Oct 25, 2007 11:27 AM
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Everyone should visit Malshej in the monsoons atleast once - but not on a weekend when it is full of drunken louts misbehaving and littering the place with their broken bottles. Having said that, if you visit mid-monsoons mid week, it is paradise on earth. From Mumbai it is accessible by road, preferably in your own vehicle - take NH3 upto Kalyan Bhiwandi phata, turn right drive through Kalyan, Murbad, Saralgaon, from Vaisakhare the dense forest starts. En route you will see the trail to Nane Ghat. It will take around 3 hrs to reach as the roads especially during mid monsoons are terrible. Malshej is around 1000m high at the road level, the surrounding peaks go upto 1400m.
Mid monsoons, the entire mountain side is covered with hundreds of waterfalls of all sizes and densities. At one point on the road (which is actually the Kalyan - A'Nagar Hwy), the waterfalls descend like a curtain OVER the road. Misty conditions prevail and the atmosphere is ethereal. It is best enjoyed in a leisurely walk. Keep an eye out for the traffic. The wet rocks are carpeted with utricularia and rock geraniums. The road side is strewn with monsoon flora, look out for the snake lily - arisaema which is abundant here. A short tunnel is carved out of the hillside after which you shortly reach a plateau on which the MTDC hotel is located (the only hotel at Malshej). Take a walk along the edge of the plateau to witness the boomerang effect of raindrops and any light object that you care to throw.
You can see the Harishchandragad massif across the valley. Very often this plateau is shrouded in mist and visibility becomes zero - that is a surreal experience in its own right. If you go further beyond the plateau you will come to the huge Pimpalgaon reservoir, reportedly flamingos roost there in the monsoons but I have never seen them despite many visits - better chance of flamingo sighting in Sewri, Mumbai !!. Remember to pack your tea and food, after Saralgaon there is only MTDC, though there is a new resort further down after the dam. Leave Mumbai early to enjoy a good 5-6 hrs in Malshej. Drive safely and remember never, ever, on a weekend. Extra police are posted nowadays to control the lumpens who ruin the place on weekends. Post monsoons, go for the wildflowers and butterflies. From Dec to March go for the birds. But monsoon reveals the true glory of the region.
