best time to visit the Agasthiar Falls is in the morning, at the time of sunrise.

 

Legend of the Agasthiar Falls

The height of Agasthiar Falls is 120 meters. The shrine of Munivar Agasthiar is located atop the cascade. It is believed that during the holy matrimony of the Hindu God Shiva and Goddess Parvati, all the Gods and Goddesses from Heaven had gone to the Kailash Parvat, in order to attend the auspicious ceremony. This disrupted the balance of Earth, for which Munivar Agasthiar meditated at the Agasthiar Falls and the wedding was completed smoothly. To commemorate this event, a procession is taken out by the locals of the idol of Munivar Agasthiar on the anniversary of Shiva and Parvati every year.

There are other dams like Papanasam, Kodayar, Karaiyar besides Manimuthar, offering scenic views, but not all of them were open to the public as they were hidden in the dense habitat of the KMTR.After bathing in Agasthyar falls we headed journey toward Mundanthurai Wildlife Sanctuary .

Mundanthurai Wildlife Sanctuary:

 

Away from hustle n bustle of city life, drove yourself into the deep jungles of this tiger reserve.Located in the Tirunelvelli district of Tamil Nadu, at the foothills of Western Ghats and the adjoining areas. The flora ranges from forests of the tropical wet evergreen to the tropical dry deciduous and thorn forests in the lower hills and covers an extensive area of 895 sq km.About 14 rivers and seven dams are in this forest. This Hills have no possibility to stay anywhere inside sanctuary except for forest officials. Just a day trip.

 

Mudanthurai Wildlife Sanctuary is home to several hundred plants and animal species and Wild life lovers will thoroughly enjoy a visit to this wildlife park. The sight of so many members of the animal kingdom is sure to amaze everyone. 

 

Some of the wild creatures that can be sighted in the Mundanthurai Wildlife Sanctuary are Tiger, Mouse deer, Leopard, Rusty spotted cat, Brown palm civet, Leopard, Sambhar, Spotted deer, Malabar giant squirrel, Nilgiri Langur, Bonnet Macaque, Sloth Bear, Brown mongoose, Nilgiri Martin, Indian pangolin, King Cobra, Python, Monitor Lizard, Flying Lizard, Pit viper and others. It is certainly very thrilling to explore the dark mysterious forests and see all these beasts in their natural habitat

 

 If you want to behold the beauty of the winged creatures and listen to their sweet humming voice, the Mundanthurai Wildlife Sanctuary is also the right place for you to go to. The avifaunal population of the Mundanthurai Wildlife Sanctuary comprises of Ceylon mouth frog, Grey headed bulbul, Great Pied hornbill, Great Indian Hornbill, Malabar Grey hornbill, Oriental bay owl and Broad tailed Grass warbler.

 

                                                        Hydro Electric PowerPlant

The Mundanthurai Wildlife Sanctuary is easily accessible and arranging a trip is no problem at all. The nearest railway station is Ambasamudram located at a distance of about 6 km. Buses are frequently available from here. The months of October to January are ideally suited for a visit to the Mundanthurai Wildlife Sanctuary.Trekking opportunities are also there in the Mundanthurai Wildlife Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu. However prior permission of the Wildlife Department is required if you are interested in trekking.

Although it is tiger Reserveit is very rare to see tigers and lepords. to explore the forest we need special Permission from forest ranger.

It is certainly very thrilling to explore the dark mysterious forests and see all these beasts in their natural habitat.