Andharban Trek
Pune (Mulshi taluka) and Raigad, Maharashtra
Opens without signal on this phone, with the map file and checklist. Saved for offline →
- Max altitude
- 658 m
- Days
- 1 day
- Distance
- 4.4 km
- Difficulty
- Easy
Easy to moderate: only the 2.2 km stretch from the Pimpri check post is open, walked out and back (about 4.4 km), mostly gentle forest trail, but it is muddy and slippery in the monsoon and stream crossings get harder in heavy rain.
Photos
On the trail
The route
Day by day
Day 1 · highest point
Pimpri (Andharban Check Post) → End of the open 2.2 km stretch and back to Pimpri
658 m → 658 m
Ups and downs
Altitude profile
Where it is
Map
Trailhead and high point only — not a recorded track. Use it with a proper map.
Weather
Next 5 days on the trail
Live forecast for the trailhead and the high point. Mountain weather changes fast — check again on the morning you start.
Trailhead · Pimpri
at 658 mLoading forecast…
High point · Andharban Check Post, Pimpri (start of the open stretch)
at 658 mLoading forecast…
Each day: high / low °C · rain mm and chance · snow cm · wind km/h
Weather data: Open-Meteo.comModel forecast, not an official warning. For alerts follow IMD and the local administration.
Plan the trip
How to reach
- Trailhead
- Pimpri (nearest town: Mulshi)
- Nearest railway
- Pune Junction
- Nearest airport
- Pune Airport
- By road
- Pune (about 70-75 km via Mulshi and Tamhini Ghat to Pimpri); Mumbai (about 130 km)
- Drive
- About 3 h from Pune
Plan the trip
Permits and fees
We could not confirm the current permit rules and fees from an official source. Check with the local forest department or tourism office before you go.
Plan the trip
Cost
Self-guided
₹800–2,000
With an operator
₹1,499–1,999
Per person, ex-Pune or ex-Mumbai. Guided prices published October 2026: Treks and Trails India ₹1,599 (from Pune) and ₹1,799 (from Mumbai, with AC bus, meals and forest permit; it now walks in and returns to Pimpri); Adventure Club Pune ₹1,499 self-drive and ₹1,999 Pune-to-Pune or Mumbai-to-Mumbai. Self-guided is an estimate: the online forest booking (fee not confirmed by us), a share of the compulsory Forest Department guide (₹750 for a private guide per the official portal), fuel or taxi from Pune and village meals.
Gear
Top picks for this trek
The gear that matters most on this route, chosen from its altitude, season and risks.
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Packing checklist
Matched to this trek: altitude, season, days and the risks on the route.
Packed 0 of 20
Monsoon months (Jun–Sep): pack everything in plastic or a dry bag and wear shoes with good grip.
Tick each item as it goes in the bag.
Know before you go
Good to know
- Mobile network
- Patchy 4G at places; no signal in parts of the forest and at the entry gate, so download your booking receipt before you go.
- Last ATM
- Mulshi / Paud on the Pune side; carry cash
- Nearest hospital
- Paud and Mulshi for first care; Pune for serious cases
- Water
- Streams and waterfalls in the monsoon, but no shops on the trail; carry 1-2 litres and refill at the base homestay in Pimpri. Treat stream water.
Highlights
- A walk under the dense canopy that gives Andharban ('dark forest' in Marathi) its name, on the Forest Department-permitted stretch from Pimpri
- Monsoon streams and small waterfalls along the forest trail, with Tamhini Ghat cliffs streaked with falls
- Rich monsoon birdlife and butterflies, including the blue Mormon, Maharashtra's state butterfly
- The classic 13 km descent past Hirdi to Bhira Dam is currently closed beyond 2.2 km by DCF (Wildlife) Thane order from 15 Aug 2026; only the stretch from Pimpri is open
Risks
- Only the 2.2 km one-way stretch from Andharban Check Post, Pimpri is open (official booking portal, October 2026). The classic Pimpri-Hirdi-Bhira Dam traverse is currently closed beyond 2.2 km by DCF (Wildlife) Thane order from 15 Aug 2026; do not enter by any other access point.
