Monsoon bike ride: Madhe ghat waterfalls
About Madhe Ghat Waterfall
My first knowledge of Madhe Ghat came from a friend who visited this waterfall and posted a few pictures. I Googled to read more about the place and see the route. I had been to Velhe on this route and since the distance was 98 kilometres one way, I decided to do the ride and found another offbeat place around Pune.
The Route
To reach Madhe ghat, I had to take the Bangalore highway and exit at Nasrapur.
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Pune to Madhe ghat: Link to the route
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Total time to ride: 7 hours
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Total distance, one way: 98 kilometres
The Ride
I started at 8 am and reached Nasrapur in an hour and exited towards Velhe. Once I crossed Didghar village the scenery changed to farm fields and mountains on another side. The road condition was great and I ripped the throttle to enjoy the twisting and turning roads.
After reaching Velhe village, the road started to climb and a thick fog cover welcomed me. I stopped at Kolambi village that had views of the mountain on which Torna fort is situated.
Continued ahead and reached Madhe ghat by 11 am. There is a small forest check post and I had to pay an entry charge of Rs 10.
The waterfall was another 500 meters away. The steep climb allowed me some well-needed offroading. Once I reached the top, parked the bike and walked for 10 minutes to reach Madhe ghat waterfall.
The waterfall was not in full force so I could find a quiet spot and sit. There is a plateau which allows you to see the beautiful views of the valley below.
After walking around for an hour and having a cup of tea from a local vendor, I decided to commence my return journey.
Places to visit on this route
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Torna fort: The largest fort in Pune with the historic significance of it being the first one that was captured by Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj
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Rajgad fort: Literally means ruling fort it was the capital of the Maratha Empire
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Gunjavane dam: An earth dam with backwaters to look at the mountains in the vicinity
- If you enjoy monsoon rides near Pune, also check out our guide to camping at Tail Baila
Tips for visiting Madhe Ghat waterfall
The best time to visit Madhe Ghat waterfall is between July and September during peak monsoon. The waterfall is at its most powerful in August. Start early, leave Pune by 7am to reach by 10am before the fog gets too thick on the ghat roads. Carry a raincoat as it rains heavily on the ghats even on clear days in the city. The entry fee is a nominal ₹10 at the forest check post. The road after Velhe is narrow and winding, take it slow especially on the way down. Petrol up before Nasrapur as stations get sparse after that.
Madhe Ghat is also a great base to explore the surrounding forts. Torna fort and Rajgad fort are both within an hour from here making it possible to combine a waterfall visit with a trek in a single weekend trip from Pune.
Both forts offer stunning monsoon views and are ideal for a combined day trip with the Madhe Ghat waterfall visit.
Planning more monsoon rides around Pune? Check out our guide to Thoseghar waterfalls – another stunning Sahyadri destination.
