Hunting for another spot to ride on the weekend, I stumbled on Tansa lake or Tansa dam.

It is more of an offbeat place. Hardly anybody visits here. There is not much to see there. But some photos on the internet were quite interesting.

What’s then, pulled up my bike on Saturday at 5:30 AM in the morning and vroomed to Tansa.

The total distance of the ride was about 200 Kilometres.
It can be very easily done in 1 day or can be stretched to two days if night camping is planned.

Mumbaikars, here is how you can reach Tansa lake

Route 1 – Via Vajreshwari Road
Get on to NH8. From NH8 take a right turn for Vajreshwari. Better ask someone on the highway after Vasai.

When the Vajreshwari road ends take a left turn from Zidke towards Ambadi. This brings you on SH 35.

Now from here, there are two options. One, get onto Dinkarpada-Kondhale road and finally take the right turn from Kambare. Tansa is straight in front of your eyes after some kilometres 🙂

But I strongly suggest you not to take the Dinkarpada-Kondhale route. I almost flew between the yellow dust cloud for 3 KM before making a U-turn.

So, instead of taking the right turn from Kambare go straight and take the turn from Shirish Pada. Ride straight to Tansa.

Route 2 –  Via NH3

The simple one, it’s more of enjoying the destination rather than the journey.

Ride up to Atgaon on NH3. Take the left turn from Highway to cross the rail underpass, take the right and ride straight to Tansa.

I love riding along the river. And this is the reason I kicked off Anaadi River Project

So, starting from Bhayandar, I climbed the Vasai creek bridge and rode straight on NH8 till the Vajreshwari turn. Now from here, Tansa river flows almost parallel to the two-lane Vajreshwari Road.

In other words, we were chasing the source of the river.

Tansa river arises from Tansa lake which is one of the biggest lakes from which Mumbai quenches its thirst. The ride was smooth amidst the cold morning breeze and negligible traffic.

Reached Tansa reservoir or filtration plant around 9 am. Parked my bike outside the gate.

Security seemed beefed up. Crossed the gate and asked one of the guards with the machine gun ‘Can we have a look at the reservoir?’ He asked ‘Do you have government employee card or defence card?’ Nope, we said.

‘We are sorry! We cannot let you in’. We tried convincing him but he didn’t agree. While we were leaving he said ‘It could have been possible for him to let us go.

But since the arrival of the Modi government, everything has become strict and CCTVs are monitored very closely. You people know how sensitive this place is. Whole Mumbai drinks from it.’

Though it was disappointing on a personal level but I was happy about the change. The guard suggested a nice point close by.

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Read:  Ultimate weekend getaway for bikers from Mumbai

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That place was beautiful. The serenity of the lake was thought stopping.

I felt like writing poems. But my thought was already stopped 🙂

After 2 peaceful hours by the lakeside, we started our return journey.

Then certainly you would love this place.

We didn’t camp but there is enough flat grass to camp on.

Read my camping experience in Malshej ghat near the Harischandragadh base village Khireshwar wadi.

You can take your tents, do a campfire, cook food and spend the night talking to your friends.

Do comment if you liked the post. You can mail me your query on budgetyatri@gmail.com or in the comment thread below.