Karjat is a picturesque village in the state of Maharashtra in India. Karjat is located in
the Konkan coast perfectly in the foothills of Matheran, the renowned hill station in Maharashtra.
Just a hop, skip and jump away from Mumbai, especially for the adventure and outdoor buff.
Located on the banks of the River Ulhas, Karjat is a pretty hill resort with the rushing river
and verdant fields and surrounded by low green-topped hills.
Karjat is adventure sports country.
Kothaligad is one of the most famous treks in Karjat area. The fort is conical in shape and gives an amazing view of the foothills. There is a lot of history associated with the fort, which go back to the 13th Century. The locals believe that this is not actually a fort, but it is a sort of a lighthouse, also known as the watch tower. Kothaligad Trekking point near Mumbai is an ideal one day trek in monsoon. This fort stands in the company of various other forts like Rajmachi, Dhak, Siddhagad and Bhimashankar. Drinking Water Facility: There are many a cisterns and tanks on the fort, but the one near the cave is reliable. The pinnacle of the Peth can be seen from the village. It looks like a filed surface. On reaching the top of the fort, we see caves carved in huge rocks. The first one is the cave of Goddess, besides which is a water cistern and the last one is the specious Bhairoba cave. A flat floor and well-sculpted pillars are specialty of the cave. Along the Bhairoba cave, steps are carved leading the pinnacle.
Ulhas Valley shines the beautiful flowing streams of Ulhas river. During the monsoons,
the sight of the waterfall is breathtaking. It is yet another destination for people who
love trekking. The mesmerizing waterfall is a complete treat for the eyes and also rejuvenates
a person.
It lies between Rajmachi and the Karjat- Khandala route. One of the prime attractions in Karjat,
it offers breathtaking sights during the monsoons, when the water flows amidst the thick
greenery of the valley. It is well known for its adventurous activities such as Hiking,
trekking and river rafting. River Rafting is possible on the upper sections of the Ulhas River.
Note: Take care during the monsoons as the river is very fierce. There are a number of tunnels
in the Ulhas valley, which helps the trains to pass through the valley.
Bhor Ghat is a mountain passage. It is best known for its scenic view and the beautiful dense woods.
This ghat has a great historical significance. Bhor Ghat was the ancient route used for trading and it
also connected different ports.The Bhor road ghat cuts the Sahyadri range to join Khandala to Khopoli
and handles traffic on the busiest route in India between Mumbai to Pune. One Bhor ghat is on the Old
Mumbai Pune Road and second onMumbai Pune Expressway. However a small portion of this has to be covered
on Mumbai Pune Expressway. This ghat stretches almost 18 km between Khandala to Khopoli. Along with passenger
transport lot of goods transport is also done across this ghat.
Kondana Caves are rock-cut ancient Buddhist caves which attract tourists and Buddhist pilgrims
throughout the year. It is a one hour trek from the Kondana village. These caves are cut out
from a single rock situated at the bottom of a waterfall. Apart from exploring these caves,
one can enjoy a shower under the waterfall. But the water can be seen only during the monsoons.
According to archaeologists, these caves date back to the 2nd century BC. It is said that there
was an earth quake in early 1900 by which many stupas, front entrance and floor of the caves
were damaged.Inside the cave, enclose sculptures, vihara, cahitya and stupas, specimens of
ancient Buddhist architecture.To maintain the sanctity of the place, there are some
restrictions on these protected ancient caves. Eventhough, smoking and the consumption of
liquor and aromatic foods are prohibited nearby places of the caves, unfortunately, the
entire cave area is often littered.To reach this caves, take a bus or rickshaw from
Karjat to direct Kondivade village. From Kondivade proceed to Kondane. From Kondivade to
Kondane, it is a 1 hour trek. It is a winding up-hill climb across streams, through green
bushes. The way here is narrow and mostly hidden by the plants and trees that grow alongside
the path.
Well known production designer Nitin Chandrakant Desai’s “ND Studios” established in 2005,
is a major stopover attraction for Karjat tourists and films are shot here. One of the well
known films shot here was Slumdog Millionaire, the Oscar winning movie.
The 274-acre studio has caught everyone's attention. Several Bollywood films, TV serials,
commercial ads have been shot here. The studio houses two sound-proof air-conditioned floors
(where Saawariya and Big Brother were shot) in addition to permanent sets of 1600 feet of
Bombay town square (Traffic Signal and Nike ad were shot here),
Bhivpuri, a small town located in Karjat, famous for its waterfalls. It is a preferred
destination for weekends during rainy season. It attracts a lot of tourists during the holiday
times and the rainy season. The waterfall has a beautiful view in the rainy days.
Kondeshwar temple is an ancient temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. This temple has been
constructed in the old Hemadpanthi style of architecture. The main sanctum of the temple is
surrounded by numerous small shrines.
Who would have known that a small town like Karjat would have so much to offer? As it is
said big surprises come in small packages. It is indeed a holiday to be taken.