Photo spot in Lonavala
Bhushi Dam
Lonavala, Maharashtra
A stepped masonry dam where monsoon water cascades down stone tiers, drawing crowds to splash and sit in the flow.
Best time
Weekday morning in July or August, when the water is flowing over every step and the crowds have not arrived.
Best angle
Stand on dry ground at the side of the dam and take a wide photo across the full width of the steps with the water running down them.
Entry fee
Nominal
Opening hours
Daylight (best in monsoon)
Crowd level
High
Best outfit colors
Overview
Best time to visit Bhushi Dam
Weekday morning in July or August, when the water is flowing over every step and the crowds have not arrived. Crowds here are typically high. Arrive a little early to claim your angle and catch the softest light before the day tips over.
Poses & angles
Photo tips for Bhushi Dam
Stand on dry ground at the side of the dam and take a wide photo across the full width of the steps with the water running down them. Work a few of the pose ideas below, shoot wide for context and tight for detail, and give yourself a couple of extra minutes to get the frame right.
On the water steps
With the cascade behind
Outfit guide
What to wear at Bhushi Dam
For photos at Bhushi Dam, yellow, white and teal work beautifully — they stand out against the setting without fighting it. Pick one hero colour and keep the rest of the look calm so you stay the subject of the frame.
Best outfit colors for photos
Trending wear for this spot
Modern, camera-ready looks picked for Bhushi Dam.
Traditional wear for this spot
Timeless, cultural outfits worn across Lonavala.
Eat nearby
Food near Bhushi Dam
Round out the visit with something to eat. Look for lonavala chikki nearby.
Special dishes to try
Search food by craving
Good to know
Local tips
Stay off the steps and out of the water whenever a prohibitory order is in force, however calm it looks.
Come on a weekday morning, because on monsoon weekends the approach road jams for hours.
Wear sandals or shoes with deep rubber soles and a back strap, as the stones are covered in slippery algae.
Keep phones in a dry bag or pouch, since spray and rain soak everything within minutes.
Do not follow the stream uphill to the waterfalls above the dam in heavy rain; that is where the 2024 tragedy happened.
Leave before dusk, as police have cleared the area in the evening in past seasons.
Do not fly a drone here, because the naval base INS Shivaji is right next door.
A railway dam turned monsoon spectacle
Bhushi Dam is a stone masonry dam on the Indrayani river, a short drive south of Lonavala on the road towards the naval base INS Shivaji. It was built in the late 1860s for the Great Indian Peninsular Railway, to supply water for steam engines working the ghat, and Central Railway still owns it. For most of the year it is a plain wall with a quiet reservoir behind it.
What happens in the rains
Once the reservoir fills, usually from late June or July, water spills over the top and runs down a broad flight of stone steps. For years people came to sit on those steps in the flowing water, and on a monsoon Sunday thousands still arrive. The whole road fills with cars, corn stalls and umbrellas.
Safety comes first here
Bhushi has a long record of drownings. On 30 June 2024, a family picnicking by a waterfall on the hill above the dam was swept away when heavy rain upstream raised the stream within minutes; five people died, four of them children. Since then the Pune district administration has issued orders during the heavy-rain weeks banning entry into the water at Bhushi and other spots. Police have also, at times, stopped vehicles in the afternoon and cleared visitors before dark.
Take these rules at face value. The water can rise from rain falling kilometres away while it is dry where you stand.
Visiting
Come on a weekday morning for the fewest people. The site is used by day only. Outside the monsoon, the steps are dry, and you may prefer Lonavala Lake or Tiger's Leap.
Questions
Bhushi Dam — FAQ
What is the best time to visit Bhushi Dam?
Weekday morning in July or August, when the water is flowing over every step and the crowds have not arrived. Stand on dry ground at the side of the dam and take a wide photo across the full width of the steps with the water running down them.
Is there an entry fee at Bhushi Dam?
Entry to Bhushi Dam is nominal.
What are the opening hours of Bhushi Dam?
Bhushi Dam is open daylight (best in monsoon).
What should I wear at Bhushi Dam?
Yellow, white and teal photograph especially well here. Explore the trending and traditional outfit ideas on this page for full looks.
How crowded does Bhushi Dam get?
Crowd levels are typically high. To miss the busiest window: weekday morning in July or August, when the water is flowing over every step and the crowds have not arrived.
What food should I try near Bhushi Dam?
Try lonavala chikki at spots close by.
Can I go into the water at Bhushi Dam?
Not when the district's monsoon order is in force, which has covered most of the heavy-rain weeks since 2024. Even when it is lifted, rushing water on the steps is dangerous.
When does Bhushi Dam overflow?
Once the reservoir fills after the first heavy rain, usually from late June or July, and through August into September.
Who built Bhushi Dam?
The Great Indian Peninsular Railway built it in the late 1860s to supply water for its steam engines. It now belongs to Central Railway.
What happened at Bhushi Dam in 2024?
On 30 June 2024, five members of a family, including four children, were swept away by a sudden flood at a waterfall on the hill above the dam.