Krishna River Camp

After a stressful grind over a hectic week at work, a weekend getaway is the most sought after break from routine life by city dwellers. For souls seeking solace, solitude and serenity, Krishna River Camp is an ideal destination in the lap of nature to relax, rewind and rejuvenate.

Situated on the banks of Krishna River at village Malatpur, about 13 Kms from the town of Wai in Maharashtra, India, KRC as it is popularly known is the most sought after weekend destination. It is about 240 Kms from Mumbai, about 100 Kms from Pune and about 160 Kms from Kolhapur. The best way to reach KRC from Mumbai, Pune or Kolhapur is by road. From Mumbai drive down through the Mumbai Pune Expressway and ahead through NH4 passing through Katraj, Shirwal, Pargao Khandala up to Surur phata. If travelling from Pune drive on NH4 at Chandni Chowk and drive through Katraj, Shirwal, Pargao Khandala to Surur Phata. From Surur Phata, take a right turn to Wai. From Wai, take the road to Dhom Dam and drive 13 Kms to Malatpur village, about a kilometer before Malatpur stop at Babu Shinde school. KRC is to the right hand side on the banks of Krishna River. It takes about 5 Hrs. to reach KRC from Mumbai, about 2 Hrs. from Pune and about 3 Hrs. from Kolhapur.

Many private buses ply from Mumbai and Pune to the popular holiday destinations of Panchgani and Mahabaleshwar through Wai. From Wai, local taxi jeeps are the best means of transport to reach KRC. Neeta Travels and Konduskar Travels operate daily buses on this route to Mahabaleshwar. Even though, the best option to reach KRC is to take the bus operated by Mahalaxmi Travels which starts daily from Curry Road, Mumbai at 9 PM and reaches KRC at 5:30 AM next day. For bookings contact Mr. Sachin Vare or Mr. Sushant Pol (Mobile Nos. 9223357942, 8888101096).

KRC is a theme river camp for a bit of adventure, lots of fun and for relaxation. The camp has all the essential amenities like tent accommodation for family and couple, common western toilets and bathrooms with hot and cold running water and solar rural lighting. Every tent has a mattress, pillows, bed sheets and blankets for a comfortable sleep. Breakfast and Meals at KRC are home cooked in the village and are served in a buffet. Cooking your own barbeque in the evening is a key highlight of camping at KRC.

For souls seeking adventure, KRC has many activities to offer – River Rafting, Rifle Shooting, Angling, Archery, Campfire, Strawberry Farm visit, Bullock Cart or Tractor ride, trekking or jungle walk. Some activities are seasonal while some depend upon availability of resources. KRC also arranges local sightseeing at additional cost and upon prior request.

General Tips

KRC is a tent camp for nature lovers who wish to spend a weekend in the lap of nature. It is not a luxury hotel hence don’t expect star rated luxuries. The camp has essential amenities for a comfortable stay. There’s no room service or television sets, the camp has common dining area and common washrooms. Locals speak Marathi and Hindi. The camp has good cellular coverage.

There are many places to see around Krishna River Camp – The mini tableland at Balkawadi and the Balkawadi Dam, the boating pier, Dhom Dam, Narsimha Temple, Menavli ghat, temple of Dholya Ganpati at Wai and the ghats. Mahabaleshwar is 32 Kms uphill while Panchgani is about 24 Kms. The banks of Krishna River are popular for film shooting – couple of scenes of the Bollywood blockbuster movie ‘Chennai Express’ were filmed on the banks of Krishna river at Pasarni village. A panoramic view of Panchgani and Kates point of Mahabaleshwar along with surrounding mountains and forts can be seen from KRC.

The check-in time at KRC is 3 PM and checkout is 10 AM next day. KRC also makes arrangement for an extended stay at additional cost and on prior intimation. Typically after check-in, river rafting is the first activity to beat the afternoon heat. Evenings are free to try archery or rifle shooting or just to gaze at the setting sun. As the sun sets on the horizon, embers are torched to fire the barbeque. Dinner is served after a scrumptious veg. and non-veg. barbeque. The day ends with the melody of songs sung by vibrant guests around a campfire before retiring in the tents. Waking up after a dream free sleep on a lazy Sunday morning with a rejuvenated soul is an unforgettable experience.

Mornings at KRC are truly divine, the placid Krishna river, the rising sun, chirping of birds, crowing of roosters and the melody of temple bells all make a perfect setting for a blissful morning experience. For making a reservation at Krishna River Camp, contact Mr. Milan Wadkar – 9819833345 or write to him at milanwadkar@gmail.com