Around Bhimashankar..
The jungle around Bhimashankar offers the curious lot many 'gupt' treasures. Padar killa is on the trek route to Bhimashankar so is Nagphani from where one can have a view of the forts of Peth and Padhar and the plateaus of Peth and Matheran if you choose to take the difficult way up! The shorter trek at least, from the Bhimashankar temple to the Gupt Bhima the origin of river Bhima is a must do during a holiday in Bhimashankar.
Bhimashankar Trek..
Bhimashankar is accessible by road however Bhimashankar also offers the option of trekking up the jungle trail which is a strenuous but exciting option. From Karjat station you need to travel to Khandas village, which is around 40 kms away. There are two trekking routes to Bhimashankar, Ganesh Ghat route - the longer and easier route and Sidhi (ladder) route which is far more difficult and steep.
This historic Shivneri fort, is located about a 70 km from Bhimashankar. Shivaji, Maharashtra's biggest pre independence hero was born here in 1630. The massive fortification, which are still evident today, made it one of the most secure fort of those times. Shiv mandir, the birthplace of Shivaji, Ambharkhana, Kadelot point and Ganga-Jamuna two cisterns are the main points within the fort.
Junnar is the transitional zone between the Sahyadris and the broad plains to the east. Junnar has the largest number of excavations numbering over 200 independent excavations spread over the four hills. Tuljalena, Manmodi, Sivaneri and Lenyadri are the sub-groups depending upon the location. The Shivneri group of caves is the closest to Bhimashankar with over 50 caves.
Narayangaon Vineyards
Narayangaon is famous for vineyards and it is the backbone of the wine industry in India. A visit to the vineyards is not only an exciting but also a tempting one at that! Its difficult not to pluck a few grapes from the vines. Vast expanse of green creepers with the purple fruit is a great view.
Malshej Ghat
Nestled in the lofty rugged hills of the Western Ghats Malshej is a hilltop with numerous cascading waterfalls. Malshej Ghat is garlanded with natural splendor and magnificence, popular during the monsoons Malshej is about 80 Kms from Bhandardara. A rare attraction of this place is the Flamingos that can be seen in nearby areas of the seasonal lakes that come up especialy during monsoons
Bhimashankar Sightseeing..
