KamshetParagliders Paradise
Kamshet is a small village in Maharashtra located 110 km from Mumbai and 45 km from Pune on the old Mumbai-Pune road. This beautiful getaway located amidst green fields is surrounded by forest covered hills. Kamshet is very close to the two famous hill stations of Maharashtra, Khandala and Lonavala. Kamshet is famous for its Paragliding Facilities. Nicknamed as Paragliders Paradise, there are schools where beginners can learn paragliding techniques.
Kamshet used to be a prominent trade centre since long back due to its railway head and strategic position connecting coastal towns and interior towns of central India. The permanent population of this village is less than one thousand, living in thatched mud houses. Close to Kamshet there are many cave temples and medieval fortresses. Karala caves close to Lonavala are built by Theravada Budhist monks. Bhidsa Caves are built in 1st century AD by Hiragana Budhist monks. The specialty of these caves is the sculptures of dancing figures and animals. There are twenty six octagonal pillars supporting the ten feet high ribbed roof. Bhaja caves the oldest built in 200 BC are a group of 18 caves. There are fourteen stupas, five inside and nine outside the caves. In Bhairi caves on high rocks of Kamshet animal sacrifice is still conducted and is reachable by trekking only.
The main attraction in Kamshet from tourists point of view is paragliding. The number of hills, valleys and paddy and sunflower fields suit very much for this adventure sport. There are many sites for paragliding activities. Tower Hill 8 km away is a site for low height hang gliding. At Shelar take off the paragliding height is 175 feet and paragliding, soaring and thermal gliding activities are available. For those who are more adventurous, Kondeshwar 25 km away is the site with 2200 feet takeoff height. Pavana Lake, Shindevadi hills and Golden Glide Fields are a few other sites. At Kondeshwar there is an elephant temple in black stone dedicated to Lord Shiva inside hilly forest. Nearby there is the Samadhi of Koteswar Maharaj, a pond and a waterfall.
Vadivali Lake created by the Uksan dam is a picnic spot close to Kamshet. Bhandar Dangar known as Temple Hill has a temple dedicated to Sant Tukaram. Pavana Lake formed by the Pavana dam is tourist spot famous for kiting and ridge dancing. Lohgad, Tikona and Tungi Forts near Pavana Lake are ancient forts which are worth a visit. Other tourist spots near the lake are Bushy Dam, Nagpani, Rajmachi point, Dukes point and Kune Point. Many tourists from Khandala and Lonavala come down to Kamshet to enjoy paragliding. Accommodation is available in some hotels like Native Place, Nirvana Base Camp and Paragliding Ashram where paragliding activities can also arranged.
Most of the Kamshet hotels also offers facilities for sightseeing expedition and jungle safaris, apart from pick-up and drop facilities from the various transit points.
Kamshet used to be a prominent trade centre since long back due to its railway head and strategic position connecting coastal towns and interior towns of central India. The permanent population of this village is less than one thousand, living in thatched mud houses. Close to Kamshet there are many cave temples and medieval fortresses. Karala caves close to Lonavala are built by Theravada Budhist monks. Bhidsa Caves are built in 1st century AD by Hiragana Budhist monks. The specialty of these caves is the sculptures of dancing figures and animals. There are twenty six octagonal pillars supporting the ten feet high ribbed roof. Bhaja caves the oldest built in 200 BC are a group of 18 caves. There are fourteen stupas, five inside and nine outside the caves. In Bhairi caves on high rocks of Kamshet animal sacrifice is still conducted and is reachable by trekking only.
The main attraction in Kamshet from tourists point of view is paragliding. The number of hills, valleys and paddy and sunflower fields suit very much for this adventure sport. There are many sites for paragliding activities. Tower Hill 8 km away is a site for low height hang gliding. At Shelar take off the paragliding height is 175 feet and paragliding, soaring and thermal gliding activities are available. For those who are more adventurous, Kondeshwar 25 km away is the site with 2200 feet takeoff height. Pavana Lake, Shindevadi hills and Golden Glide Fields are a few other sites. At Kondeshwar there is an elephant temple in black stone dedicated to Lord Shiva inside hilly forest. Nearby there is the Samadhi of Koteswar Maharaj, a pond and a waterfall.
Vadivali Lake created by the Uksan dam is a picnic spot close to Kamshet. Bhandar Dangar known as Temple Hill has a temple dedicated to Sant Tukaram. Pavana Lake formed by the Pavana dam is tourist spot famous for kiting and ridge dancing. Lohgad, Tikona and Tungi Forts near Pavana Lake are ancient forts which are worth a visit. Other tourist spots near the lake are Bushy Dam, Nagpani, Rajmachi point, Dukes point and Kune Point. Many tourists from Khandala and Lonavala come down to Kamshet to enjoy paragliding. Accommodation is available in some hotels like Native Place, Nirvana Base Camp and Paragliding Ashram where paragliding activities can also arranged.
Most of the Kamshet hotels also offers facilities for sightseeing expedition and jungle safaris, apart from pick-up and drop facilities from the various transit points.
