Amboli
Amboli is a hill station in south Maharashtra, India. At an altitude of 690 m, is the last hill station before the coastal highlands of Goa and a relatively unexplored.
Sahayadri Amboli Hills
lies in the West of India, one of the "Eco Hot-Spots" in the world and therefore abounds in a variety of unique flora and fauna. However, as in the other parts of the hills Sahaydri, dispossession of forest cover and unregulated government assisted "development" (read "hotels, resorts and highways") are gradually ruining once pristine environment.
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| Amboli Hill station |
Historically, Amboli village emerged as one of the staging posts along the road from Vengurla port to the city of Belgrano, which was widely used by the British to supply their garrisons in south and central India.
The hills of Amboli village provide one of the sources of the Krishna river (The "Ganges" of south India) and an ancient Shiva temple (called Hiranyakeshi) exists at the cave where the water emerges. The main attraction for tourists is the incredibly high rainfall (7 meters average per year!) And numerous waterfalls and mist during the monsoons. Legend says that there are 108 Shiva temples in and around Amboli of which only a dozen have been discovered as recently as 2005. Not many places to see and things to do but it is quiet, unpolluted and the local residents are very friendly and helpful.
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| Amboli water Fall |
Transport
Amboli is well connected by road with all the surrounding cities (Kolhapur 129 km, Belgaum 68 km, Panjim (Goa) 90 km) by road and the nearest airport is at Belgaum, about 1.5 hours by car. All roads are good and are expected to reach a new airport north of Goa shortly, reducing the travel time of just over an hour.
* How to reach from Mumbai: NH 17 to Savantwadi then 29 km to the east.
* How to reach from Pune, Kolhapur: NH 4 to Sankeshwar, then Gadhinglaj-Ajara-Amboli.
Accommodation
There are a few decent hotels (and relatively cheap) in Amboli. Some of them, Hotel Sailee, Whistling Woods, Silent Valley Resort and Hotel Shanti Darshan Shiv malhar. Most of them offer hot baths and have facilities such as restaurant, room service and Cab Services.
MTDC also have a good resort.
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| Amboli Maharastra Hill Station and Tracking Place In Maharashtra |
Local Transport
The only local transport are motorized three-wheeled rickshaws and a couple of private taxis. One can find parked near the main bus stop and are available without much haggling.
Tourist attractions
There are a total of 8 places listed in MTDC. If you do not have their own transportation, tricycle rickshaws are available. You need them for a day to see the sights and may depend on the legs to take the ones that interest you most.
Nearby Cities
Sawantwadi - 29 km
Kolhapur - 129 km main road Gadhinglaj-Sankeshwar
Sangli - 152 km through Gadhinglaj-Chikodi-Miraj
Belgaum - 68 km
Pernem - 58 km
Gadhinglaj - 55 km
Sankeshwar NH 4 - 70 km
Ajara-32 km
Chandgad - 29 km
Nearest railway stations
Sawantwadi Road Railway Station - 28 km
Kolhapur Station - 110 km
The Pernem Railway Station - 58 km
The Belgrano train station - 70 km
-140 Km Miraj Station
Tourists from Mumbai, Goa, Delhi and various trains of Konkan railway can reach Amboli Sawantwadi station. There are buses both from Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation and Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation plying frequently between Belgaum and Sawantwadi Via Amboli and charge Rs.24. Private Cars are available from Sawantwadi railway station Amboli. You can also reach Amboli from Sangli and Kolhapur stations by bus Nipani-Gadhinglaj-Ajara. This allows you to visit attractions such as the temple of Ganesh Temple of Sangli and Kolhapur Mahalaxmi Besides visiting Amboli.Belgaum useful is a railway station for tourists coming from Karnataka and other parts of the south.
Nearest Railway Junction
Miraj - 140 km
Tourists from Pune, Bangalore, Mysore, Hubli, Chennai, Hyderabad, Tirupati, etc. can reach Amboli from Miraj output. Private cars are available from Miraj railway station Amboli.