Sep 24, 2008 08:30 PM
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Got quite busy with life so this review is after a looong gap. Recently the family decided to take a short break to Mulshi Dam and the surrounding area for a day picnic and to capture the monsoon magic of the ghats.
We have been to Mulshi quite a number of times but never during the monsoons as its quite damgerous with land slides and other perils. Started off from pune at 08:15 and being a Saturday roads were quite empty. Halted for 10 minutes at shivaji market to pick up some ice for the beer chilling.
We took the university road and headed for pashan, this area has a new look with the commonwealth games around the corner. But to tell you the truth the traffic congestion is the same with all the fly overs. Turned left after the university circle and headed for Pashan. After another left turn, we hit Pashan at 08:45. Carried on to hit Chandni Chowk from where we took a right towards Pirangut and Paud.
Right below was Mumbai-Bangalore expressway, we waited with eager eyes as we were to meet up with the rest of the family, who were traveling from Mumbai to join us for the trip. We waited there from 9 am to 09:30, had some coffee and breakfast. Some good dhabas here serving breakfast, but we stuck to vada pav and chai.
With another 20 km to go to Pirangut we set off at 09:35 and crossed Pirangut at 10:05. The road was superp considering it was the monsoons but quite a lot of traffic with the villagers full of life at this time of the day. No difference for the day of the week for them, it being a Saturday. The Pirangut ghat delayed us slightly with a bit of winding roads. I could already sniff the sweet smell of Gobar and fresh air. We hit Paud village at 10:20 and carried on straight towards Lake residency club, Mulshi where we were to stop for coffee and chalk out the rest of the trip.
Lake residency club we reached at 10:40 but the road from Paud was a little bumpy and the drive was not that enjoyable. The Speedometer showed us 50km from Pune to Lake esidency. From Paud bus station if you turn right, you can head for Maval Shrusti, which is quite suited for those planning a night or a weekend halt. Maval Shrusti has a waterfall in their own premises and the rates are also reasonable https://mavalsrushti.com.
Total vegetarian stuff and no dogs were allowed and anyway we did not plan to stay the night over as mother was home alone looking after the birds and fishes. There is another accommodation a little ahead on the same road called Col. Kauls hilltop bunglow.
Anyway we enjoyed our coffee at the lake residency club and the kids had a bit of a run around with their soft drinks and chips, which I know is unhealthy but then they are also on vacation mode so ignore. We left the club in a hunt for the perfect picnic spot. We got real lucky, just a kilometer from the Lake Residency Club, perfectly camouflaged was Phalse Waterfalls. Just where the road meanders into the tamini ghats, at the turn. You have to leave the roads towards a small shack and park your car behind it. There are two kaccha roads heading towards the falls. You can take either.
We made hell of a noise with a party of 12 and scared away few people who were there. The waterfall was an awesome sight, and specially because I haven’t seen a waterfall for quite sometime. Only pass them by en-route to Mumbai. We straight away took out our beer/soft drink chiller and our picnic hamper, found a lovely spot down stream, hidden from any passerby where there were only rugged rocks and the sweet sound of flowing waters. Each one got their own rock to sit on and out came the beer and snacks. Our dog buddy was having a ball in the water and so were my kids and my nephew. There we were sitting with our legs knee deep in water sipping on chilled beer and snacks listening to each others stories and nothingness in the background. To add to the ambience the sun disappeared and it started drizzling. The beer bottles were getting chilled in the water and the beer glasses were resting in the stone crevices, no five star hotel can provide you with such facilities, I am quite sure.
It was soon lunch time and out came the puris, channa, aloo subzi, pickle, pudina chutney, etc. we had a ball stuffing our mouths. The showcase of our trip was the waterfall, after sumptuous lunch we changed into our costumes and off we went to the waterfall. The falling water on our backs did wonders; it was better Thai message, any day. The water was so fresh. The kids had a real nice time. Just a word to the wise, the rocks can be real slippery as water is constantly flowing on them, they develop a slippery moss on them, so watch where you tread, keep the kids under a tight leash. You can climb right to the top of the waterfall and watch the water fall.
It was time to head back so we decided to leave a little early and have tea en-route. We found the best suitable place for just the right kind of atmosphere. Paradise Café belonging to a Sikh family were real hospitable, lovely place they have in the middle of nowhere. They made the best vegetable pakoras and chai in that part of Mulshi, a must try. We did not try their food otherwise but heard it was real good Punjabi food. So unless you are carrying your picnic hamper, head for lunch here. We headed back towards Pune at 5:30 pm and reached home by 7 pm. Planning this trip with a bigger group, now that we are sure of the place, same time next year. You can get a rough idea where Phalse waterfall is from google earth or wikimapia.
