Paleshwar waterfall

Paleshwar is one of the many waterfalls in the western ghat range of Maharashtra. The water from the dam falls into the valley forming this waterfall. (See the video below)

Searching for the falls

Google Maps let us down on the last stretch. We took the deviation from the main road as per its direction. As we entered the village, I felt something was not right. The road was too narrow for my car to pass. When we asked a local, he confirmed our apprehensions. It was not the road to the waterfall.

The good Samaritan provided the directions accurately. It was no wonder that Google Maps did not direct us correctly, as the actual road to the waterfall was not marked at all!! We drove on the non-Google Maps road for some distance to reach another village. Here, we confirmed with a lady in a house that we were in the right direction.

The asphalted road turned into a mud road. Soon we stopped our car as we did not want to risk it on the muddy path. While many reviewers had lamented about the crowd in the waterfall, there was no soul present that day.

Finding a way to the falls was difficult as there were multiple paths. But the trash created by people helped us to locate the right path! I also used satellite images to find the right direction. We proved to be right when the waterfall made its appearance when we climbed up a small bund.

At Paleshwar waterfall

Every waterfall is unique in its way, and Paleshwar was not an exception. The approach to the waterfall was most dramatic. The landscape provided an unhindered view of the waterfall from a long distance. We walked at a slow pace, savouring the beauty of the landscape.

It was a one-step waterfall forming a pool at the base. An ideal location to jump into the water and swim. It looked safe to get into the water, but later I learnt that people had drowned in this falls.

While the trash all along the way warned us about the crowd, nobody was present at the site. We spent a long time looking at the large mass of water flowing down and its gushing sound. It was difficult for us to return from that serene place!!

Information and tips

• It is a monsoon waterfall. Do not expect water after the rainy season.
• While Google Maps is accurate with the waterfall location, the direction is not. Ask locals for the route.
• The waterfall is about 70 km from Kolhapur on the way to Amba ghat.