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Mumbai to Bhandardara Loop

Escape the city heat on this classic Sahyadri loop, ascending via the misty Malshej Ghat and returning through the high-speed Kasara curves. Navigate through rustic village roads to reach the serene Arthur Lake, where a lakeside camping experience under the stars awaits. This solo ride offers a perfect mix of technical ghat corners, off-beat rural trails, and highway cruising. Note: Ongoing phase-wise government road and building works across Maharashtra, including Mumbai and Thane, are causing significant delays and disruptions. Specifically, the Manor Wada Bhiwandi highway is experiencing dangerous conditions due to incomplete work. Traffic diversions and closures are in effect on Kalyan-Shil Road (Thane) until October 31, 2026, for bridge reconstruction, and near Teen Hath Naka (Thane) until July 31, 2026, for flyover construction. A temporary night closure of Vanjarpatti Naka Bridge in Bhiwandi (Thane) is scheduled from 11 PM on June 4 to 6 AM on June 5, 2026, for road repairs. A new toll plaza on the Mumbai-Nashik highway at Kharegaon is nearing completion, with recent reports highlighting it as an accident-prone zone due to missing safety infrastructure and recent fatalities. The Murbad-Malshej Ghat highway (NH-61) has been widened to a four-lane concrete road, which has led to increased speeds and a higher risk of accidents, as evidenced by a fatal collision on May 5, 2026. Fuel prices in Maharashtra have seen a cumulative increase of approximately ₹7 per litre in the last 10 days as of May 25, 2026.

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Verified · 4 Jun 2026 · Active
MMoushmi Kapadia
Roads: Rough

📅 Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day 1: Mumbai → Bhandardara via Malshej

6:00 AMStart from Mumbai

Depart early to avoid Kalyan traffic. Take the Eastern Express Highway towards Kalyan/Murbad. Be aware of significant delays and diversions due to ongoing road and building works in Mumbai and Thane. Specifically, traffic diversions are in effect on Kalyan-Shil Road (Thane) until October 31, 2026, for bridge reconstruction, and near Teen Hath Naka (Thane) until July 31, 2026, for flyover construction. A temporary night closure of Vanjarpatti Naka Bridge in Bhiwandi (Thane) is scheduled from 11 PM on June 4 to 6 AM on June 5, 2026, for road repairs.

0 km

8:30 AMBreakfast at Hotel Shivneri Misal

Located near Bankar Phata/Alephata. Famous for spicy authentic Misal Pav. A popular pitstop for bikers.

105 km

⚠️ Watch for construction dust on Murbad-Malshej stretch and exercise extreme caution due to ongoing road works and diversions in Thane and Mumbai.

10:30 AMMalshej Ghat Viewpoint

Stop at the iconic tunnel and the valley view point. Great for photos of the Sahyadri range.

126 km

⚠️ Beware of monkeys and slippery moss near cliff edges. The NH-61 stretch between Kalyan and Malshej Ghat has been widened to a four-lane concrete road, which has led to motorists driving at higher speeds. Exercise extreme caution, especially at sharp turns like the Vashakhare bend, due to increased accident risk. Ongoing rockfall protection and tunnel work on NH-61 may still cause minor delays or altered road conditions.

1:30 PMTurn at Otur / Brahmanwada

Leave the highway and take the internal village road via Kotul to Bhandardara. Rugged terrain starts here.

160 km

4:00 AMArrive at Bhandardara

Check into a lakeside campsite at Arthur Lake (Shendi village). Setup tent and enjoy the sunset.

225 km

Day 2: Bhandardara → Mumbai via Kasara

8:00 AMWilson Dam & Randha Falls

Morning ride to Wilson Dam (one of the oldest earthen dams). Quick stop at Randha Falls view point.

10 km

10:00 AMRide to Ghoti

Scenic ride through the countryside to join the main NH160 highway at Ghoti.

45 km

12:00 PMKasara Ghat Descent

Enjoy the wide sweeping corners of Thull Ghat. High speed cruising zone.

80 km

⚠️ Heavy truck traffic, stick to lane discipline. Be aware of potentially dangerous road conditions, including disrepair of protective walls and potholes. The recently expanded Mumbai-Nashik Highway near Kharegaon has also been identified as an accident-prone zone with missing safety infrastructure and recent fatalities; exercise extreme caution on this stretch.

2:30 PMReach Mumbai

End of trip via Thane/Eastern Express Highway. Be aware of significant delays and diversions due to ongoing road and building works in Thane and Mumbai, including those on Kalyan-Shil Road and near Teen Hath Naka.

165 km

💰 Cost Breakdown

Fuel1320
Accommodation₹1,200 - ₹2,500
Food₹800 - ₹1,500
Activities₹0 - ₹500
Estimated Total₹3,320 - ₹5,820

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