The Bhushi Dam is a masonry dam on the Indrayani River in Lonavala, Maharashtra, India. Bhushi Dam is among the best weekend getaway for tourists from Pune and Mumbai as well as the locals. The view of the Bhushi Dam water, during the monsoons when it overflows over steps is enthralling.

Districts/ Region

Pune district, Maharashtra, India.

History

The Bhushi Dam was built in the 19th century by the Great Indian Peninsular Railway to fulfil the need of water for their steam engines. As of 2014, it is owned by the Central Railway zone of the Indian Railways. Since the dam was constructed with the funding from the Municipal authority, the Railway company later on agreed to provide some of the water to the town of Lonavala. Later in the year 2011, the Indian Navy advanced to acquire the Bhushi dam and Bhugaon lake for the purpose of its training activities at the Indian Naval Station Shivaji which is situated to the west of the dam at a distance of 1.5 KM.

Geography

Bhushi Dam is situated in Lonavala, a hill station on the southeast of Mumbai and northwest of Pune in the Sahyadri mountains. One of the most visited hill stations around Pune.

Weather/Climate

The region has a hot-semi arid climate year-round with an average temperature ranging from 19-33 degrees Celsius.
April and May are the hottest months when the temperature reaches up to 42 degrees Celsius.
Winters are extreme, and the temperature can go as low as 10 degrees Celsius at night, but the average daytime temperature is around 26 degrees Celsius.
The annual rainfall in the region is around 4200 mm.

Things to do

Bhushi Dam in Lonavala is a popular weekend getaway for people in Pune and other nearby towns. Lush green hills, the sound of extravagant water, the chirping of birds, and usual amusing weather makes it a must-visit tourist hotspot in Lonavala, especially during monsoon. Although the authorities do not allow swimming in this dam due to the unsteady flows, there are still a lot of things tourists can do here.

Nearest tourist places

▪ Aamby Valley: is a township about 24 KM from
Lonavala, in the district of Pune in Maharashtra, India. It
has been developed by Sahara India Pariwar. The hilly terrain of approximate10,000-acre has been converted into an impressivepanorama throughdesigns that are appropriate from ecological point of view. The lavish urban infrastructure, the serene atmosphere and exclusive prerogatives at this location has attractedvisitors from all over the globe.

▪ Lonavala Lake: It is located on the outskirts of Lonavala which is drained by the River Indrayani. The lake gets flooded during monsoons and dries up during the winter leading it to be popularly known as the seasonal lake. It is a popular picnic spot that offers activities like bird watching as well as swimming.

▪ Karla Caves: Karla Caves are ancient Buddhist rock-cut caves and a famous tourist attraction located near Lonavala. It is one of the ancient Buddhist cave shrines in India. These caves house one of the largest
Chaityas (prayer halls with a stupa) in India. Karla Caves are popular for the temple of GoddessEkvira situated inside. Also Known as Veluraka in the pre-historic times, Karla Caves house a gigantic 15-meter tall pillar along with a temple dedicated to Goddess Ekvira.

▪ Tiger's Leap: Tiger's Leap viewpoint is located around 8 KM away from Lonavala and is a major tourist attraction of this place. It is located on the top of a cliff with a sheer drop of over 650m, offering a bird’s eye view of the hills and the Western Ghats. It is popular for its splendid view it offers during the sunrise and sunset, in the absence of overcast conditions. The place has got its name as Tiger's Leap due to the resemblance of the shape with that of a tiger taking a leap in the valley. The echo point on Tiger's Leap has also attracted a lot of tourists.

Special food speciality and hotel

Some of the popular dishes and snacks which must-try during a tour of Lonavala are the chhola bhaturas, butter chicken and chocolate fudge. Also, try Maharashtrian Misal, which is made of curried sprouted lentils and beans. For a perfect vegetarian experience, try the traditional Maharashtrian thali. It is famous for Chikki (a mixture of pea nuts or dry fruits with Jaggery).

Accommodation facilities nearby & Hotel/ Hospital/Post Office/Police station

Various hotels and resorts are available near Bhushi Dam, Lonavala.
Hospitals are located near Bhushi Dam at 5.5 KM.
The nearest post office is around 4.2 KM.
The nearest police station is at a distance of 4.3 KM.

Visiting Rule and Time, Best month to visit

To enjoy the beauty of Bhushi Dam, the best time to visit Bhushi Dam is during the monsoon season from June to September, when the dam becomes bountiful with water. Bhushi Dam overflows during rains. Sometimes the speed of the water gets dangerously fast, and the steps are slippery as well. Tourists are suggested to avoid going in heavy rains.

Language spoken in area 

English, Hindi and Marathi.