Koyna Nagar

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Koyna Nagar is a town in Maharashtra, India. It is situated on the Chiplun-Karad state on the banks of the Koyna River. The town is a small one but is the location for the Koyna Dam, the largest hydroelectric project in Maharashtra. It is a sleepy town without any flashy hotels and a tiny bus stop serves as its town-centre. An earthquake in 1962 flattened the city.

Koyna Nagar is nestled in the Western Ghats and hence has a tolerable climate for most of the year. It is situated at about 600 m above sea level. The best time to visit is September when the weather is cool due to the monsoons and the hills are bathed in a verdant colour.

The Nehru Gardens, the Botanical Gardens and Kumbarli Ghat viewpoint are the most popular destinations in the vicinity. Although a sparsely populated town, hordes of picnickers mostly from Pune, come to this area during the monsoon season. Cold waterfalls, rolling green hills with misty tops, foggy corners are seen in the Kumbarli Ghat which is a mountain pass.

The Nehru Gardens is a landscaped garden which overlooks the Koyna Dam is two kilometres away from the town. The gardens are well maintained, though an eatery is absent and important signage about the dam is all in Marathi. However the park overlooks some stunning scenery, with the massive teal-coloured reservoir that is dammed up. The entrance fee is a nominal fee at Rs 5 per head, and Rs 35 for a busload. The Botanical gardens is situated five kilometres from Nehru Park. It contains rare species of plants, some of which are used for its medicinal properties and in research. All the plants are native to the Western Ghats.

See photofeature [1] of a Koyna expedition