by Santosh Kardak
If you’ve ever dreamed of an epic journey that combines raw nature with a hint of spirituality, the Lonavala to Bhimashankar Range Trek (famously now known as LoBhi) in Maharashtra should be on your radar. This isn’t your typical stroll through the woods; it’s an endurance trek, one that demands strength, patience, and a thirst for adventure.
This trek had been on my bucket list from the time I’d heard about it. Had managed to do this trek once about 3 years ago and it had me hooked.
Covering roughly 70 kilometers over two days, with about 55 kilometers on foot and 15kms of bus / jeep journey on a tar road, this hike across Maharashtra’s lush Sahyadri mountain range is a demanding yet deeply rewarding experience. I had the honor of leading a group of brave, like-minded souls on this trek, and every step was packed with stories, sights, and sounds that I’ll never forget.
This trek was done via TTrikon where I work as a trek leader. For more information can visit the link here
Start Point of the Trek: Lonavala
Maharashtra’s favorite getaway, lies midway between Mumbai and Pune, attracting travelers with its green hills, waterfalls, and vibrant local life.
End Point of the Trek: Bhimashankar Temple - A Sacred Conclusion
The trek ends at the historic **Bhimashankar Temple**, a revered Jyotirlinga site, which holds spiritual importance for devotees across India. Nestled within the Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary, this ancient temple is also home to the Malabar Giant Squirrel, Maharashtra’s state animal. Reaching Bhimashankar felt like a fitting end to a journey that had tested our bodies and lifted our spirits.
Our team assembled at the Lonavala station just before midnight, all buzzing with anticipation. After a quick orientation, we set off into the night.
The Route
Day 1
12AM – 3AM - Lonavala - Tungarli - Fanasrai – Udhewadi ~ 12km
7AM – 10.30AM- Udhewadi - Kondeshwar Temple ~ 8km
11AM – 1PM – Kondeshwar Temple Dhakgad route - Kusur Plateau ~ 6km
2PM – 3.30PM - Kusur Plateau – Kusur ~ 4km
3.30PM – 4.30PM - Kusur to Talpewadi by Jeep ~ 15kms
4.30PM – 7.30PM - Talpewadi - Wandre Khind (Windmills) – Padharwadi ~ 8km
Day 2
7AM – 11AM - Padharwadi - Vajantri Ghat - Kamaljai Temple ~ 11km
11AM – 1PM – Kamaljai Temple - Gupt Bhimashankar – Bhimashankar ~ 6km
GPX files for reference - http://rblr.co/mAlr & http://rblr.co/Of1w5
For those who are doing this trek for the first time, would highly recommend taking a guide from the local villages instead of relying on the GPX trail.
We started from Lonavala at 12AM and began the hike with the help of street lights initially, but once we crossed Tungarli dam, the head torches were out and all that kept us company was the sound of the insects. While walking towards Fanasrai village, I stopped in the middle of the tracks as a snake was crossing our path. Fortunately it didn’t seem to mind us and went about its way post which we resumed our journey. At about 3AM we reached Udhewadi village, took shelter for 2-3hours and rested a bit before beginning the long day that was awaiting us.
Waking up at 5/5.30AM to witness the quaint village life and animals around. One of us woke up with a cat sleeping on their chest, a dog by another’s feet and cows being milk in the shed outside.
Unfortunately we couldn’t bask in more of the village life and went on about freshening up. Had a quick warm breakfast of Poha & chai prepared by the villager and began the hike around 7AM through the greenery this trail had to offer. Walking beside water streams, crossing some of them, wishing we could have gone for a dip but keeping those dreams aside we continued trekking.
In the past couple of years, this trail has become well known in the trekking community and people have used orange / red ribbons to mark the trail. At many places people have even made cairns to help mark the route where there aren’t trees to tie the ribbons to. Luck was on our side as it was slightly cloudy with clear skies. There’s a high chance to get lost in this trail especially when it’s misty and foggy. The trails blessed us with never ending greenery and flowers to replenish our spirits to keep going for the long day. At around 10AM we reached Kondeshwar temple and resumed the hike towards Kusur plateau via Dhak Bahiri route after a short break.
The hike towards towards Dhakgad is a bit of a steep climb had us all sweating away with the sun right above us. There are boards marked to go straight towards Dhakgad and right turn for Kusur. We almost missed the turn towards Kusur Plateau due to the growth of greenery around.
