Weekend getaway from Pune · #6 of 10
Mulshi & Tamhini Ghat
Pune's favourite monsoon drive: the Mulshi Dam backwaters, then 15 km of Tamhini Ghat waterfalls, mist and green velvet hills, with lakeside resorts and bhajiya stalls along the way.
Ready for Pune's ultimate monsoon escape? Mulshi Dam's stunning backwaters lead right into a 15 km corridor of gushing waterfalls down Tamhini Ghat. Take it slow with a two-day loop and a cozy night by the lake.
Getting there
Your classic route. It is a smooth, paved drive that keeps the gorgeous backwaters right by your side almost the entire way.
Takes just 30 minutes longer and lets you easily pack two awesome getaways into one epic, scenery-packed day of driving.
Day 1 - Mulshi backwaters
Chasing epic dam vistas and unwinding by the lake- 17:00 AMDrive
Drive out via Paud Road
Roll west out of Pune through Paud as the city fades. Watch the Sahyadri hills close in and rise up around you on the climb to Mulshi.
📍 Paud, Mulshi
- 28:30 AMSight
Mulshi Dam viewpoint
This massive Tata Power hydro dam holds back a giant reservoir framed by lush, emerald hills. It is the ultimate spot for your first big photo.
📍 Mulshi Dam, Mulshi
- 310:00 AMActivity
Backwater boating
Hop into a boat or kayak at one of the lakeside resorts. The backwaters are at their absolute peak right after the monsoon rains.
📍 Mulshi Dam, Mulshi
Tip · Water levels dictate the rides, so give them a quick call if you are visiting in the drier months.
- 412:30 PMFood
Lakeside thali lunch
Feast on a massive Maharashtrian thali at a lakeside resort. Keep an eye out for roadside stalls frying up hot bhajiyas for later.
📍 Mulshi Dam, Mulshi
- 52:30 PMDrive
Drive the lake's edge
Take a slow, beautiful cruise right along the water. On clear afternoons, the jagged Sahyadri ridgeline reflects perfectly on the lake.
📍 Mulshi Dam, Mulshi
- 65:30 PMSight
Sunset over the reservoir
Find a quiet patch of shore to watch the warm evening light wash over the reservoir before you check into your cozy overnight stay.
📍 Mulshi Dam, Mulshi
- 77:30 PMStay
Lakeside stay
Unwind at a cute shoreline resort or local homestay. Most spots serve up gorgeous views of either the calm lake or the misty hills.
📍 Mulshi, Maharashtra
Tip · Secure your spot early. Mulshi has only a few stays and they pack out fast on rainy weekends.
Day 2 - Tamhini Ghat waterfalls
Cruising the 15 km waterfall run and heading home- 87:30 AMFood
Breakfast before the ghat
Grab a quick, piping-hot breakfast at your stay or hit a local roadside stall before we head deep into Tamhini Ghat.
📍 Mulshi, Maharashtra
- 98:30 AMDrive
Enter Tamhini Ghat
This smooth, newly paved road slices 15 km right through the Sahyadri crest, lined with active, seasonal mountain streams.
📍 Tamhini Ghat, Mulshi
Tip · Stick to designated pullouts during the rains. The ghat gets super slick and crowded by mid-morning.
- 1010:00 AMSight
Roadside waterfalls
During the monsoon, spontaneous waterfalls pop up everywhere, splashing right down the dark rock faces next to the road.
📍 Tamhini Ghat, Mulshi
- 1111:30 AMSight
Palse Waterfall
A gorgeous, named waterfall right off the main road. It is easily one of the most famous stops for photos on this route.
📍 Palse, Mulshi
Tip · Weekend crowds here are real, so start early if you want the views all to yourself.
- 121:00 PMFood
Lunch on the way back
Double back toward Mulshi to grab a late lunch at a rustic roadside dhaba or resort before making the final push home.
📍 Mulshi, Maharashtra
- 132:30 PMDrive
Golden-hour drive along the backwaters
Catch one last look at the Mulshi backwaters as the soft afternoon light hits the water, right before your return drive.
📍 Mulshi Dam, Mulshi
- 144:00 PMDrive
Drive back to Pune
Point the wheels toward Pune via Paud Road. Make sure you clear the tight, narrow spots while you still have daylight.
📍 Paud, Mulshi
Tip · Aim to hit the road by 4 PM. Driving here after dark gets slow and tricky, especially in downpours.
Where to eat
Crispy, piping-hot onion and chilli fritters from roadside shacks. Honestly, a monsoon drive is incomplete without them.
Feast on a massive local spread at resorts right by the water, offering perfect views of the reservoir.
Tiny glasses of strong, sweet tea at every single bend. It is the perfect warm pick-me-up between waterfall stops.
When to go
The absolute best time to go! The ghat transforms into a misty wonderland of waterfalls, and the lake is totally full. Just be ready for slick roads and slow weekend traffic.
Even Wikipedia agrees this is a great window. You will still find running waterfalls, but the weather is drier and the drive is much easier than peak monsoon.
The waterfalls vanish during these months. The lake views are still beautiful, but the ghat loses its main rainy-season charm.
Good to know
- Aim for the monsoon if you want to see gushing waterfalls. Any other time, Tamhini Ghat is just a quiet, green country drive.
- Never pull over on narrow shoulders. Stick to marked spots or you will cause a major traffic jam on wet weekends.
- Book your lakeside room well ahead of time. Mulshi has way fewer stay options than Lonavala or Lavasa.
- Keep some hard cash handy for the roadside tea and bhajiya stalls.
