Bhandardara, Maharashtra — when to visit, costs & photo guide

Best time to visit

Jun – Oct

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best shoulder not ideal

How long

1–2 days

Physical effort

Easy

Access

Some travel needed

Altitude

~750 m

Permits

None noted

Is it right for you?

Family — easy effort and access
Couple — scenic, unhurried places
Solo — straightforward to reach on your own
Friends — activities and road trips
Adventure — treks, high passes or active pursuits
Relaxed — easy days with little effort

Mountains Lakes Waterfalls Nature Trekking

Before you go

Roads and viewpoints are slippery in the monsoon, and mobile signal is patchy around the lake.
Umbrella Falls flows only when the dam releases water in the monsoon; Randha Falls is fullest in July and August.

Information reviewed October 2026. Rules, timings and road conditions change — confirm with official sources before you travel.

Plan

Getting there

Directions in Google Maps →

By air

Mumbai Airport (~170 km)

By train

Igatpuri (~45 km)

By road

About 4 hours from Mumbai via Igatpuri

What will it cost?

Estimated by bus, train and plane from the starting city you pick — modelled ranges, not live prices.

Rooms start at one per two people — lower it if your group will share.

Return trip from Delhi to Bhandardara · 2 travellers in 1 room · 2 days · comfort stay

1,210 km by road from Delhi (OpenStreetMap routing) · 1,069 km in a straight line

Bus

Fare per person, one way: ₹1,600–₹3,100
Journey time: ~1.2 days
Trip total for 2, from Delhi: ₹13,600–₹26,800
Per person: ₹6,800–₹13,400

Train

Cheapest

Fare per person, one way: ₹650–₹2,000
Journey time: ~23 h
Trip total for 2, from Delhi: ₹9,900–₹22,200
Per person: ₹5,000–₹11,100

Plane

Fastest

Fare per person, one way: ₹5,800–₹12,700
Journey time: ~10 h
Trip total for 2, from Delhi: ₹30,400–₹65,200
Per person: ₹15,200–₹32,600

Includes ~170 km by road from the airport

Where the money goes — from Delhi, cheapest option (train)
Transport, Delhi and back	₹2,600–₹8,000	Train (cheapest), 2 travellers
Accommodation	₹2,500–₹5,000	1 night, 1 room, comfort
Food	₹3,200–₹5,600	2 days
Local transport	₹1,600–₹3,600	taxis, autos, buses
Entry tickets & activities	Not included	varies by place and season
Estimated total for 2 travellers	₹9,900–₹22,200	₹5,000–₹11,100 per person

Modelled for ordinary dates, not live fares — expect more at holidays, festivals and peak season, or when booking late.

How we estimate

Every figure is for a return trip from the starting city you pick; change it and everything updates.
Fares are modelled from typical per-km rates on ordinary dates — they are not live prices or quotes. Expect more at festivals, school holidays, peak season and when booking late.
Bus and train distances follow the road route from OpenStreetMap where we have one; otherwise straight-line distance plus a detour allowance. Flights use straight-line distance.
Fares are per person, one way. The trip total covers everyone; per person is the total divided by travellers.
Rooms: two people share each room unless you pick fewer. Each person beyond two in a room adds an extra-bed charge (about ₹300–600 a night on a budget stay, ₹800–1,500 comfort, ₹2,000–3,500 luxury). Many hotels allow at most three or four people per room, so check before booking.
Nights are trip days minus one (at least one night). Food and local transport are per person per day.
Figures are rounded — to the nearest ₹50 below ₹1,000 and ₹100 above — so the parts can differ from the total by a few hundred rupees.
Not included: entry tickets, activities, guides, permits, travel insurance, shopping, tips, and getting to the station or airport at home.
Rate model last reviewed October 2026.

These are estimates. For real fares, availability and booking, use Book your trip below.

On suppliers' own sites

Book your trip

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You book directly with the supplier. TravelTycoons doesn't sell tickets or rooms, take payments or issue bookings. Your contract, payment, tickets, changes, cancellations, refunds and support are with the site you book on.

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Trains

IRCTC (Indian Railways) (opens in a new tab)↗ Opens their search — nothing pre-filled
ixigo trains (IRCTC-authorised) (opens in a new tab)↗ Opens their search — nothing pre-filled

Rail sites don't accept a pre-filled search, so enter: your station to Igatpuri, 2 adults.

Flights

Nearest airport: BOM. Choose a starting city to search flights from it.

Hotels and stays

Booking.com (opens in a new tab)↗ Pre-filled: place, travellers, rooms
Airbnb (opens in a new tab)↗ Pre-filled: place, travellers

Add arrival and departure dates to see availability.

Tours and activities

Klook (opens in a new tab)↗ Pre-filled: place
Viator (opens in a new tab)↗ Pre-filled: place

Pick dates on their site. For smaller places their search can include tours elsewhere — check each tour's location.

Rather have the whole trip arranged? We're checking local operators before listing any — join the waitlist.

Make a plan

Suggested itineraries

Suggested plans built from each place's recommended stay. Multi-stop routes use OpenStreetMap road routing where it exists — check road conditions and timetables before you go.

A day at Bhandardara
- Early: Sunrise over Arthur Lake
- Photograph: Arthur Lake with the Sahyadri peaks behind
- Photograph: Umbrella Falls spilling from the dam in the monsoon
- Photograph: Fireflies in the forests before the monsoon (late May–June)

Umbrella Falls flows only when the dam releases water in the monsoon; Randha Falls is fullest in July and August.

Photos

Photography guide

Golden hour

Sunrise over Arthur Lake

Shot list

Arthur Lake with the Sahyadri peaks behind
Umbrella Falls spilling from the dam in the monsoon
Fireflies in the forests before the monsoon (late May–June)

Tick shots off on location — saved in this browser. Views, light and weather are never guaranteed.

Shoot responsibly

Flying a drone in India needs registration under the Drone Rules, and many areas — including most monuments and borders — are no-fly zones.

Gallery

10 photos from Wikimedia Commons · tap a photo to view it full screen and comment

Where it is

Map and nearby

Open in OpenStreetMap →

Nearby places

Igatpuri47 km by road, about 1 hour of travel · Maharashtra
Nashik73 km by road, about 2½ hours of travel · Maharashtra
Matheran183 km by road, about 4 hours of travel · Maharashtra
Lonavala201 km by road, about 4½ hours of travel · Maharashtra
Gateway of India183 km by road, about 5 hours of travel · Maharashtra
Ellora Caves209 km by road, about 5½ hours of travel · Maharashtra

Nearby means within about 6 hours by road, using OpenStreetMap routes plus time for traffic and hill roads. Check road conditions before you go.

Pack and prepare

Practical checklist

Broken-in shoes with good grip, a rain jacket and a daypack with water and snacks
Shoes with grip for wet rocks and a rain cover for your camera
Check the weather forecast and any road or closure updates before you leave