![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.bombaynomads.com\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/P1000043.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nWhere to Stay<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\nThere are a couple of resorts perched on a hill in the town of Koynanagar, overlooking the dam. Koyna Lake Resort is the eponymous one and we stayed in the other – Gursale Resort. Nothing very fancy, but spacious, neat and clean rooms at Rs 1,500 a night. They have around 10-12 rooms and a small garden with a great view of the dam. Food was simple Maharashtrian thali and you have to inform them in advance for meals \u2013 especially if you want non-veg options. I am not a great fan of thalis, but with the rain pitter-pattering outside, piping hot chapatis and home-made sabji\/chicken seemed heavenly. Also, we didn\u2019t see any other eating joint in the town unless you count the vada-pav seller near the bus stand ! It\u2019s also recommended to carry your own booze or at least pick it up from Chiplun<\/p>\n
What to Do<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\nThe fun began even before we reached our destination Koynanagar. Just a couple of km before Chiplun, we spotted the Savatsada falls right on the NH17. Since quite a few vehicles were parked there, we too proceeded to check out the falls \u2013 there is a nice concrete staircase leading to it and it is barely a dozen steps up. Before we knew it, we were drenched by the spray of the waterfall being carried far by the strong winds. Of course, Mumbaites are not known to shy away from a little bit of moisture, so we plunged into the base of the waterfall and had our first waterfall fun of the season.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.bombaynomads.com\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/P1000022.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.bombaynomads.com\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/P1000037.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nAfter a satisfying lunch at the resort, we proceeded to Koynanagar\u2019s other big attraction. About 4 km from Koynanagar, near the shores of the backwaters lies Ozarde falls, a much bigger waterfall than Savatsada. It involved a little more effort too, having to walk through a forest trail for about 20 min. The trail is well marked, there are steps made on the steeper sections and its very pleasurable walk \u2013 for the most part it runs parallel to the stream on which the Ozarde waterfall lies. The water froths white as it churns over rocks, making for some good photo opportunities.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.bombaynomads.com\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/P1000066.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nThe trail ends at a small platform midway into the falls. The waterfall is swollen in the monsoons and the spray is impossible to avoid there \u2013 imagine a shower in which water comes horizontally. Just a few feet before the platform, there is a way to go down to the base of the waterfall. This is just 20-30 ft, but slightly more difficult. But when you stand near the base of the Ozarde waterfall, you will be too spellbound to think of anything else. The spray here is much much stronger \u2013 almost blinding \u2013 no way you can look towards the waterfall. So we all sat on the rocks there, with our backs to the waterfall, enjoying the awesome spectacle, letting out an excited \u201cwoo-hoo\u201d once in a while.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.bombaynomads.com\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/P1000074.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.bombaynomads.com\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/P1000083.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nDone with Ozarde, we stopped to enquire about boating on the Shivsagar lake. Turns out, it costs Rs 400 for half an hour for the smaller boat \u2013 which can easily seat 15. Couple of other forest dept charges and license costs brought the total cost to Rs 630. However, the boat had a really loud diesel engine and it drowned out all our plans to enjoy a peaceful cruise on the lake\u2019s waters \u2013 even conversation was impossible.<\/p>\n
The night passed in good \u2018spirits\u2019.<\/p>\n
Next day, we decided to visit the Gowalkot fort in Chiplun before we started back for Bombay. However that turned out to be a bad decision, since we had to cross the full length of Chiplun town with its narrow roads. It took us almost 45 min to do that and once we reached Gowalkot, we realized that a village had grown around it and there was no space even to park our vehicle. Frustated with our Chiplun commute and looking at the condition of the Gowalkot village, we skipped it and caught the highway.<\/p>\n
The next stop was the Parshuram temple next to Savatsada waterfall. Nothing special here, so you can skip the temple and just stop near the gates of the temple. The NH17 curves in the shape of a “C” and from that point, you can enjoy the excellent view of the Vashishti river.<\/p>\n
The fun began even before we reached our destination Koynanagar. Just a couple of km before Chiplun, we spotted the Savatsada falls right on the NH17. Since quite a few vehicles were parked there, we too proceeded to check out the falls \u2013 there is a nice concrete staircase leading to it and it is barely a dozen steps up. Before we knew it, we were drenched by the spray of the waterfall being carried far by the strong winds. Of course, Mumbaites are not known to shy away from a little bit of moisture, so we plunged into the base of the waterfall and had our first waterfall fun of the season.<\/p>\n
After a satisfying lunch at the resort, we proceeded to Koynanagar\u2019s other big attraction. About 4 km from Koynanagar, near the shores of the backwaters lies Ozarde falls, a much bigger waterfall than Savatsada. It involved a little more effort too, having to walk through a forest trail for about 20 min. The trail is well marked, there are steps made on the steeper sections and its very pleasurable walk \u2013 for the most part it runs parallel to the stream on which the Ozarde waterfall lies. The water froths white as it churns over rocks, making for some good photo opportunities.<\/p>\n The trail ends at a small platform midway into the falls. The waterfall is swollen in the monsoons and the spray is impossible to avoid there \u2013 imagine a shower in which water comes horizontally. Just a few feet before the platform, there is a way to go down to the base of the waterfall. This is just 20-30 ft, but slightly more difficult. But when you stand near the base of the Ozarde waterfall, you will be too spellbound to think of anything else. The spray here is much much stronger \u2013 almost blinding \u2013 no way you can look towards the waterfall. So we all sat on the rocks there, with our backs to the waterfall, enjoying the awesome spectacle, letting out an excited \u201cwoo-hoo\u201d once in a while.<\/p>\n Done with Ozarde, we stopped to enquire about boating on the Shivsagar lake. Turns out, it costs Rs 400 for half an hour for the smaller boat \u2013 which can easily seat 15. Couple of other forest dept charges and license costs brought the total cost to Rs 630. However, the boat had a really loud diesel engine and it drowned out all our plans to enjoy a peaceful cruise on the lake\u2019s waters \u2013 even conversation was impossible.<\/p>\n The night passed in good \u2018spirits\u2019.<\/p>\n Next day, we decided to visit the Gowalkot fort in Chiplun before we started back for Bombay. However that turned out to be a bad decision, since we had to cross the full length of Chiplun town with its narrow roads. It took us almost 45 min to do that and once we reached Gowalkot, we realized that a village had grown around it and there was no space even to park our vehicle. Frustated with our Chiplun commute and looking at the condition of the Gowalkot village, we skipped it and caught the highway.<\/p>\n The next stop was the Parshuram temple next to Savatsada waterfall. Nothing special here, so you can skip the temple and just stop near the gates of the temple. The NH17 curves in the shape of a “C” and from that point, you can enjoy the excellent view of the Vashishti river.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n