Vaitarna Dam: Popular Tourist Attraction In Maharashtra

Vaitarna Dam

About:

Vaitarna Dam, also known as Modaksagar Dam, is an important water reservoir located on the Vaitarna River in the Nashik district of Maharashtra, India. It is one of the key sources of drinking water for Mumbai. The dam is known for its scenic surroundings, making it a popular destination for tourists looking for a peaceful retreat amidst nature. The Upper and Middle Vaitarna dams are part of the water management system that supplies water to Mumbai.

Upper Vaitarna Dam is a picturesque dam site, situated about 20 km from Khodala, in Thane District. Built across the Vaitarna River, it is the main source of water in Mumbai. A massive lake fringed with thick woods forms the prime attraction here.

Location info:

Address:20 km from Khodala

District: Thane District

Nearest City: Mumbai

Best time to visit: Any time

Climate/Weather:

Summer (March to June): Hot and dry, with temperatures ranging from 25°C to 35°C. Monsoon (July to September): The region receives heavy rainfall, making the area around the dam lush and green, which is the best time to visit. Winter (November to February): Cool and pleasant, with temperatures between 15°C and 28°C, making it a great time for outdoor activities and sightseeing.

History:

Vaitarna Dam was constructed in 1957 to address Mumbai’s growing water needs. Over the years, the dam has been expanded, with the Middle Vaitarna project completed in 2012 to further enhance water supply to the city. The dam’s construction was crucial for addressing the water demands of Mumbai’s rapidly growing population.

Interesting things to do:

Photographers can take lots of photos of the place in and around .

Interesting things to Visit:

Vaitarna Lake:
The reservoir created by the dam offers stunning views and opportunities for water activities like boating.

Madh Island
Madh island is a beautiful island off the coast of Juhu, in the picturesque rural area of Mumbai's northwestern coast. One has to take a ferry from the fishing village to reach the island. Just 30 minutes ride away from the suburbs, it is a quick and peaceful getaway from the maddening crowds of the city.

Marve beaches
The picturesque rural area of Mumbai's northwestern coast is dotted with tiny beaches. Marve village with its clean beaches and beautiful bungalows is a popular spot, close to the city. A little further away are the more popular beaches of Gorai and Manori in the respective villages.

Matheran Hill Resort (105 km)
Matheran is a fascinating hill-station close to Mumbai. It is an undulating hilltop cloaked in shady trees, that sprawls languidly at an altitude of 800 m.

Mobile range info:

Mobile network coverage around the dam is decent, with major service providers like Jio, Airtel, and Vodafone offering reliable connectivity. However, signal strength may drop in remote or forested areas near the dam.

How to reach?

Nearest Railway Station:Mumbai to thane district.

Nearest Airport:Mumbai International Airport

Road Transport:122km from Pune

Nearest Visiting places:

Mahalaxmi Temple
Gagangiri Maharaj Math
Jyotiba Temple
Rankala Lake
Ganga Bawada
Maharaja's Palace
Shahuji Chathrapati Museum
Irwin Agricultural Museum
Radhanagari Dam

Nearest Petrol Pump:

Hotels/Lodge/Accommodation:

Renaissance Hotel & Convention Centre
Ramee Guestline Hotel
Best Western The Emerald

Things to carry:

Comfortable walking shoes for trekking and exploring the area around the dam. Sunscreen, hats, and sunglasses to protect yourself from the sun during outdoor activities. Rain gear if visiting during the monsoon, as the region experiences heavy rainfall. Water bottles and snacks as facilities near the dam may be limited. Camera to capture the scenic beauty of the dam and surrounding hills.

Tips & Suggestions:

The best time to visit is during the monsoon and winter months (July to February) when the weather is pleasant, and the dam is full of water. Avoid visiting during the peak summer months, as the area can become hot and dry. Carry sufficient cash, as there may be limited ATMs or card payment facilities in nearby areas. If planning to participate in water sports or trekking, ensure you have appropriate gear and clothing.

Help Line/Phone Number:

Police Station:100

Nearest Hospital:At Thane and Nearest City.

Photo Gallery

Video Gallery

Dynamic View

Nearest Attraction

Tansa River

The Tansa River is a small river on Salsett island near Mumbai, and is one of Mumbai's water sources via Tansa Lake. It is embanked by one of the largest masonry dams in the world, built in 1892. The embankment is nearly 2 m. long, 118 ft. high, and 110 ft. thick at the base.....more

Thane Creek

Thane Creek is part of the estuary of the Ulhas River in western India opening into Bombay Harbour. It comprises the area stretching from Mumbra Retibunder to the Mankhurd-Vashi Bridge. It has been recognised as an Important Bird Area by the Bombay Natural History Society, as it is home to flamingoes and several other migratory and wading birds......more

Vaitarna River

Vaitarna is an important river in Thane District that flows across Shahapur, Wade and Palghar taluks. The tributaries of this river are Dahreja, Surya, and Tansa. A dam has been built on the river. Datiware Creek is near the mouth of the river......more

Vasai Creek

Vasai Creek is an estuarine creek, one of the two main distributaries of the Ulhas River in Maharashtra state of western India. The Ulhas splits at the northeast corner of Salsette Island into its two main distributaries, Vasai Creek and Thane Creek. Vasai Creek forms the northern boundary of Salsette Island, and empties west into the Arabian Sea; Thane creek empties southwards into Bombay Harbour.....more

Jawhar Hill Station

The district of Thane to the North East of Mumbai offers a unique hill station of Jawahar. A distance of 125 miles from Mumbai, the hill station is closer to Nahsik though. The area was a major tribal kingdom of Maharashtra. You can get the feel of the tribal life by visiting few protected tribal villages of the region and those with nimble fingers can learn a trade or two......more

Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary

.The sanctuary is located in the northern part of the Western Ghats. It is spread over three districts Pune, Thane and Raigad. There is a shrine in the forest with the Jyotirlinga, temple of Lord Shiva. Two major tributaries of river Krishna namely Bhima and Ghod originate from this area. The valley is a splendid combination of plant and animal life.....more

Sanjay Gandhi National Park

Known as the lungs of the city of Mumbai, the Sanjay Gandhi National Park is a respite to the hustle and bustle of city life. It is in fact the largest park to be build within city limits in the world. It is a tiny park enclosing an area of just over 104 square kilometers. Despite its small size, it has got the best varieties of trees, bird, mammals, herbs and insects. Stunning wildlife, fabulous flora and fauna, and supreme natural beauty make this place a mind blowing tourist destination......more

Tansa Wildlife Sanctuary

Tansa Wildlife Sanctuary is positioned in the Thane District of Maharashtra. This sanctuary spread on the sprawling land of 320 sq kms attracts a healthy footfall throughout the year. Tansa Wildlife Sanctuary consists of the catchment region of Tansa Lake in addition to the neighboring forests of Khardi, Vaitarna, Shahapur and East Wada Ranges in the Tehsil of Shahapur in Thane district......more

Baseein Beach

Bassein Beach is situated in Bassein, which is somewhere around 50 to 60 km from the Mumbai city of Maharashtra. The splendid beach has, infact, become one of the major attractions of the town today. The beautiful fusion of natural beauty with historical and religious significance that Bassein town offers could never ever get complete without the splendid beach, which has been attracting tourists from far and wide......more

Dahanu-Bodhi Beach

Situated in the Thane district of Maharashtra, Dahanu is a coastal town where Persian settlers and Chikoo orchards propound their distinct culture and natural beauty. Its beach marks the beginning of the popular beach stretch of Maharashtra. Near to the beach is 'Udwada' which is a sacred pilgrimage site for the Parsis. The nearby stretch of Bordi beach reflects the sleepy nature of the seaside village that is famous for its boarding schools.....more

Marine Drive-Chowpatty Beach

Marine Drive located in the central Mumbai, built in the 1920s and 1930s on land reclaimed from the sea, is Mumbai's most famous thoroughfare. It is also referred to as "Queen's Necklace" because of the dramatic line of street lamps lit up at night. Recently it has come to known as "Netaji Subhashchandra Bose Road" with Nariman Point on one end to Babulnath, at the foot of Walkeshwar on the other.....more

Dabhosa Waterfall

Dabhosa Waterfall is a seasonal fall in Thane District of Maharashtra. This 300 ft high waterfall is on Jawhar-Silvassa road, about 18 km from Jawhar. The fall is at its peak capacity during the rainy season. The entire depth of the fall can only be witnessed from a flat summit near the fall.Dabhosa Waterfall can be approached by trudging ones way through an uneven road from Dabhosa village.Overlooking the magnificent Dabhosa waterfall, it is the exotic campsite......more

Bassein Fort

The Bassein Fort is the Sea fort in Vasai Road, which is a suburb towards north of Mumbai. Vasai Road is the third last station on the western railway towards Virar. It falls in Thane District on the mainland just north of the Bombay archipelago. It was established by the Portuguese as the headquarters of their Indian operations in 1534 and centre of their operations until 1739. With this as the main base, they built other smaller forts such as the Castella de Aguada, and strong houses in many of the islands in what is now Pakistan.....more

Bhatsa Dam

The Bhatsa Dam is built on Bhatsa & Chorna rivers in Shahapur Taluka Of Thane District. Bhatsa Lake is one of the principal sources of water supply for Mumbai city. It is a multipurpose project, used for irrigation water supply & hydro electricity. Height of dam - 89 meters. Length - 959 meters. Submergence area - 3070 ha. Power gen capacity - 15 mW....more

Vaitarna Dam

Situated in a pictorial environment, Vaitarna Dam in the Vaitarna River offers the stunning scenery of the undulating stony peaks of the Western Ghats. Constructed in the early 50’s, this dam site commenced an era of concrete dams in India .A lovely lagoon with a vast extend of black waters, flanked by deep woods, makes this dam site a delight for the tourists......more

Ambarnath Akoli

Ambarnath is a small town located near Akoli in Thane district of Maharashtra. This town is on Mumbai-Pune railway line. Ambarnath houses a fascinating temple dedicated to Lord Shiva dating back to the 11th century. It is built in a peculiar form of architecture known as "Hemadpanti" style. An inscription on the north gate bears the date of construction, 1060 AD.....more

Balaji Temple Nerul

Balaji Temple at Nerul, Mumbai is the exact replica of Balaji Temple at Tirupati. This temple is built on the lines of Venkateshwara Temple at Tirupati and has been constructed according to the Shilpashastras. Others temples - Vidya Ganapati Temple, Shri Padmavati Devi Temple, Hanumana Temple, Vishvakasena Temple, Ramanuja Temple, and Lakshmi Nrisimha Temple surround the main temple.....more

Arnala

Arnala Fort is built on a small island of the port town of Arnala, located around 8 miles north of Vasai, Maharastra, India. Being an island fort, it is also called Jaldurg or Janjire-Arnala. The Portuguese, who owned this fort rebuilt and gave it the name Ilha das vocas.There is a large hexagonal fresh water reservoir inside the fort. Inside the fort are the temples of Ambakeshwar, Goddess Bhavani, Lord Shiva, and the tombs of Shahali and Hajjali.....more