Uran, Navi Mumbai

Situated at the end of Navi Mumbai, Uran lies in the Konkan division between Panvel and Karjat. Primarily a tiny fishing and agriculture village, Uran has several beaches to its attribute- the most popular of which are Pirvad, Mankeshwar and ONGC. Surrounded by water bodies on three sides, the village is just attached to the land from the side of Raigarh district. Pirvad is the most frequented beach, with plenty of tourists visiting it every day, Mankeshwar is considered to be a religious beach owing to the grand temple of Lord Shiva situated at the seaside itself. Whereas ONGC is popular for housing the gas plant at the beach.

Uran is gradually developing into an urban city and is home to several industries and industrial plants like ONGC, JNPT, JTI, MSEB etc; the main occupation of the people is still fish farming.

Pandavkada Falls, Navi-mumbai

Pandavkada Falls is a 107 metres tall waterfall near Mumbai. It is a plunge type waterfall that flows through the mountains of the Western Ghats of Mumbai and cascades down with immense speed over rock formations underneath. It takes about 3 hours to reach the waterfall from Mumbai and barely an hour and a half from Navi Mumbai during low traffic situations. So, this attraction is quite preferred for a short trek or a day-long picnic, especially during the monsoon season when the mountains are covered with dense natural vegetation and provide for a beautiful escape from the routine. Reaching the waterfall during the rainy season is a thrill that calls amateur adventurers too.

Pandavkada Falls is also associated with the Pandavas and Mahabharata. Although it is not mentioned in the scripts, legend has it that the Pandavas had visited and bathed in this waterfall while travelling during their exile. Some people also believe that they reached the waterfall through a tunnel inside the mountain and lived somewhere nearby. So, the attraction has some mythological importance too. Some also believe the waters have become sacred ever since the Pandavas visited the waterfall. The place is also known as Pandavkada Ankit. At an entry fee of INR 50/- per head, this attraction becomes one of the best attractions to escape over a weekend. Having said that, it is recommended that visitors do not enter the waters as it could be dangerous.