One day trip from Pune to NaneGhat

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If you are looking for a day trip near Pune. I would like to take you to the place which has registered very old footprint in the history. The place is Naneghat also referred to as Nanaghat which is 115 KMs from Pune. You need to take Nashik Road and take the diversion from Narayangaon to take Junnar road to reach Naneghat. You will get to see many beautiful scenic views on the way to Naneghat.

Scenic view in the way

Long shot of lake

In the Western Ghats range, Naneghat is the mountain pass between ancient town of Junnar and Kokan cost in Deccan Plateau. Junnar is a town in located in the Pune district of state Maharashtra, India. The city has a millennium-long history. King Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the founder of the Maratha Empire, was born in the neighboring fort of Shivneri. The Pune district government designated Junnar as the first tourism taluka. It was once a significant commerce route and is now known for a large cave with Sanskrit inscriptions in Brahmi script and Middle Indo-Aryan dialect. Between 200 years before year 1 (200 BCE) to 190 years after year 1(190 CE) during the reign of the Satavahana dynasty Naneghat pass was the trade which connects Kokan communities with Deccan high plateau through Junnar. The names nane and ghat literally translate to “coin" and "pass" respectively. The name comes from the fact that this passage was once used as a tollbooth to collect tolls from traders passing through the hills. Just at the mouth of the pass there is Stone bucket which was used to collect coin (nane) as a toll.

Naneghat 0 KM

Naneghat long view

There is ample parking available on the left side of the road upon reaching Naneghat. You will need to walk some 50-60 feet to reach 0 KM.

Pass entrance

While walking you would see the amazing view of the hill standing in front of you divided by a pass and on the left side you can see canyon which looks very amazing and very deep.

Valley View

Valley view with cliff

First thought will come in your mind that how such a big mountain was carved to make a pass before nearly 2200 years ago.

Steps between the mountain

After descending 50 - 60 meters you will see the caves carved into the mountain and at that time outside the cave they cut the walls of the mountain to made water cistern.

Water cistern

Between the mountain

Cave Entrance

Inscriptions in Brahmi script and Middle Indo-Aryan dialect can be found inside the cave. The Satavahana dynasty era is linked to these inscriptions, which were dated between the 2nd and 1st centuries BCE. The inscriptions are important for tying Vedic and Hindu deities together, detailing some Vedic srauta ceremonies, and giving names that provide historical information about the ancient Satavahanas. The inscriptions contain the world's oldest numeration symbols for "2, 4, 6, 7, and 9," which resemble modern era numerals more closely than those found in Nagari and Hindu-Arabic script. On the left and right walls, there are two long Nanaghat inscriptions, and on the back wall, there are small inscriptions above where the eight life-size missing statues would have been before they were chopped off and destroyed.

Left Wall Inscription

Middle Wall Inscription

Right Wall Inscription

This caves are on the other side of the mountain wall and from here you need to have decent in zigzag pattern.

Step down in zigzag Pattern

Other side of pass

There are many small to medium caves on the mountain wall . They might be used for soldiers to stay.

Caves carved into mountain

Caves carved into Mountain wall

NaneGhat is also famous for the Reverse waterfall. It attracts 1000’s of visitors every year. The reason it is called as Reverse waterfall because it’s is a phenomenon in which water in waterfalls is pushed upward by high winds, giving the appearance of water flowing upwards. Such events can occur when the wind speed exceeds 75 km/hr. While returning, you will see a lot of pinched tubes which take the form of small waterfalls and look very beautiful where you can stop and let the kids play in the water.