Upon reaching Kusur Plateau, if you have clear skies, one has to look for the network tower towards the left and keep walking in that direction. After about 1 hour of walking towards the tower there’s an intersection marked with cairns where one has to turn left, many a times people miss this turn and get lost on this trail. Finally we managed to reach baba’s hut at 1pm and took our lunch break there. We had a mini pot luck meal with dry food that was carried for today’s lunch. The best part about the meal here is always the fresh buttermilk that the baba makes, which provides the much needed energy for the rest of the trek.
The hike towards Kusur village had us all awestruck with the treats nature had in store. Every 15 minutes there was a new visual awaiting, from never ending yellow sonki fields to dense jungle trails to lush green bushes to lakes and mountains.
Our jeep guy was waiting at Kusur to take us to Talpewadi which saved us 15kms of walking on the tar road. Upon boarding the jeep, within 15 mins, everyone apart from the driver dozed off to take a much needed short nap.
Starting the last leg of the day’s trek at around 4.30PM from Talpewadi, Keeping the windmills and Wandre Khind in sight, it took us an hour to hike through fields and trails to reach the waterfall where we finally took a dip to freshen up which took out all the tiredness for the day, yet knowing that there was another 1-2 hours of hike left to reach Padharwadi where we will be resting for the night.
The sense of accomplishment upon reaching the villager’s house in Padharwadi can’t be expressed in words. The local villager made fresh tea with jaggery and then began ‘chai pe charcha’. Dinner was scrumptious portions of chicken, bhakri and rice. Somehow have always felt that food in the villages is way tastier and I manage to eat larger portions that normal. Maybe it’s the fresh ingredients, maybe it’s the water, maybe it’s the air around, or maybe it’s just the whole experience of sharing a meal with fellow trekkers.
The next day began early again at 5.30AM with the same routine of freshening up, packing up, breakfast, gearing up for the trek. At times it makes me want to have longer multiday hikes in Sahyadris like one does in the Himalayas, where all one has to do is hike through nature, experience all it has to offer and simply keep doing that day after day.
After bidding goodbye to the villager who provided us with food and shelter, began the trek at 7AM and headed towards Bhimashankar which would take another 5-6 hours where we would finish the trek. The trail began with a small stream crossing and then took us into the jungle which then opened up onto a larger dirt road where we came across pug marks.
To be honest, it was a bit scary and exciting at the same time. Fortunately the direction in which the pug marks were heading was the opposite direction in which we were headed. Continuing on the route and following the ribbon markings, crossing small trails and meadows we reached a patch were there were hundreds of butterflies which brought out the excited children in us.
After a couple of hours of walking, we finally reached a major resting point of Kamaljai Temple, here onwards there was more signs of civilization as the trails were pronounced and could see garbage around. It was quite nice to walk through trails till now where there weren’t too many signs of plastic waste generated by humans.
From Kamaljai Temple it took us another 1-2 hours to visit Gupt Bhimashankar and then Bhimashankar Temple from there. We could faintly see the top of the temple which motivated us that it’s the last few minutes to reach our destination which completes the trek.
Being a Sunday the whole area was extremely crowded with the normal queue to get darshan at the temple being 4-5 hours long. One of our team members somehow managed to find someone and convince them to give the team VIP darshan, after sharing that we had hiked all the way from Lonavala to Bhimashankar. After the darshan, there was another 10 min walk to the lunch point, Hotel Kshitij and bus stand where we would be taking the vehicle to return back to Mumbai.
At the end of the trek everyone had some blisters and aches, but there were innumerable experiences that this trek offered. Maybe I’ll do this trek again, each time it offers something new and memorable.
Gears Used:
- Rucksack - Walker Pro 60L
- Action Trekking Shoes
- Poncho
- Headtorch
- Hiking Pole
Things to pack (apart from the gears mentioned)
- Spare clothes
- 3 litres water
- Towel / Napkin
- Toiletries
- First aid kit
- Slippers
- Cap, Sunglasses
- Snacks
A Guide’s Final Thoughts on the Lonavala to Bhimashankar Range Trek
As a trek leader, every trek is a new journey, and this one was no exception. The Lonavala to Bhimashankar Range Trek remains a challenging yet deeply fulfilling experience that tests your endurance while offering a breathtaking slice of Maharashtra’s natural beauty. The bond we formed as a team, sharing stories under the stars, navigating through the jungle, and finally standing before the Bhimashankar Temple, made this trek unforgettable.
If you’re up for an adventure that offers physical challenge, camaraderie, and stunning landscapes, the Lonavala to Bhimashankar Range Trek awaits. Each step brings you closer to nature and closer to yourself—a journey worth every blister and every breathtaking view.
Image Credits: Deepanjay Dey, Stefanie Pinto