Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
GOOGLE MAP
has services to Aurangabad (semideluxe ?216, 4½ hours) and Pune (semi-
deluxe/deluxe ?230/389, 4½ hours). South of town, the
Mahamarg bus stand
has services to
Mumbai (semideluxe ?220, four hours) and Shirdi (?90, 2½ hours).
Private bus agents based near the CBS run buses to Pune, Mumbai, Aurangabad and
Ahmedabad. Fares are marginally lower than those charged on state buses. Note that
buses depart from Old Agra Rd, and that most Mumbai-bound buses terminate at Dadar in
Mumbai.
TRAIN
The Nasik Rd train station is 8km southeast of the town centre, but a useful
railway reserva-
tion office
MAP
GOOGLE MAP
(1st fl, Commissioner's Office, Canada Corner; 8am-8pm Mon-Sat)
is
500m west of the Old Central bus stand. The Panchavati Express is the fastest train to
Mumbai (2nd class/chair ?85/351, 3½ hours, 7.10am). Tapovan Express departs Mumbai
CST at 6.10am, arrives at Nasik Rd at 9.45am, and is a convenient train to Aurangabad
(2nd class/chair ?76/319, 3½ hours, 9.50am). An autorickshaw to the station should cost
about ?80.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Around Nasik
Bhandardara
The picturesque village of Bhandardara is nestled deep in the folds of the Sahyadris, about
70km from Nasik. A little-visited place surrounded by craggy mountains, it is one of Ma-
harashtra's best escapes from the bustle of urban India.
Most of Bhandardara's habitation is thrown around
Arthur Lake
, a horseshoe-shaped
reservoir fed by the waters of the Pravara River. The lake is barraged on one side by the
imposing
Wilson Dam
, a colonial-era structure dating back to 1910. If you like walking, con-
sider a hike to the summit of
Mt Kalsubai
, which at 1646m was once used as an observation
point by the Marathas. Alternately, you could hike to the ruins of the
Ratangad Fort
, another
of Shivaji's erstwhile strongholds, which has wonderful views of the surrounding ranges.
ecoresort with a choice of comfy cottages and villas overlooking Arthur Lake, allows you
