Thokarwadi Dam – the best waterfall road trip near Pune

It is not often that i get floored by scenic beauty that i attach words like “best” to it, but this was one such trip. In the many years of travelling around Pune, particularly in the monsoon season in search of waterfalls, this route was the best i have ever been on! And, it is so close to Pune and the roads are very normal ones to drive on! Look at the bottom of the post for updates from my second visit.

waterfall near pune road trip thokarwadi




waterfall near pune road trip thokarwadi

The route: On the old Mumbai Pune, the toll plaza is at Somatane, close to Shirgaon and the Birla Ganapati. Around 15 kms ahead is the Kanhe Phata. You have to turn right on this and go on the road to Khandi. This is a 30 km one way trip. We had planned the round trip with the return coming on the other side of Thokarwadi, but as it got late we came back the same way. Villagers said that the other side doesn’t have good roads, but i guess it should be manageable. The below map shows the way from Magarpatta city. Essentially, it is a Kanhe Khandi road trip.

A few kms after Kanhe (after crossing the railway gate), the scenery starts. We have to cross a river. When we went, the river was almost to the level of the bridge and it was quite scary. There are numerous waterfalls to the side. The road is such that we have the mountains on the left and the backwaters of the dam on the right. The road is quite good with the occasional potholes. The first prominent waterfall was quite cool. It was on a private area and the old lady at the gate charges 100 rs per person. Totally worth the money! No idea who designed it, but they modified the natural waterfall to make it ten times more fun. Imagine you have a great waterfall, an infinity pool, a bushi dam feel all combined into one. There is a pool dug out at the base of the fall for people to swim in (and it is not too deep i guess as i saw even kids going in). Then the water flows over a series of steps making the whole place extremely photogenic.

waterfall near pune road trip thokarwadi
waterfall near pune road trip thokarwadi

The next 10-15 kms had the highest density of falls i have ever seen and all of them big ones! It had rained heavily for the past few days and the water levels in all of them was amazing. You just have to stop every few min for a photo!

waterfalls_pune_mumbai_thokarwadi_dam2
waterfalls_pune_mumbai_thokarwadi_dam5
waterfall near pune road trip thokarwadi

A short drive later, you will see a board on the road pointing towards the left with a waterfall photo and mentioning food option! Don’t miss this! I have given the approx location of this place in the map below. There was no network there, so couldn’t mark the place. This will lead to a house. a 5 min walk from this house will take you to one of the most beautiful, crowd free, pollution free waterfalls! You can order food at this house and they will have great maharashtrian thalis ready for you when you come back (150 rupees for unlimited pitla, bhakri, rice and dal).

waterfalls_pune_mumbai_thokarwadi_dam10
waterfall near pune road trip thokarwadi

Here are some videos from the trip.


Update from my Aug 2017 Trip:
This time, we went behind the waterfall. As you approach the fall, a narrow path towards the left takes you behind the fall. This is a 10 m trail and a very easy one. Many were attempting to go behind the fall by crossing the stream, which can be dangerous in heavy flow. I have also uploaded the contact details of the person who lives in the house (where they serve food & you can walk to the waterfall from).
Check out these photos from my second trip.
Thokarwadi waterfall

Thokarwadi waterfall

Thokarwadi waterfall contact

thokarwadi-waterfall-kanhe-khandi

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36 Responses

  1. Sachin says:

    Hi I’m Sachin
    On khandi road at kambre is my village. There is my resort ( Forest Resto & outdoor camping)

  2. Kalpana says:

    Thanks Sethuraman. Nice place. My friend busted this place seems to be pretty good during this season. Pls let me know is there any overnite stay arrangements which is safe for female group
    Fall seems to be like bhandaradara fall

  3. I like it anonymous says:

    some places should be kept secret. Some blogger enthusiasts make a lonely virgin place popular for it to be fucked.
    When I discovered this spot 10 years back, I was on my own. Then and now.. I have seen people comming… Then and now I have seen this place become dirty with plastic, bottles, cheap people and now even a bunglow which the owner rents out.

  4. as written to you on mail, it is a 10 min walk, but thru fields and hence slippery.

  5. Roshan says:

    Is it long walk as I planned to take my mom as she is old can’t walk much is it okay or u have some ideas you can old share with me

  6. Deepali Das says:

    Thank you so much for a detailed and exhaustive write up about this beautiful waterfall route.Had no idea that such a place existed till I read your post.It made our day trip so easy.
    The only downside being that thousands like me must have read the same and so the place was teeming with picnickers from all walks of life!
    Henceforth will surely follow all your recommendations since the 1st experience was so good.

  7. Abhijeet Sharma says:

    Visited this area yesterday and I have to agree its breathtakingly awesome. Weather was perfect although it was raining but that added to natural beauty. First private waterfall is called Jagtap Waterfall. Entry fee is INR 100 per person but worth every penny. There is restaurant inside property serving food (Pithala Bhakhri , Bajra Roti With brinjal and bhajia optiond) and tea. Its worth trying. Whole trip around Thokharwadi is sublime specially if its raining.

  8. Baburao Bussari says:

    Thanks for Sharing….. I have been to this place in Sept. 2017….Very nice place to enjoy…..

  9. harshada says:

    I have visited Thokarwadi on last Saturday .The first one waterfall having steps like Bhushi dam was closed.

  10. there is only one road there. The road that i have given goes to the left of the dam, you continue straight to Khandi and then continue to come back to Kanhe from the other side.

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