For a typical urbanite, finding a little piece of nature’s beauty is a rarity. Scrolling through instagram and watching travelling blogs of people would make me feel so sad and jealous too ;). So me and my friends decided to take a break from our busy lives and spend time with each other by going for a one day trip. We didn’t want to visit an exotic location like a mountain or a virgin beach to enjoy the wonders of nature. After all the planning we finally decided to visit the most popular destination of Maharashtra “Pawna Lake” near Kamshet (Khandala). 

     

A Little Bit History About This Amazing Destination

The Lake has a very old history back to 1973; the Pawna Dam was built and turned this reservoir into a lake. This lake was a result of the dam built on the Pawna River to supply water to the neighbouring villages, creating a huge catchment area. The lake stretches all the way up to Lonavala, making it a major attraction. It is visible from the forts like Torna, Tung, Lohagad, and many more. 

Serenity Of The lake

The site has become home to flora and fauna, turning it into a green zone, becoming a centre of attraction for  nature lovers and tourists of all kinds. The lake area is much cooler than its neighbouring towns, offering a refreshing escape for urbanites. The location, the wonderful weather, and the panoramic views make the Pawna Lake a camper’s paradise. 

If you are looking forward to spending time during the day under the open sky you must visit Pawna Lake early morning. As the sun rises the sky looks beautiful bluish with clouds, the reflection of the sky can be seen in the waters of the lake. The sight during the daytime will mesmerize you.

Camping Activities  

We started off our journey in the morning at 7.00 am from Pune city. When we reached our camping site at around 10 am we got served with aromatic tea and a lovely breakfast. We then started off with outdoor games like cricket, badminton, football. The lake has a very large open space where these activities are carried out at the campsite. 

Here are some of the adventurous activities that the campsite area offers: 

Swimming:

To all the swimmers out there, the best way for you guys to explore the lake is by swimming. The campsites team allows swimming till 4pm. Don't forget to bring extra clothes :)

Motorboat ride:

Campsites do offer an adventurous motorboat ride in the lake that will increase the enthusiasm of your excitement level. You can capture the beautiful moments on the motorboat ride and cherish the boating experience with your loved once  for a lifetime.

Paragliding at Pawna lake:

One of the most famous adventures near Pawna lake is paragliding. What's amazing is that while gliding you can experience the beauty from the eagle’s eye view and experience the thrill by gliding through the mountain terrains.

Paragliding at Pawna lake season:  March to May

Unfortunately, I didn’t get the chance to experience this, but from what I have heard from my friends and family you should definitely try this out if you visit around March-May. 

Food at Campsite

Delicious food is one of the important parts of any trip, right? The campsite team offers vegetarian and non-vegetarian food that are mouth smacking and finger-licking at its best! I ate vegetarian food and believe me it was very delicious and it gave me a home-made food vibe :). You can enjoy lunch and then sit in the open space of the lake and click photographs, read books or play music. 

Total Cost Of Our Trip

The campsite team will charge you around Rs. 600- Rs. 700. That will include all the camping activities and food cost. All in all if you travel from Pune I would say this one day trip will cost you Rs 1000 approximately. Isn't that's cheap ;)

Historic Places Near Pawna Lake  

If you are a true adventurer here’s a chance for you to rip off that adventurer inside you by exploring the historic places near Pawna lake. Pawna lake is surrounded by many historic forts, and you can add these forts to your visit list for a day trip. Visiting these forts is a boon for all the hikers and trekkers out there!! 

Here’s a list of some of the most visited forts near Pawna Lake:

Tung Fort:

Lonavala is the best place to visit during monsoon season and Tung Fort is the best option. It is located 12 Kilometeres from Lonavala Railway Station. Tourists can take a breathtaking view of the beauty of nature once they reach the Tung fort which is surrounded by water from three sides. The trekking level at Tung is a moderate level trek which means that even non-experienced trekkers can visit this place without any hassle. 

Tikona Fort:

Tikona means triangular and so is this fort's shape. Famous for its pyramidal shape, this fort is located near the Pawna village. There is a Mahadev Temple at the entrance and a cave which can accommodate 15 people. This cave leads to the entrance of Bale Fort. 

Lohgad Fort:

Also known as Iron Fort, this historical fort is 3400 feet. The fort was associated with the Maratha ruler Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. This fort is 8 kilometers away from Malavli (Lonavala) railway station.

How Can You Reach Pawna Lake From Pune? 

You can reach this destination by road or by railway. Pawna Lake is 114 Kilometers away from Mumbai and 65 Kilometers away from Pune.

If you are travelling from Pune by road, here’s some advice for you. You can avoid the Pune-Mumbai Expressway and take NH-48 highway to reach Kamshet. It’s much safer than the expressway and the fun of travelling with your friends on this highway is totally worth it :) 

Indeed Pawna Lake is a sight to behold.  You will find yourself at peace when you visit this lake for a day and feel relaxed. Refresh your mind and return to your hometown with a memory to be cherished!