Nanemachi: Hidden Gem of Sahyadri

If you have trekked the Sahyadri for a while, you have heard the famous names - Rajmachi, Korigad, the Naneghat reverse waterfall. But tucked away in the Malshej Ghat belt, a few kilometres off the busy Mumbai-Nashik highway, sits a waterfall most travellers have never heard of: **Nanemachi**.

It is not on the standard monsoon itinerary, and that is exactly its charm. A relatively short walk through dense forest opens onto a **4-tier waterfall** dropping into a deep, emerald-green pool. On a quiet weekday the only sound is the water and the birds. If you are hunting for a hidden gem in the Sahyadri, this is it.

Where is Nanemachi?

Nanemachi waterfall lies near **Dhakti Wadi / Khireshwar**, in the Malshej Ghat region of the Western Ghats (Sahyadri), about 130-150 km from Mumbai and roughly 170 km from Pune. The trailhead begins from a small hamlet and cuts through thick woodland before reaching the falls.

It is often confused with Naneghat (the famous reverse-waterfall pass a short drive away), but Nanemachi is a separate, quieter spot - best thought of as Naneghat's lesser-known neighbour.

The trek: difficulty and distance

The Nanemachi walk is **easy to moderate** and around **3 km one way** (roughly 6 km return). The path is mostly flat forest trail with a few rocky, slippery sections near the waterfall, especially in monsoon when the ground is wet. A reasonably fit first-timer can do it comfortably in about 2-3 hours round trip.

Because of the muddy, leech-prone forest stretch during rains, wear **good trekking shoes with grip**, carry a spare set of clothes, and start early so you are back before dusk.

Best time to visit Nanemachi

The falls are at their dramatic best in **July to September** (peak monsoon), when the 4 tiers are in full flow and the surrounding forest is deepest green. If you want solitude, aim for a weekday - weekends and long weekends see small local crowds.

Avoid the height of the first downpour if you are nervous about leeches and slush; late August to early September usually balances good water flow with manageable trails.

How to reach from Mumbai & Pune

**From Mumbai:** Take the NH61 / Murbad-Malshej route via Kalyan - Murbad - Khireshwar/Dhakti Wadi. The drive is about 3.5-4 hours. **From Pune:** Head via Alephata - Malshej Ghat, roughly 4-4.5 hours depending on ghat traffic.

Local transport to the exact trailhead is limited, so a private vehicle or a guided batch is the practical way to go. The same Malshej belt also gives you the iconic Naneghat reverse waterfall trek if you want to combine two Sahyadri classics in one trip.

Why Nanemachi is worth the detour

Most Sahyadri waterfalls now arrive with Instagram queues. Nanemachi has stayed under the radar because the approach is unmarked and the trail is unglamorous until the final reveal. That makes the payoff - a multi-tier fall plunging into a still, green pool - feel genuinely discovered.

Pair it with a stay around Malshej Ghat (fireflies in pre-monsoon, flamingos at nearby Bhigwan in winter) and you have a complete offbeat weekend that most Mumbai and Pune travellers never think to book.

Plan your visit

Wild Rangers runs the guided Nanemachi Waterfall Trek from Mumbai with transport, local guides and a safe monsoon itinerary - ideal if you would rather skip the navigation guesswork and just enjoy the forest.

Whether you self-drive or join a batch, go mid-week, pack light, and leave the pool as clean as you found it. The reason Nanemachi is still a hidden gem is that not many people know about it - let's keep it that way.