AMBOLI, MAHARASHTRA

On the impossibly green road to Goa, just after Kudal,
but before Sawantwadi, there is a little left turn that
leads to one of the most splendid monsoon destinations
in western India. Amboli, a little village that comes alive
in this season due to its waterfalls and the translucent
mist that drifts in and out from the hills.
Even on the winding road up to the little wet village,
you'll find towering masts of dense forests. You can
also see three-tiered waterfalls tumbling down the
hillside. Sometimes, when the clouds droop lower than
the hills, it seems as if the waterfall has dropped from
the sky above.
The beauty of Amboli's waterworks is that most of them
burst into life only in the rains. And around the biggest,
sprout a clutch of dhabas and tea stalls. But there are
plenty hidden in the folds of the hills for you to hunt out
for your moment of peace. A word of caution though, the
rocks can be very slippery and the force of the water is
strong enough to sweep you off your feet. My advice
would be to go to Amboli early in the day because the
place is a popular one. And brace yourself for the sight
of men in undergarments of varying stages of elasticity
that have been called upon to serve as swimwear. Once
you've had your fill of bathing and shivering in the
cascading water you can start exploring the other
attractions.
There's the old ruin of Madhavgad Fort and a few
temples around the village. But if that isn't your scene,
just go beyond the village and spend some time in the
open fields. During the monsoons, a delicate network of
little streams runs through these. Cattle graze in the
fields; the villagers are quite friendly and up for a chat.

Getting there:
Amboli is 511km from the start of the Mumbai-Pune
Expressway. To get there, exit the expressway after the
first toll booth, cross the bridge over the expressway
and take the road to Parli that joins NH17 (the Goa road)
at Nagothane. Then head towards Goa and you can
break journey at Chiplun, 224km away. A good place to
stay here is the Quality Resorts Hotel Riverview Chiplun.