Weekend Break

Lonavla and Khandala beginning to look a little jaded now? Head then to Kamshet, the picturesque hill station, located 2,200 ft above sea level in the Western Ghats.

- Priya Bala

FROM MUMBAI

KAMSHET UP IN THE AIR

Lonavla and Khandala beginning to look a little jaded now? Head then to Kamshet, the picturesque hill station, located 2,200 ft above sea level in the Western Ghats. Kamshet is a comfortable 120 km from Mumbai and makes for an easy getaway to a pleasant hill station with green slopes, placid lakes and the opportunity to engage in plenty of adventure, including some excellent paragliding facilities. In Kamshet, you can also explore ancient cave temples and medieval fortresses.

At the peak of summer, Kamshet offers respite from the heat of the plains with its cool air and verdant expanses. You can kick back and unwind here, taking slow walks through green trails. See the Vadivale lake, one of the larger ones in the area that is made up of the backwaters of the Uksan Dam. Other lakes in Kamshet include Thokarwadi and Pavna.

If ancient caves are your thing, there’s plenty to see in Kamshet. The Karla Caves are third-century caves, built by Theravada Buddhist monks. Situated between Kamshet and Lonavla, they house a collection of rock-cut architecture. The Bedsa Caves in the area are Hinayana Buddhist Caves, believed to have been built in the first century. See the sculptures of animals and dancing figures here. The Bhaja Caves, a group of 18 rock-cut caves, are also worth exploring. A Kamshet break can also include visits to the Wadeshwar Temple and the Koneshwar Temple, an ancient elephant temple in Pohara. The Sangameshwar Temple is also a very old Shiva temple, at the confluence of the Kundalika and Indrayani rivers.