Devkund Waterfall is a
waterfall
A waterfall is a point in a river or stream where water flows over a vertical drop or a series of steep drops. Waterfalls also occur where meltwater drops over the edge of a tabular iceberg or ice shelf.
Waterfalls can be formed in several wa ...
located near Bhira, in
Raigad district
Raigad district (Marathi pronunciation: Help:IPA/Marathi, aːjɡəɖ, previously Colaba fort, Colaba district, is a district in the Konkan division of Maharashtra, India.
The district was renamed to Raigad fort, Raigad after the fort that ...
,
Maharastra
Maharashtra (; , abbr. MH or Maha) is a state in the western peninsular region of India occupying a substantial portion of the Deccan Plateau. Maharashtra is the second-most populous state in India and the second-most populous country subdivi ...
, India. It is a 'plunge' waterfall pouring massive amounts of water on the rocky surface underneath. It is a popular spot for one day picnics.
Location
Devkund Waterfall is located in Bhira Patnus and since it went viral on social media, it has become extremely crowded and dangerous place. Several lives have been lost while amateurs try to visit this place on their own. It is the confluence of three waterfalls and is said to be the origin of
Kundalika River
The Kundalika is a small river flowing from the hills of Sahyadri to the Arabian Sea. This river originates at a small town called Bhira in the Indian state of Maharashtra, 150 km south east of Bombay (Mumbai). The important towns located o ...
. It is about a three-hour trek from base village along the dam backwater and through forest to reach this place known as ‘Devkund’. A major part of the trek goes through some semi-dried forests with the river running parallel and sometimes crisscrossing through the route. A guide is required to be taken during the trek as there is dense forest around.
Commutation
*Distance from
Pune
Pune (; ; also known as Poona, (List of renamed Indian cities and states#Maharashtra, the official name from 1818 until 1978) is one of the most important industrial and educational hubs of India, with an estimated population of 7.4 million ...
: 110 km
*Distance from
Mumbai
Mumbai (, ; also known as Bombay — the official name until 1995) is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra and the ''de facto'' financial centre of India. According to the United Nations, as of 2018, Mumbai is the second- ...
: 170 km
*Distance from
Lonavala
Lonavala (ISO 15919, ISO: Loṇāvaḷā) is a hill station town and a Municipal Council in the Pune district, Maharashtra, India. It is about west of Pune and to the east of Mumbai. It is known for its production of the hard candy ''chikki'' a ...
: 52 km
Nearest airports
*
Pune
Pune (; ; also known as Poona, (List of renamed Indian cities and states#Maharashtra, the official name from 1818 until 1978) is one of the most important industrial and educational hubs of India, with an estimated population of 7.4 million ...
: international
*
Mumbai
Mumbai (, ; also known as Bombay — the official name until 1995) is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra and the ''de facto'' financial centre of India. According to the United Nations, as of 2018, Mumbai is the second- ...
: international
Nearest railway junctions
*Mangaon railway station on Konkan Railway, 30 km away
*Lonavala railway station on Central Railway, 82 km away
Bathing
Devkund Waterfall is great for enjoying and taking the bath under the waterfall. The area continues to attract tourists. The tourists have now polluted this drinking water source.
Trek details
* Duration: 1.5-2 hrs (to reach the waterfall from start point)
* Distance: 6.5 km approx. (one sided)
* Difficulty level: moderate (becomes life threatening in heavy monsoons since three streams have to be crossed)
* Endurance required: medium
Safety
During the monsoon the water volume increases very quickly due to the design of the hills, so it is unsafe to see the waterfall. In 2017, Devkund Waterfall was closed to tourists for three months from the July monsoon season after a couple of accidents. After the death of two trekkers at the waterfall, the local administration asked the police to impose section 144, which prohibits the assembly of more than four people in the area. In 2018, access to Devkund waterfall is prohibited by district authorities from 12 July 2018 – 12 September 2018.
References
[{{Cite news, url=https://www.enjoydevkundcamping.com/, title=Devkund Waterfall ( Bhira ) - Devkund Waterfall Trek & Camping, work=Devkund Waterfall, access-date=2019-06-28, language=en]
Waterfalls of Maharashtra