Tapola, Panchgani, Maharashtra India

Tapola is a satellite village of Mahabaleshwar about 25 Kms down the valley. A rustic hamlet famed as the 'Mini Kashmir' Tapola is an ideal destination for a back to nature experience. Jungle treks from Tapola is very popular with trekkers. There are many unknown forts in the dense forest around the lake in Tapola like Vasota and Jaygad. Though one cannot reach the forts easily, still the view of these forts and forest nearby is magnificent in itself.

The primary attraction in Tapola is the Shivsagar Lake - a 90 km long water body infact the reservoir of the Koyna dam!! If you are a water sports enthusiast Tapola is the place to head to. Be it boating, water scooter rides, kayaking or swimming Tapola will certainly not make you feel confined.

There are many strawberry farms and nurseries of Gerberra around Tapola. Apart from the Shivsagar boat club and the seasonal waterfalls around there many options of sightseeing if you take to boating in Tapola lake. Bamnoli at the end of the Kas plateau on the shores of Shivsagar lake is a beautiful village by the lake. Ascend the ghats from Bamnoli and you are at the beautiful seasonal flower beds of Kas.