- Online booking on booking.andharban.org is compulsory (no offline or spot booking); carry a printed receipt and a government photo ID whose name matches the booking. Ages 16 and above only.
- Entry 06:00-11:30, exit by 16:30. A Forest Department guide is compulsory (one per batch of up to 15; you may wait for a batch to form; a private guide costs ₹750). Pune Pulse reports the trail is closed on Mondays.
- The Forest Department closes the trail at short notice: 9 July to 15 August 2026 after landslides washed away stream bridges, and late June to 9 August 2025 for overcrowding.
- Stream crossings can become impassable in heavy rain and fog cuts visibility; stay with the guide. No internet at the entry gate, so download the receipt in advance.
Know before you go
Questions
Is the Andharban trek open now?
Partly. It reopened on 15 August 2026 after a landslide closure, but the Maharashtra Forest Department's official booking portal says only the 2.2 km one-way stretch from Andharban Check Post, Pimpri is open, and Punekar News reports this follows an order of the DCF (Wildlife), Thane. You walk in and return to Pimpri, about 4.4 km in all.
Can I still do the full Pimpri to Bhira Dam trek?
Not at present. The classic 13 km descent via Hirdi to the Bhira Dam backwaters is currently closed beyond 2.2 km by DCF (Wildlife) Thane order from 15 Aug 2026, and the portal says no other portion of the route is open to tourists. Check andharban.org for any change.
Do I need a permit for Andharban?
Yes. Andharban lies in the Sudhagad Wildlife Sanctuary and entry needs an online booking on booking.andharban.org; there are no offline or spot bookings. Carry a printed receipt and an ID matching the booking; only those aged 16 and above may enter; entry is 06:00-11:30 and exit by 16:30. A Forest Department guide is compulsory (one per batch of up to 15; a private guide costs ₹750). Pune Pulse reports Monday closure. We could not confirm the entry fee from an official page.
When is the best time to visit Andharban?
The monsoon, June to September, when the forest, streams and waterfalls are at their best. Heavy-rain spells often bring temporary Forest Department closures, so check the portal before going.
Is Andharban suitable for beginners?
Yes. The open stretch is short (about 4.4 km out and back) and fairly gentle, but the trail is muddy and slippery in the rain, so wear shoes with good grip. Children under 16 are not allowed.
In an emergency
Save these numbers before you lose signal. Tap to call.
- 112All emergenciesIndia’s single emergency number — works in every state
- 108Ambulance
- 1077District disaster control room
You are in
District: Pune (Mulshi taluka) and RaigadMaharashtra
- Nearest hospital
- Paud and Mulshi for first care; Pune for serious cases
- Last ATM
- Mulshi / Paud on the Pune side; carry cash
- Phone network
- Patchy 4G at places; no signal in parts of the forest and at the entry gate, so download your booking receipt before you go.
Before you set off
- Tell someone your route and when you will be back.
- Carry a charged phone and a power bank.
- Download an offline map of the route.
- Turn back if the weather turns bad — the mountain will wait.
Questions about Andharban
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Where this comes from
Sources
Last reviewed:
- Andharban Trek booking - Maharashtra Forest Department, Sudhagad Wildlife Sanctuary — Maharashtra Forest Department (Sudhagad Wildlife Sanctuary) (official)
- Andharban Trek — Bikat Adventures
- Andharban Jungle Trek | Monsoon Trek — Treks and Trails India (treksandtrails.org)
- Andharban Trek from Pune | Monsoon Trek — Treks and Trails India (treksandtrails.org)
- Planning The Andharban Trek? Here's What To Know Before You Go — Outlook Traveller
- The Complete Guide to Andharban Trek — Indiahikes
- Andharban Forest Trek from Pune / Mumbai — Adventure Club Pune
- Pune: Andharban Trek Reopens After Monsoon Closure; Online Registration Made Mandatory — Punekar News
- Pune: Andharban Nature Trail Closed Till July 31 After Landslides Damage Trekking Route — Punekar News
- Pune: Andharban Trek, Kundalika Valley Welcome Visitors Again, Online Booking Made Mandatory — Pune Pulse
Photos: Rushikesh Convirza, CC0; Swapnilgorivale, CC BY-SA 3.0; Lokesh2343, CC BY 4.0
