This post is about Dhom dam camping and adventures which I had at a campsite called Sahyadri camping located near Wai and Panchgani.
After seeing the Nana Phadnavis Wada and Menawali Ghat, I headed to an amazing campsite called Sahyadri camping. It is located near the backwaters of Dhom dam in Wai. The beautiful Krishna river winds down the valley which is surrounded by mountains.
This was the first day out of my 21 days solo trip across Maharashtra.
Quick details of Sahyadri camping
- Best time to visit: Anytime of the year.
- Food: Evening tea and biscuits, Maharashtrian style home-cooked Dinner, and Breakfast like poha, upma or maggi with tea and biscuits. Omelete will be available on request.
- Activities available: Group boat rides, speed boat rides, horse riding, air rifle shooting, kayaking and hiking.
- Cost of Package with activities: ₹ 1600/-
- Cost of Package without activities: ₹ 1300/-
- Accommodation: They provide comfortable tents, bedding, pillows and blankets.
- Accessibility: Not accessible by wheelchairs or strollers.
- Washrooms and Parking: Available.
How to reach Sahyadri Camping
The best way to reach this place is by your own vehicle a bike or car. But if you prefer public transport then take a bus to Wai bus stand and take a rickshaw from Wai to Sahyadri camping.
- Pune to Sahyadri camping distance: 97 km or 2 hr 15 min.
- Wai to Sahyadri camping distance: 9 km or 15 min.
- Panchgani to Sahyadri camping distance: 21 km or 35 min.
The Surroundings
From Sahyadri camping, you can see the Dhom dam wall on the right. And you can see Pandavgad, Raireshwar and Kamalgad which are lined up in the front from left to right. From these, the Raireshwar fort is in distance and sometimes invisible due to low visibility or fog.
Raireshwar fort and its nearby mountains create a triangle with a valley in its centre. Another fort nearby called Rohida fort or Vichitragad because many trekkers have been lost inside with no cellphone connectivity.
On Kamalgad, which is on your left, is a well full of mud with medicinal properties. This was the place where wounded soldiers used to be treated at the time of Shivaji Maharaj.
If you ask Indrajeet’s dad about these mountains, he will gladly show you around and tell you all the information. And apart from this stunning location in the Sahyadri mountains, this place hosts a lot of activities and adventures. My favourite one of them was horseriding.
Arriving at Dhom Dam camping
When I reached this place, I immediately knew this was what I was waiting for. There were mountains lined up in front of me and the sparkling blue water full of waves down below.
There were some people enjoying boat rides in the waters, and others along the banks of the backwaters. At one side a couple were doing a pre-wedding shoot or something.
So much was going on and there were so many tourists, but the place was extremely clean. There alongside the Dhom dam waters, I didn’t find a single piece of plastic trash or any other trash. The people who manage this place are serious about cleanliness and protecting nature.
The sunset and horseriding
I saw the most beautiful sunset from my corner near the Dhom Dam. The skies blazed with orange and red until the sunset behind the huge Sahyadri mountains. I was sitting inside my tent sipping coffee while watching this spectacle.
And I did a bit of horseriding along the banks of these backwaters later. The horsemen here take good care of their horses, and it’s quite safe. So here I was riding a horse along the backwaters of Dhom Dam, with mountains around me, after staying at home for the entire year of 2020. No complaints at all.
Magical mornings at Dhom dam
When I woke up in the morning, the sun was yet to rise, but the sky was already a bit silver. There was the moon right in front of me just above the mountains and the water. It was a full moon that day and it glowed brightly because the sun was yet to rise. The sky slowly turned pink and red and the moon continued to glow silver. The water below turned from silver to blue as the day progressed.
Just as I was admiring this beautiful place and this morning, wondering whether this was just a dream, the owner’s dog Ruby came and sat right next to me. And then she looked in my eyes with the most loving expression. This dog was right next to my tent for the whole night. And then we walked on the banks of the backwaters of Dhom dam together. I think that the owner asked his dog to look after me. Because I was the only one camping here today.
As the morning progressed the ducks started quacking even louder. And then began their games on the water. But apart from them, I could spot more than 10 species of birds around there. I don’t really know the names of these birds. But the whole place came alive because of them.
Small trek near Dhom dam
Indrajeet’s father (kaka) narrated the story of how he leased this land 26 years and ago, and started this camping ground with the vision of creating a fun and safe place for nature lovers. He told me a lot of information about the surrounding mountains. And then told me to go on a trek to the temple which is located on the mountain behind Sahyadri camping. The view from this spot is out of the world. The entire dam, backwaters and the surrounding mountains are clearly visible.
Things to do at Dhom dam camping
- Boat rides
- Speed boat rides
- Horse rides
- Hiking or trekking
- Rifle Shooting
- Kayaking
Places to visit near Sahyadri Camping
- Menawali Ghat and Nana Phadnavis Wada
- Narsinha Temple
- Panchgani Table Land
- Panchgani and Mahabaleshwar
