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Voykit pocket guide · India
Bhandardara
Spend 1 day for the lake, falls and short trek; add a night if you want lakeside camping or a relaxed stay at MTDC resort.
Bhandardara is a hill‑station in north‑Maharashtra with a lake, waterfalls, forts and trekking routes. Most sights cluster near the lake, so a day covers the basics; an overnight lets you enjoy sunrise at the lake and a slower pace.
- Country
- India
- Best months
- Oct–Mar
- Avoid
- Jun–Sep (monsoon floods)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- INR
- Money
- Indian rupees (INR, ₹) in small notes for autos, street food, tips and entry tickets.
- Daily spend
- Budget ₹1,200–2,000 excl. bed · Mid ₹2,500–4,500 excl. bed · High ₹5,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Jio, Airtel and Vi sell tourist SIMs at airport counters and their shops; passport, visa and a photo needed; activation can take a few hours.
- Emergency
- Police 100 · Medical 108 · All services 112
- Plugs
- Types C, D, M · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round two-pin C plugs fit most sockets; D (three round pins) is the common wall socket; hotels often have universal sockets. UK and US plugs need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Street food and dhabas: Nothing.; Restaurant: 5–10% if no service charge is on the bill.; Car and driver: ₹300–500 a day at the end of the trip.; Guide: ₹300–500 for a half day.; Hotel porter / housekeeping: ₹50–100.; Auto or Uber: Round up.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap. Buy sealed bottles (check the cap), or use RO-filtered refill stations in hotels and cafés; avoid ice from street stalls.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels, malls and airports; squat toilets with a water jug or hose in stations and villages. Carry tissue and sanitiser; paid public toilets (Sulabh) cost ₹5–10.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Tea (street stall) | ₹15–₹30 |
| Snacks (samosa, vada) | ₹20–₹50 |
| Bottle water (500 ml) | ₹15–₹25 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- PNQ · Pune International Airport
- ≈175 km (109 mi) by road, NH 50 then SH 44≈109 mi (175 km) by road, NH 50 then SH 44
Typical fares
- Igatpuri → Bhandardara (state bus)
- ≈₹200 one‑way (check)
- Taxi Igatpuri → Bhandardara
- ≈₹1,500 round‑trip (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
State transport buses link nearby villages; private taxis are common but often overloaded. Walks around the lake are short (5–10 min).
See and do
Known for
- Bhandardara lake
- Umbrella Falls
- Randha Falls
- Ratangad fort
- Amruteshwar Shiva temple
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Ratangad fort | Local bus or taxi 17 km (11 mi) north, 30 minLocal bus or taxi 11 mi (17 km) north, 30 min | ≈1 h |
| Kalsubai peak | Hire a guide, 45 km (28 mi) east, 1 h drive then trekHire a guide, 28 mi (45 km) east, 1 h drive then trek | ≈3 h |
Sleep
- MTDC resort
- Cottages ₹2,400 off‑peak, deluxe rooms ₹1,300 off‑peak; basic rooms ₹700 off‑peak. No AC.
- Anandvan resort
- Higher‑end option; price on site.
- Bhandardara Camping
- Tent sites ₹1,099 per night.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | माफ कराmaaf kara |
| How much is this? | हे किती आहे?he kitī āhe? |
| Where is the ATM? | एटीएम कुठे आहे?ATM kuthe āhe? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Namaste (palms together) or a handshake between men; wait for a woman to offer her hand; avoid: Hugging or kissing strangers
- Hands and feet: Give and eat with the right hand; apologise if your foot touches someone; avoid: Pointing feet at people or shrines; touching books or food with your feet
- Temples: Shoes off, walk clockwise around shrines, accept prasad (blessed food) with the right hand; avoid: Leather in Jain temples; entering sanctums that say Hindus only
- Home visit: Bring sweets or fruit; accept tea at least once; avoid: Refusing all food; wearing shoes inside
- Questions: Expect personal questions (married? job? salary?) as friendliness; avoid: Taking offence; answer vaguely if you prefer
- Saying no: A firm, polite 'nahi, dhanyavaad' (no, thank you) and keep walking; avoid: Long explanations to touts
- Dress: Loose clothes covering shoulders and knees; kurta tops are cheap and cool; avoid: Swimwear or shorts away from Goa beaches
Scams and watch-outs
- ATMs are ~30 km away – carry cash for food and lodging.
- Taxis may be crowded; agree fare before boarding.
- Monsoon can swell the lake and make falls dangerous.
Generally safe; watch traffic, keep valuables secure, and avoid isolated hills after dark.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Bhandardara yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Bhandardara lake
- Umbrella Falls
- Randha Falls
- Ratangad fort
- Amruteshwar Shiva temple
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Bhandardara, revision 5334039 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5334039
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/bhandardara). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.