One Day Tour to Malshej Ghat and Junnar

About Malshej Ghat and Junnar

Malshej Ghat is a mountain pass on the Kalyan - Ahmed Nagar Road in Maharashtra's Thane district. It is one of the most attractive destinations to visit in Maharashtra, and one of the most popular hill stations near Pune, nestled in the towering craggy hills of the Western Ghats.

Malshej Ghat, located at an altitude of around 700 metres, is a wonderful refuge from the hustle and bustle of daily life and a haven of natural beauty. Rugged mountains, hiking paths, spectacular waterfalls, and countless lakes characterize the area. This breathtaking mountain pass is a popular weekend retreat from Mumbai and Pune, attracting a large number of visitors, particularly during the monsoon season, when the surroundings are awash in lush foliage and mesmerizing waterfalls

It is a perfect place for anyone looking for quality time to spend with family, friends, or a particular someone, thanks to its restorative temperature and undisturbed solitude. In this tour we will drive past the ghat where we will see effervescent waterfalls, thriving wildlife and plants, and a panoramic landscape.

 It's time to head to Junnar after soaking up the splendour of the ghat. Shivaji Maharaj, the founder of the Maratha Empire, was born here. The Maharashtra government designated Junnar as the first tourism taluka in the Pune district. Junnar is also home to India's largest and longest cave excavations. There are many mediaeval forts in this area, and it is home to two Ashtavinayak temples, Lenyadri and Ozar.

Places covered:

Shivneri Fort: Shivneri fort is birthplace of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Maha Darwaza, Parvangicha Darwaza, Hatti Darwaza, Peer Darwaza, Shivai Darwaza, Phatak Darwaza, and Kulambkat Darwaza are the seven entrances to the fort. Shivneri was well fortified by strong walls and sheer rock cliffs on three sides. Within the fort, there is a Shivai Temple, as well as a large statue of Shivaji in front of the main entrance. You can explore Dongarmatha, Kadeloot Tok, Kaman Take, Ambarkhana, and Kadelot Point, among other places.

Lenyadri Caves: The word "Lenyadri" can simply be translated as "mountain cave." This word is made up of the words "Lena" (Marathi for "cave") and "adri" (Sanskrit for "stone" or "resistance"). Sulaiman Pahar and Ganesh Pahar are two names for the hill. This group contains roughly 40 caves, with the main group of 30 caves arranged in a line from east to west, all facing south and overlooking the Kukdi River Valley.

These Maharashtra caves are a very old series of Indian rock-cut caverns. Caves 6 and 14 are chaityagrihas, whereas the others are viharas. Despite the fact that the caves are all Buddhist, cave 7 is a Hindu temple devoted to Lord Ganesha, also known as Girijatmaj. It is one of the Ashtavinayak temples, a group of Maharashtra's eight most important Ganesh sanctuaries. The noteworthy aspect is that, although being a Buddhist sanctuary, there was a great deal of harmony with other religions. The architecture of the Lenyadri Caves is quite magnificent and a fine example of craftsmanship. To get to the caves, visitors must climb roughly 300 steep steps.