Bamnoli Village near Satara
This is probably the easiest way to experience the lakes of switzerland, right in Maharashtra! Bamnoli village on the banks of the Shivsagar lake formed due to the Koyna dam is a small community of people, who mainly cater to the tourists wanting to visit Vasota fort, Nageshwar Shiv Temple and also Tapola.
Click here to see a bigger version of the above panorama
How to go to Bamnoli: Bamnoli lies at the end of the Kaas plateau. You have to go to Satara, cross the city and then take the right at the fork at the end of the city. The road at the left (through a tunner) would go to Thoseghar. Once on this road you have to drive for around 30 kms (crossing kaas lake and the beautiful flower beds) and then climb down to the shore of the Shivsagar lake. Though google maps doesnt show this road, this exists and is a good condition road, not the offroading type. As you descend the ghats onto Bamnoli, you are rewarded with views as comparable to european lake destination (provided you visit this place around the monsoons/winter).
Once in Bamnoli, you can choose from lot of boating options. You can just go for a ride around the shivsagar lake. Or, go for a boat trip to Tapola, also known as mini kashmir. The rates are reasonable, provided you have a group of 5-6 people. Otherwise, you anyway have to pay the group price. If you have time, you can also go on a guided tour to Vasota fort or the famous nageshwar Shiv temple. The waters are right up to the roads inside the village. In fact, there are few buildings which are half-submerged. I guess the end of the village is defined by the amount of water in the backwaters. There is even a Bank of Baroda branch here. So, if you want to, you can even open an account here!
I was just looking around for stuff to photograph, when i noticed something big flying overhead. Thinking it to be a big bird, i followed it and then when it came into view, i realised that it was a big bat. Then i saw the hundreds of bats on the few trees next to the shore. They were there only on these few trees. I was lucky to see this as i would have just returned to my car if not for this low flying bat.
You can go to Bamnoli as a separate trip and then spend the day with a boating trip to Tapola or combine Bamnoli with a visit/drive to the Kaas plateau, as we did.
Cheapest & natural place.That is my native place.
Any enquiry call me 882838688
Do we get mobile coverage here? If yes, which one?
Thanks in advance
We were little disappointed to see brown soil with totally dried plants on the Kaas plateau today I.e. 12 November 15. But as we descended down to Banmoli, it was a very pleasant surprise! Although this year it didn’t rain enough, there was water in the Shivsagar lake, backwater of Koyna. A boat ride to the Triveni sangam and to the Shiva temple was just superb! The complete hill where the Shiva temple lies is covered with variety of trees making the place very cool and the ambience because of the temple adds such a pious feeling. As you enter the temple inside the cave, its simply unbelievable experience. It was so calm inside that one can forget everything, our own presence itself! Probably one of the best places for meditation!
It was an awesome experience to cherish for a lifetime.
Hello, Bamnoli to tapola would be a long off roading route and in rains, it may be difficult. You can stay in either Satara or mahabaleshwar (closer to tapola).
Best option would be to stay in mahabaleshwar, cover Mahab and Tapola in one day.
Next day, go on offroad route from mahabaleshwar to Kaas (there is a route visible on the map), cover Bamnoli that day.,
sir,
I am planning to visit satara, kas ,bamnoli, tapola from Aug 15 to 17. we are starting from pune. we are 4 family members ( myself, husband, & 2 daughters 26yrs& 22 yrs old) all nature lovers. love to travel off beat roads . we have our own Mahindra SUV please suggest tour rout for the above destinations & also lodging & bording fassilities
Regards,
Mrs. Deshmukh