Karjat Travel Guide

Mumbai’s closest trekking destination is just 88 km away by the banks of the Ulhas River. Karjat is where the coastal plains of the konkan end and Bhor Ghat begins. Chance and happenstance turned this once unknown village into a railway hub. As a result all trains heading this way are compelled to stop at karjat.

In the monsoon and just after the area is a luxuriant green. Paddy fields stretch from karjat right upto the base of some of the surrounding hills. Waterfalls and rivulets gush down the hillside. When the sky clears, you get a glimpse of the magnificent hills in the distance pinnacles forts plateaus gentle spurs and steep cliffs and sometimes the ugly scar of a landslide or the gaping orifice of a stone quarry that mars the beauty of the Sahyadris.

Recognizing Karjat’s potential as a relaxing weekend getaway location a mere tow hours drive from home many wealthy mumbaikars have built farmhouses here. You can come to one of the health resorts here and visit the ancient rock cut caves, If you’ve a penchant for adventure you can climb imposing maratha forts attempt some easy treks or go on a monsoon white water rafting trip on the Ulhas River.

Kondana Caves

From karjat drive or take an auto Rs5-10 shared Rs 150-200 private to Kondana Villages. From the village follow an easy trail to the ruins of the rock cut caves of kondana. These are Buddhist caves complete with stupa chaitya, vihara and sculptures. Several large beehives hang at the entrance to the cave, so avoid smoking and peeling citrus fruit or other aromatic foods nearby.

Vanvihar is a simple lodge at kondana village run by the very pleasant gogates. For Rs 60 they will provide you a hearty meal. They also have very rustic accommodation and camping facilities. Look our over the Ulhas as you sip masala tea on their verandah or get down to the water. Get a friend to crank the cable trolley and ride across the river.

River Rafting

If you seek and adrenaline rush adventure karjat will oblige. During the monsoon it’s possible to go rafting on the upper sections of Ulhas River near karjat. Because this is purely a seasonal activity (July-September) the trips are dependent on there being adequate rainfall. Outbound Adventure is the outfil in Mumbai that exclusively organizes rafting and canoeing trips here. A day trip costs Rs800 per head and includes everything except lunch takes your own packed lunch with you. The put in point is knodana village about 15 km from karjat. Hiking can also be arranged to the 2nd century Buddhist caves along the hillsides with prior notice.

Trekker’s Heaven

Lots of options depending on your energy and determinations levels. One great trek is to Matheran via Rambagh Point. There are actually tow paths to Matheran. Opt for the route that turns left at vavarle, then on the ambewadi village before hitting the tree line above which towers big chowk point. Look carefully at the rock face and you will see why it is called.

Elephant Head.

The last section known as shivaji steps is a steep climb up a reentrant which in the monsoon is a water fall so take care or you could end up scrmbling over boulders and rocks. On your left is one tree hill and to the right the steep cliffs of matheran. If takes between 3 to 3 half hrs to trek up to matheran from vavarle via either route. Do the trek on your way back to mumbai because from matheran you can’t come back to karjat unless you walk

Peth Fort Trek

Peth is unique among the forts of the sahyadris because of its funnel shaped top kotligad and its rocky staircase carved in the middle. To get to the trek you need to take a bus from karjat to ambivli villages near peth ensure that the bus will actually stop at Ambivli before you get on. From ambivli take the path to peth village and from there its’s an easy climb to the fort. You can camp in the caves at the top where there is plenty of drinking water.

Kerala style de-stressing is another karjat pick tow health resorts here boast all kinds of remedies and natural treatments, plus plain old pampering. People come here to lose weight to heal stressed bones and joints or just to revitalize themselves. Acupuncture acupressure and aromatherapy massage and meditation the entire gamut of natural therapies is offered at the riverside satya health farm, Tariff Rs2,500.