The Vaitarna Dam – built on the Vaitarna river – provides with a breathtaking view of the majestic Western Ghats & Supplies much of Mumbai's drinking water. It is the largest river in the Northern Konkan region Maharashtra's whole Palghar District !

September 11, 2020

Vaitaraṇa (वैतरण) is the Sanskrit name for Vetaraṇī: a river situated in Majjhimadesa (Middle Country) of ancient Bharat Varsh ( Hindustan ), as recorded in the Pāli Buddhist texts (detailing the geography of ancient India as it was known in to Early Buddhism).—The river Vetaraṇī is referred to in the Saṃyutta where it is stated to be the river Yama. The Buddhist tradition, therefore, seems to support the Brahmanical tradition of the Vaitaraṇī being the Yama’s river. In this river [Vetaraṇī] the hellish creatures suffer. It is the river Vaitaraṇī in Orissa and is mentioned in the Mahābhārata as being situated in Kāliṅga. Vetaraṇī is again identified with the river Dantura which rises near Nāsik and is in the north of Virar , Palghar ."

" The Vaitarana River is a river in Nashik and Palghar district of Maharashtra , Hindustan ( Bharat / India ) . Tanasa is its left bank tributary and Pinjal, Dehraja, Surya are its right bank tributaries. Upper stretches of Vaitarna are clean but in lower stretches it's polluted due to untreated industrial and civic waste. Vaitarna is one of the most polluted rivers in India.

It originates in Sahyadri mountain ranges near Trimbakeshwar. It has a confluence with the Tanasa just before it enters the Arabian Sea. Jhow and Wadhiv islands lie in its estuary. Arnala Island lies off its mouth. It has three major dams which supply water to Mumbai.

Vaitarna Dam supplies much of Mumbai's drinking water. It is the largest river in the Northern Konkan region Maharashtra's whole Palghar District. "

Vaitarna Dam, Maharashtra, Bharat

Vaitarna Dam, also called Modaksagar Dam, is a Gravity dams on Vaitarna river which supplies water to Palghar, Mumbai, but located in Palghar & Nashik district in the state of Maharashtra in India. It was opened in 1957.

At a distance of 30 km from Igatpuri and 43 km from Nashik, Vaitarna Dam or the Upper Vaitarna Dam is a manmade reservoir situated near Igatpuri, Maharashtra. It is one of the major dams in Maharashtra and among the popular places to visit as part of Igatpuri Packages.

Upper Vaitarna Dam is an earth fill and gravity dam constructed over Vaitarna River near Saturli village. The reservoir created by this dam spreads on both Vaitarna and Godavari rivers catchment area. The dam was built in 1973 and is the main source of water and electricity for several parts of Mumbai. The height of the dam above its lowest foundation is 41 m while the length is 2,531 m.

With Western Ghats in the background, the dam becomes a great picnic spot for the residents of nearby cities like Pune, Mumbai, and Nashik. A majestic lagoon with an enormous stretch of back waters, surrounded by undulating woods, provides this dam a panoramic view. The Vaitarna Dam attracts many photography and nature lovers.

Camping is perfect for travellers of all ages. Saturli Village is the best place for camping as it has a flat land along the water body and best for camping. One can easily take their car and motorcycles to this area. The best time to be here is during monsoon months as the rains accelerate the beauty of this spot turning it into a green carpet.

Another dam, the Middle Vaitarna Dam is to be built in the neighboring Palghar & Thane district on the same river; to supplement the water supply to the ever-growing needs of Mumbai and its Mumbai Metropolitan Region.