Varai Sativali Hot Water Springs on the Mumbai Ahmedabad Highway, Palghar district in Maharashtra

Wednesday, October 5, 2016

Varai Sativali is a hot water spring located off the Mumbai Ahmedabad Highway in the Palghar district of Maharashtra. Virar Railway station is located around 20 KM away.

Varai Sativali Hot Water Springs

Initially we were under the impression that the hot water springs are at Sativali, a industrial estate near Vasai. So after exploring Banganga near Nimboli Hot Water Springs, we headed over to Sativali. We asked a couple of rickshaw drivers, but they all told us that there are no hot water springs here. I was like, 'How can that be' as it is put up on internet. No directions on Google Maps. Finally some ray of hope. A rickshaw driver informed us that there is a place called 'Varai Sativali, beyond Virar on the Mumbai Ahmedabad Highway, there are hot water springs there'

We headed off the Mumbai Ahmedabad Highway, keeping an eye for any signboard in regards to the hot water springs, finally we did see a signboard. we took a left and the road led to the springs.

Varai Sativali Hot Water Springs

The hot water springs are located in the premises of Sri Shankar Mandir. There is a single pool for the ladies. Three pools for the men. The surface near the pool was hot as hell, we couldn't walk there on naked feet. So Manohar got some old newspapers so that we could sit near the pool premises and dip our legs in the water. Finally after some convincing by Manohar, I got into the water after rolling up my pants. The pool was thigh deep. The hot water was refreshing for my legs. I cleansed by legs, hands and face with the water. The temperature of water differed in all the pools. The first one being the hottest of  the lot. My skin color is  brown, but as soon as I got out of the water, it had turned red. You can now imagine how hot the water was.

Signboard to watchout for on the Mumbai Ahmedabad Highway

This place was the last on our itinerary of Hot Water Springs around the western suburbs of Mumbai. We saw Vajreshwari, Nimboli, Ganeshpuri and Banganga. But experience here was the best, as there was no crowd here. Not sure if it was the hot summer afternoon or if too many people don't know about this place. We then headed over to Mumbai.

I will be exploring Peshwa Kalin Stepwell at Badlapur and the hot water spring at Shahapur, in my next trip, so stay tuned. 

Banganga near Nandi Gaygotha near Nimboli Hot Water springs, Bhiwandi Taluka, Thane District in Maharashtra

Monday, October 3, 2016

Banganga Cold Water Spring is located near the villages of Nandi and Gaygotha which are a couple of KM away from Nimboli village near Nimboli Hot Water springs, Bhiwandi Taluka, Thane District in Maharashtra.

Banganga near Nandi Gaygotha villages

After visiting the Ganeshpuri Hot Water Spring, we headed over to Banganga. The roads are in very bad shape, it will surely test the suspension of your car and bike. Again car and bike is the only way of reaching it as there is no ST bus that ply on this road, but share rickshaw is available, reason I am saying this, is because I saw a share rickshaw. not sure of the origination or destination point of it.

After driving at a snail's speed, crossing the Nandi and Gaygotha village we finally saw a signboard on the left hand side of the road, leading to Banganga.

View of the waterbody along with the Banganga near Nandi Gaygotha

I have been to Banganga tank near Walkeshwar in Mumbai, though that experience was not good as the place had weird stink. But things have improvement there of lately, as confirmed by my friend.

Legend states that Banganga means, that a arrow was shot in the ground and water from the Ganga got accumulated there.

Signboard to watchout for

We finally reached Banganga. It is a well like structure. Though I could see bubbles in the water, the ladies washing clothes near it confirmed that the water is cold. It is a cold water spring. The ladies used the water to wash clothes. Meaning, water is not fit for consumption purposes. There is also a water body near the spring premises. cattle come here to bathe in the water. But I should say that the view is scenic here.

The villagers in Gaygotha informed that there is a hot water spring in the village of Pimplas in Wada and that this road led to it, but the road is in very bad shape and that it will take around 2 hours to reach. We the gave up on Pimplas and headed over to the Mumbai Ahmedabad Highway as we had to visit Varai Sativali Hot Water Springs.