Nighoj - One of mah's best kept secrets

I was looking for a Summer location that would "transform" in the Monsoons. This is summer stuff and in Monsoons, I just cant wait to see the havoc the water would play in here.

Nighoj is around 140 Kms from Pune and it is a small village. The river Ghod runs past it and creates Pot-Holes with the stones it carries. The Pot-Holes are said to be the largest in Asia.

Started at around 10 AM, yes late! No hope for Chincholi Morachi. Reached around 12 and the place was deserted except some marriage group who had come to the temple. Chincholi Morachi is a natural park or more like a open forest where one can see thousands of peacocks in their natural habitat. Best time to visit in monsoons as they come out in the open in that season, especially when it is cloudy.

Took from Swargate area (was a little lost inside Pune after Holkar bridge, missed the left as per Google Maps) SH 60 which was excellent. At a fork (around 70 Kms from Aundh, where I started from) took the left smaller road to Shirur. The right one would remain to be a 4 lane carriage way (SH 60) and would carry on to Ahamadnagar. The road deteriorates a little from here, but good.

At Shirur there is a huge poster for Chincholi Morachi, advertised as an agricultural tour location. After Shirur, the road remains the same. You cross a bridge and take the next (almost) hairpin left to Nighoj. this is where the fun starts. The road is at times rough and almost off-road level, at times it is pot-holed and when smooth, it has this undulating nature such that if you do around 60-70 KmPH, you will feel as if you are flying between troughs (crest to crest) at times .

As Nighoj village ends, the road turns right and on your left you will see a archway (kaman in local lingo). You turn right into the archway and take a immediate left, and continue for 3-4 KMs.

You will reach a flat land and see a temple at the end. The river flows through a gorge here so you get no idea that you have reached. Take your car/ bike past a small lone shop (tapri) till the smaller temple and park. walk about 50 Mts and you get the first glimpse of the wonderful Potholes.

Be careful, the flat space you walk on is actually a river bed (though in summer the river flows about 50 Mts below through the gorge). It looks simple and easy to the eye, but you have to be careful to keep your balance.

Food: there is a hotel Nisarg a minutes walk from where you park, you will pass it while coming in. And also a few more on the way between Noghoj and this place.

On the way back, I missed the right for Shirur from Nighoj and ended up straight on to NH 60. So missed Chincholi Morachi. Did not miss much I guess since it was 2 PM and the peacocks would be resting in shades. But this was a much better route. While going from Pune, One can ignore the form for Shirur and carry on on NH 60. BUT, to get the left cut to Nighoj would be very, very tricky. I am sorry I did not keep a record of actual Kilometers for the Toll booth as a marker. That would have helped. The next person going (any one incl. myself) please do that (Second toll booth to the Nighoj cut off). So for the ones who would like to give Shirur a miss it would be ideal.

Rest, I will let the pictures take over.