Top Lake & Backwater Places in Maharashtra

At a distance of 41 km from Chiplun, and 86 km from Satara, Koyna Dam is a rubble-concrete dam situated at Koyna Nagar in the Satara district of Maharashtra. Nestled in the Western Ghats, it is one of the largest dams in Maharashtra, and among the top places to visit in Chiplun.

Koyna Dam was constructed on Koyna River, a major tributary of Krishna River. The construction of this dam was completed in 1963 and is amongst the chief civil engineering projects built after the independence of India. The catchment area of the Koyna Dam blocks up the Koyna River and creates the Shivsagar Lake, which is roughly 50 km long. The spillway of the dam is located at the center and it has 6 radial gates. The dam plays a vital role in flood controlling in monsoon season.

This dam is situated between Chiplun and Karad and is the main water source for the Western Maharashtra region. The main purpose of the dam is hydroelectricity with some irrigation in neighboring areas. Today the Koyna Hydroelectric Project is the largest completed hydroelectric power plant in India having a total installed capacity of 1,920 MW. The Koyna Dam has survived a lot of earthquakes, even the destructive earthquake of Koyna Nagar in 1967 AD which resulted in a few cracks. The cracks were later repaired and holes were created internally to relieve the hydrostatic pressures in the dam. In 2006, the dam was further developed to strengthen the spillway.

Boating is available at the dam and is a prime ...

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At a distance of 53 km from Pune Junction Railway Station and 46 km from Lonavala, Mulshi is the name of a major dam built across the Mula River located in Mulshi Taluk of Pune district in Maharashtra. Flanked by the deep forests of Sahyadri ranges, Mulshi Dam is among the most visited places near Pune.

The dam was constructed in 1927 AD, however, commercialization of the place has been done recently. The water from Mulshi Dam is used to produce electricity at the Bhira Hydroelectric plant, operated by Tata Power. Mulshi Dam is one of the most important electricity generating plants in Maharashtra. It is indeed the source which supplies the maximum electric power to Mumbai. Water from this dam is even used for irrigation purposes.

Mulshi Lake is formed in the catchment area of Mulshi dam and is primarily a tourist attraction near Pune. It attracts several visitors during monsoon season. The lake offers different activities like camping, bird-watching, trekking and photography. There are several farm houses in the area and a resort has been developed for the convenience of the visitors. The beauty of Mulshi Lake and Dam can also be well observed from a nearby village called Valanewadi, which is 6 km away from Mulshi.

The Dam is a perfect spot for picnics, with its scenic surroundings, unexploited Sahyadri hills, lush green forests & some ancient forts like Koraigadh and Dhangad in the vicinity. The Raigad Fort is another major attraction near Mulshi Dam. There ...

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At a distance of 45 km from Pune, Panshet Dam, also called Tanaji Sagar Dam, is an earthen dam built across Ambi River at Panshet in Pune district of Maharashtra. This is one of the most popular places to visit near Pune.

The dam was constructed in late 1950s for irrigation purpose and it supplies drinking water to Pune city. The height of the dam above its lowest foundation is 63.56 m while the length is 1,039 m. The volume content is 4,190 km3 and gross storage capacity is 303,000 m3. Panshet Dam burst in its first year of storing water on 12th July 1961, when the dam wall burst, causing massive flooding in Pune.

Panshet Dam is nestled in the lap of Sahyadri mountain ranges and is surrounded by lush green hills streaked with numerous waterfalls. Panshet, one of the famous picnic spots near Pune, attracts many visitors from Mumbai. Water sports are the primary attraction in Panshet apart from trekking. There are facilities for kayaking, boating and few rides like banana ride and water scooters. Camping can also be enjoyed in the adjoining areas of Panshet Reservoir.

Varasgaon dam is another dam located near Panshet Dam. Built on the Mose River Varasgaon dam is also called Veer Pasalkar dam. Panshet and Varasgaon together with Khadakwasla form the major water reservoirs near Pune supplying water to the city. Sinhagad Fort is located at an altitude of 1316 m and is considered as one of the chief attractions of Panshet.

Boating Charges: Motor Boat- Rs. ...

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At a distance of 28 km from Mahabaleshwar, Tapola, famously called the Mini Kashmir of the West, is a rural hamlet with a magnificent Shivsagar Lake in the Satara district of Maharashtra. It is one of the famous tourist places to visit near Mahabaleshwar.

Tapola is situated at the convergence of the rivers of Koyna and Solshi. The primary attraction in Tapola is the Shivsagar Lake, a 90 km long water body infact the reservoir of the Koyna dam. The Koyna Dam is one of the biggest in Maharashtra and the Koyna Hydroelectric Project is the largest completed hydroelectric power plant of India. The lake offers boating, water scooter rides, kayaking and swimming.

Jungle treks from Tapola are very popular with trekkers. There are many unknown forts in the dense forest around the lake in Tapola like Vasota and Jaygad. Tapola is also the base village to the Vasota fort famous for the arduous jungle trek. Vasota located within the Koyna wild life sanctuary is cut off from civilization and can be reached only in a boat. The permit for the trek can be procured from Bamnoli.

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At a distance of 21 km from Panchgani & 97 km from Pune, Dhom Dam is an earth fill and gravity dam situated near Wai in the Satara district of Maharashtra. It is one of the popular places to visit as part of Panchgani tour packages, and among the well-known places to visit near Pune for one day trip.

Built on the Krishna River, the construction of the dam was started in 1976 and completed in 1982. It is one of the largest civil engineering projects in India at that time and also the first dam to be built on the Krishna River in Maharashtra. The main purpose of the construction of the Dhom dam was to ensure adequate water supply for industries in the region, for agricultural activities and to supply potable drinking water to the populace of Panchgani, Mahabaleshwar, and Wai regions. The dam is also the chief source of water supply for farmers of Koregaon, Javli, and Khandala taluks of Satara. It is one of the popular places to visit in Panchgani.

The Dhom dam stands 50 feet tall from the lowest foundation and runs a length of 2,478 m. The water capacity of the lake is 14 TMC while the basement electricity house of the dam is designed to generate 4 MG of electricity. The Dhom Lake is formed by the backwaters of the dam and is about 20 km in length. The Dhom dam attracts tourists in large numbers ...

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At a distance of 30 km from Igatpuri and 43 km from Nashik, Vaitarna Dam or the Upper Vaitarna Dam is a manmade reservoir situated near Igatpuri, Maharashtra. It is one of the major dams in Maharashtra and among the popular places to visit as part of Igatpuri Packages.

Upper Vaitarna Dam is an earth fill and gravity dam constructed over Vaitarna River near Saturli village. The reservoir created by this dam spreads on both Vaitarna and Godavari rivers catchment area. The dam was built in 1973 and is the main source of water and electricity for several parts of Mumbai. The height of the dam above its lowest foundation is 41 m while the length is 2,531 m.

With Western Ghats in the background, the dam becomes a great picnic spot for the residents of nearby cities like Pune, Mumbai, and Nashik. A majestic lagoon with an enormous stretch of back waters, surrounded by undulating woods, provides this dam a panoramic view. The Vaitarna Dam attracts many photography and nature lovers.

Camping is perfect for travellers of all ages. Saturli Village is the best place for camping as it has a flat land along the water body and best for camping. One can easily take their car and motorcycles to this area. The best time to be here is during monsoon months as the rains accelerate the beauty of this spot turning it into a green carpet.

Timings: 9 AM - 4 PM

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