An enchanting phenomenon that truly calls for a pinch-me-moment, the Naneghat waterfall puts on quite a show that only elevates its charming surroundings. A mountain pass in the Western Ghats range, Naneghat lies between the Konkan coast and the ancient town of Junnar in the Deccan plateau.
Most commonly referred to as the Reverse Waterfall, it is a result of strong winds that blow opposite to the gravitational pull. You can witness this natural beauty after a beautiful trek that takes you through plateaus, streams, dense forests, stone stairs, and ancient caves! Serving as a welcome break from the tiring trek, the cool showers here that aim to drench you within seconds are a strong competitor to the bewitching views of the valley below.
When to trek to the Naneghat’s Reverse Waterfall?
The best time to take in the wonder in its entirety would be the monsoon months of July, August, and September. The pleasant atmosphere makes it an ideal time to undertake the long trek up as the surroundings all turn a brighter shade of green. Further, with strong monsoon winds taking charge, you are most likely to witness the enigma of the reverse waterfall during these months.
How to reach Naneghat’s Reverse Waterfall?
🚆By Train: Catch a train from Mumbai to Kalyan station. From the station, you can either take a taxi or a bus to reach the village of Vaishakhare. It is the base village of Naneghat.
🚗By Car: Take a scenic drive from Mumbai to Vaishakhare via the National Highway 61. The journey should take about two and a half hours to three hours covering approximately 106 km.
🚌By Bus: There are direct buses from Mumbai to Murbad. Upon reaching Murbad you can hire a taxi or take the bus to Vaishakhare.
Starting at the base village, the trek to the Naneghat waterfall from here takes about three hours. It involves a good mix of steep climbs and rocky patches.
What to expect during the trek to the Naneghat’s Reverse Waterfall?
The trek can necessarily be divided into three parts!
🚶♂️First Part: Consists of a flat walk that lasts about forty minutes. You can witness unsullied streams running through the trails as the dense forest slowly envelops the terrains.
🚶♂️Second Part: Starts upon reaching the second stream as you climb through dense forests. It further takes an hour.
🚶♂️Last Part: The most interesting (and the most beautiful) part of the trek starts when you begin your ascend up the stone stairs. If you are lucky you might find water cascading down these stairs marking a gorgeous treat for the eyes. The views further send jitters down the spine. As you climb on, you will find caves with ancient Brahmi inscriptions carved onto their walls dating centuries back to the Satavahana reign. The climb takes an hour but is well worth it upon reaching the majestic waterfall and its accompanying view.