At first glance, Barbizon, the tiny village located 60km southeast of Paris near Fontainebleau forest does not seem an obvious choice as an artistic centre. After all, this picturesque village to the southeast of Paris is more or less made up of a single street. Yet, between 1830 and 1875, over 60 artists flocked to what was then a modest woodcutters' village and the movement that grew up around them was later to be called the Barbizon school.

There are fine stone villages all around Fontainebleau Forest, but Barbizon will ever be associated with the school of painters for a simple reason: Along its one narrow Grande Rue were several inns that catered to starving artists. At the Auberge Ganne, run by Francois Ganne and his formidable wife, Edmée, and then at the nearby Hotel Siron, a painter could get a hearty dinner, dormitory bed and sack lunch to take into the woods for a paltry sum, and if he couldn't pay, credit was readily extended.

So, if you like to include, off-the beaten track places in your itinerary, make sure to visit Barbizon. To read more about the place and things to do, tips on reaching there, read our post in 'Destinations' section.

Bhandardara,home to Mount Kalsubai, the highest peak of the Sahyadri mountain range, is a holiday resort village on the western coast of India. Bhandardara sits by the Pravara River, and is a blend of verdant natural beauty, murmuring waterfalls, sky high mountains, tranquillity, greenery, invigorating air and pristine ambiance.  The vast expanse of the Bhandardara Lake and the roaring Radha falls.... if all this sounds exciting then you need to visit Bhandardara this monsoon.

Things to see and Do at Bhandardara:

Pride of Bhandardara is the Bhandardara lake, that was formed when the Wilson dam was built on Parvara River. The lake sits in midst of dense greenery and offers picture perfect scenery with hills encircling the lake. Bhandardara LakeSunset  is absolutely magical.
As the sun disappears behind the mountains, it creates an illusion of sparkling diamond and is a sight to behold. The most ideal place to watch the sunset would be Konkan Kada which is a bit away from the village of Bhandardara but the drive is definitely worth it.

Randha falls near Bhandardara is enchanting during monsoons. The water from the dam overflows into a deep gorge creating a spectacular sight. Not surprisingly, Randha falls have served as the backdrop for song and dance sequences in a number of silver screen blockbusters.

Treks:
For those who seek a bit of action, Bhandardara provides plenty of opportunity for small treks and hikes. The most interesting is the small trek to Ratangad fort. To reach Ratangad Fort, take the boat over the small lake near the village Ratanwadi (there is also a motorable road in case the boats do not operate). Ratanwadi is at the foothills of Ratangad. You can visit an ancient Shiva temple at Ratanwadi. Even those who do not plan to trek to Ratangad Fort can visit Ratanwadi for the scenic boat drive. That said, the climb to Ratangad is recommended as it is not very tiring. There is a small iron ladder that takes you almost to the top. Ratangad is an interesting fortress, situated at the edge of ghats with numerous water cisterns and caves. It also commands an excellent view all around and is said to be the favourite fort of Chatrapati Shivaji
Randha Falls, BhandardaraMore adventurous ones can plan a trek to Kalsubai Mountain. There is certain amount of thrill in climbing Maharashtra’s tallest peak. It is an interesting climb that can be accomplished in three to four hours. It is extremely enjoyable in the early part of the monsoon or at the fag end of the monsoons. During peak monsoon, it becomes a bit dangerous and slippery. To climb Mt. Kalsubai, reach a nearby village called Bari and hire a local villager as a guide.

Getting There:

By car from Mumbai (170 Kms) ,Drive down to Igatpuri on the Nashik highway and proceed straight to a village called Ghoti.  At Ghoti, turn right and proceed on the local road to reach Bhandardara. The drive experience from Ghoti to Bandardara during monsoons in itself is worth the trip as you get to admire different hues of green.

By Train: Alight at Igatpuri and hire a Jeep. Also, there are ST buses from Igatpuri that ply to Bhandardara.

In the summer months, Bhandardara gets back to being just another village waiting for the monsoons to come again so that it can transform itself like a Cinderella. In the monsoons, therefore, trip to Bhandardara is highly recommended both as a weekend getaway and also as the base for treks to nearby hills and mountains.