Pune: Online Booking Curbs Overcrowding at Mulshi’s Kundalika Valley and Andharban Trek
Mulshi, 18th August 2025: A newly introduced online booking system has helped the forest department successfully regulate crowds at Kundalika valley and the Andharban forest trek—two of Mulshi’s most sought-after monsoon destinations.
The system, launched just last week, capped entry at 1,000 tourists for Kundalika valley and 700 for the Andharban trek during the Independence Day long weekend. The move came after chaotic scenes in late June, when an estimated 6,000 visitors flocked to the two spots in just two days, forcing officials to temporarily shut access.
Both sites fall within the Sudhagad Wildlife Sanctuary and are accessible from Pimpri village in Mulshi. The Andharban route—often called the “dark forest trek”—and Kundalika valley are especially popular among trekkers and nature enthusiasts from Mumbai, Pune, and other parts of Maharashtra.
“Earlier, the crowds were unmanageable, but this time we were able to control the situation better,” said Range Forest Officer (RFO) Sagar Bhosale. “Those without online passes were turned back at the Pimpri entry point, while those who had registered could enjoy the scenery in a more peaceful manner.”
Bhosale added that the department also involved local villagers to guide trekkers along the Andharban route, ensuring safety at slippery stretches.
Tourists welcomed the change. “On earlier weekends, it felt like a stampede. There were hardly enough staff to handle the rush. This time, the experience was far smoother,” said one visitor.
Meanwhile, the Independence Day weekend once again highlighted the stress that holiday traffic places on hill stations and highways. Police reported heavy jams at Lonavala, Bhimashankar, and other tourist hotspots, with vehicles lined up on the expressway as thousands from Mumbai and Pune took advantage of the three-day break.
