Located near the basin of river Ulhas, Karjat is a popular weekend holiday destination from Mumbai. Scenic natural vistas, mountains, forts and ancient rock-cut cave temples make Karjat, 68 km from Mumbai, popular among trekkers. Karjat has an average elevation of 636 ft. Its climate and scenic splendor make it convenient for adventure sports like trekking, waterfall climbing, rappelling and river rafting in river Ulhas. ALSO READ Mumbai to Karjat: How to reach Karjat from Mumbai by road
Morbe Dam, about 10 km west, is a good place for boating and the perimeter of the dam is a nice place for a leisurely picnic. Some scenes of the Oscar winning movie, Slumdog Millionaire and the song ‘Lean On’ have been shot in Karjat.
Three trekking trails are considered to be the most popular among adventure seekers — Chanderi Fort Trek, Matheran Trek via Rambagh Point and Peth Fort Trek. Monsoons are the best time of the year for the those seeking adventure. White water rafting is done on the higher sections of river Ulhas. July to September are the best months to go white water rafting here. The best place for most of these sport starts from Kondana village, about 15 km away from Karjat. ALSO SEE 5 reasons why Karjat is a great place to head to this monsoon!
It is a great place to picnic with your family and friends or go hiking and rock climbing. The must-see places in Karjat are Ulhas Valley, Bhor Ghat, Kondana Caves and Peth Fort. Excavated in the first century BC, the group of 16 Buddhist caves was used by monks for their stay during the monsoon months. The caves consist of sculptures, chaitya, vihara and stupa. Kondana is among the several rock-cut Buddhist temples found in Maharashtra.
BEST PLACES TO STAY IN KARJAT
There are many budget and mid-range options for accommodation near the railway station and bus stand though you should seriously consider camping.
BEST PLACES TO EAT IN KARJAT
There is a wide variety of options when it comes to eateries in Karjat ranging from small stalls that sell the local favorite vada pav to slightly larger restaurants that serve continental dishes. The market area near the railway station has several options.
Photograph Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons
The average minimum and maximum temperature of Karjat is as given below. The best time to visit Karjat is also specified.