Kataldhar Waterfall Trek
Pune, Maharashtra
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- Max altitude
- 606 m
- Days
- 1 day
- Distance
- 9 km
- Difficulty
- Moderate
Short but steep: the trail drops about 220 m through dense, dark forest with stream crossings to the falls, and the return is a tiring climb back up. The route is easy to lose without a guide, and wet rock near the falls is very slippery in monsoon.
Photos
On the trail
The route
Day by day
Day 1 · highest point
Fanasrai Village (Two Mangoes trail start) → Fanasrai Village (Two Mangoes trail start)
606 m → 606 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 · Fanasrai Village (Two Mangoes trail start, Lonavala–Rajmachi road)
at 606 mLoading forecast…
High point · Trail start on the Lonavala–Rajmachi road near Fanasrai
at 606 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
- Fanasrai Village (Two Mangoes trail start, Lonavala–Rajmachi road)
- Nearest railway
- Lonavala
- Nearest airport
- Pune International Airport (Lohegaon)
- By road
- Lonavala station to Fanasrai on the Rajmachi road by hired jeep or Sumo taxi (operators and trip reports put Kataldhar about 10–12 km from Lonavala); From the Mumbai–Pune Expressway via Kune village and the rough Rajmachi road (about 6.6 km to the trail start); Mumbai to Lonavala (about 85–95 km); Pune to Lonavala (about 65–70 km)
- Drive
- About 3 h from Mumbai
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
₹300–1,200
With an operator
₹1,300–1,400
Per person. Guided one-day batches cost about Rs 1,300 ex-Pune (Trekfit Adventures, bus, breakfast and lunch) and Rs 1,399 ex-Mumbai or ex-Pune (Treks and Trails India, bus, tea and breakfast; carry your own lunch). Self-guided estimate is ex-Lonavala: a trip report quotes about Rs 1,000 for a Sumo taxi to Fanasrai (shared seats about Rs 100 when available), plus snacks at roadside stalls. A local guide is strongly advised; no official fee or permit is published.
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 21
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
- Not confirmed by sources; expect weak or no signal in the forested valley below the road
- Last ATM
- Lonavala
- Nearest hospital
- Lonavala town (about 10–12 km)
- Water
- Streams and the waterfall flow only in monsoon; carry 2–3 litres. Weekend food stalls appear along the Rajmachi road in monsoon
Highlights
- A tall monsoon waterfall (operators quote about 350 ft) dropping off the plateau into the Ulhas valley
- A wide cave behind the falls, reachable on days when the flow is moderate
- Dense, dark evergreen forest where sunlight barely reaches the ground, with crabs, langurs and birds
- Views of Rajmachi's Shrivardhan Fort across the valley; Kataldhar is visible from the fort
Risks
- Flash floods: the falls and streams can rise suddenly in heavy rain; do not go under the main flow or into the plunge area
- Easy to get lost: dense forest, a confusing trail marked only by ribbons and cairns; go with a guide or an experienced group
- Slippery rock on the descent, at stream crossings and near the cave; leeches in monsoon
- The return is a steep climb of about 220 m; start back early so you are out of the forest well before dark
- Seasonal waterfall: it drains quickly and can be nearly dry outside the monsoon or after a dry spell
- Pune district has issued monsoon prohibitory orders for Lonavala-area waterfalls and picnic spots in past years (for example July 2024 under Section 163 BNSS); Kataldhar was not named in the orders we found, but check the current order before going
Know before you go
Questions
How difficult is the Kataldhar Waterfall trek?
Operators rate it medium to hard and a trip report now calls it intermediate. The trail descends through very dense forest that is easy to get lost in, and you must climb all the way back up to the road on the return.
When is the best time to visit Kataldhar Waterfall?
The monsoon, June to September, when the waterfall flows strongly. It is seasonal and can go dry within a few weeks if the rain stops.
How long does the Kataldhar trek take?
Operators allow about 2–3 hours each way from Fanasrai and quote about 9 km for the day. A trip report says about 90 minutes down from the trail start and about 2 hours back up, so plan on 5–6 hours including time at the falls.
How do I reach Kataldhar from Mumbai or Pune?
Go to Lonavala, the nearest railway station, and take the Rajmachi road towards Fanasrai, either on foot (about 8 km from the station to the trail start) or by hired jeep. From the Expressway side you can come up the rough road from Kune village.
Can I go behind the waterfall?
There is a cave behind the falls, but it is safe to reach only when the flow is moderate. In heavy rain the flow is too strong and the area is prone to flash floods.
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: PuneMaharashtra
- Nearest hospital
- Lonavala town (about 10–12 km)
- Last ATM
- Lonavala
- Phone network
- Not confirmed by sources; expect weak or no signal in the forested valley below the road
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 Kataldhar Waterfall
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Where this comes from
Sources
Last reviewed:
- Kataldhar Waterfall Trek 2026 (tour listing by the operator Treks and Trails India, treksandtrails.org; not this site) — Treks and Trails India
- Kataldhar Waterfall Trek from Pune — Trekfit Adventures
- Kataldhar waterfall trek ❤️ Could it get any more beautiful — TheFreeBird
Photos: Amolmore8999, CC0 1.0; Shraddha Maheshwari, CC BY-SA 4.0
