The Andharban trek is a refreshing trek in the beautiful Sahyadri region. Andharban comes from two words, ‘Andhar’ meaning ‘dark’ and ‘ban’ meaning ‘forest.’ The ‘dark forest’ is a trail taking trekkers through dense jungle with the captivating views of Devkund waterfalls keeping you company. Also, the trail has the view of Tamhini Ghat and the valley, mesmerizing in its own right. 

The Andharban trek is a descending trek with many waterfalls and small streams on the way. Start the trek at 2,160 ft in the Sahyadri mountains, descending into the valley and taking you to your final destination—the backwaters of Bhira Dam. The Andharban forest trek is also preferred by many trekking enthusiasts as a night trek. But first-timers should head here during the day only. 

The trek starts 200 m away from Pimpri village at Independence Point. With the visible trail, you will find trekking the long distance a memorable experience. Though the trek has few descents with flat walks too, the long distance can be tiring, so to complete the trek to Andharban, having good stamina and physical fitness is important. The jungle trek is 13 km long and takes approximately 6-7 hours to complete. The views of multiple flora and fauna, especially the colorful birds like Chaatak, minivets, or kingfishers, will keep you engaged. Start the trek early in the morning to come back to your base at a decent hour. For the Andharban night trek, the base is at Patnus, where you will have to pay INR 500 per person for accommodation and amenities. 

The best time to do Andharban trek is during the monsoon season. The valley is full of luscious green forest and walking through the fog will keep you amazed while you hear the small streams or witness the Kundalika valley’s beauty.