Ghats in Maharashtra - Mountain Passes

 A ghat is nothing but a mountain pass. The term “Ghat” describes the mountain pass in Maharashtra. They pave the way for passage from one place to another. 

Name of the mountain Passes in Maharashtra	Places that connect
Shirghat or Shirsat	Nashik - Jawhar
Fonda ghat	Sawantwadi - Kolhapur - Panaji
Chandanapuri ghat	Pune - Nashik
Rupatya ghat	Pune - Mahad
Sarsa	Sironcha - Chandrapur
Kashedi ghat	Mahad - Khed - Dapoli
Katraj ghat	Pune - Satara
Pasarni ghat	Panchgani (Satara) - Wai
Bhor ghat	Mumbai - Pune
Warandha ghat	Pune - Mahad
Malshej ghat	Mumbai - Nashik - Thane - Nagar
Tamhini ghat	Pune - Mangao
Radtondi ghat	Mahad - Mahabaleshwar
Thal ghat or Kasara ghat	Mumbai - Nashik
Hatlot ghat	Satara - Ratnagiri
Kelzar ghat	Satara - Ratnagiri
Fitzgerald ghat	Mahabaleshwar - Alibag
Karul ghat	Kolhapur - Rajapur (Kolhapur - Vijaydurg)
Kumbharli ghat	Satara - Ratnagiri (Chiplun - Karad)
Amba ghat	Kolhapur - Ratnagiri
Anuskura ghat (Used by Chhtrapati Shivaji Maharaj to enter into Tal Konkan and Rajapur)	Kolhapur - Rajapur
Autram ghat or Kannada ghat	Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar- Dule
Dive ghat	Pune - Baramati
Ambenali ghat	Mahabaleshwar - Poladpur (Raigad - Satara)
Ram ghat	Kolhapur - Sawantwadi
Gagandbawada ghat	Kolhapur - Kharepatan
Utter Tive ghat	Satatnagira - Rari
Nane ghat	Mumbai - Ahmednagar (Kalyan - Junnar)
Laling ghat	Nashik - Dhule
Hanumante ghat	Kolhapur - Kudal (Kolhapur - Kanakwali)
Kusur ghat	Pune - Panvel
Amboli ghat	Sawantwadi - Belgaum (Kolhapur - Sawantwadi)
Bhimashankar ghat	Panvel - Narayangaon (via Manchar) or Pune - Mahad

      

Here are few important Ghats:

Thal Ghat Mountain Pass (Kasara Ghat)

In the  Western Ghats ' Sahyadri range, this is a well-known mountain pass. This is also known as the Kasara ghat and is one of the important mountain passes in Maharashtra. Sometimes it is also called Thul Ghat. 

• This pass is situated in Kasara, Thane District of Maharashtra, and is on the route from Nashik to Mumbai.
• It is one of the four major routes, rail and road routes, leading into Mumbai. The railway line passing through this ghat is the steepest in India.

Bhor Ghat Mountain Pass

This pass connects the city of Mumbai to Pune via Khopoli. Bhor ghat mountain pass in Maharashtra is located near Khandala, one of the famous hill stations in the Sahyadri range.

• It is the easiest passage between Mumbai and Khopoli. This mountain pass in Maharashtra was an ancient trade route that was developed by the Satavahana dynasty to connect the ports of Choul, Revdanda, and Panvel on the Konkan coast and the surrounding areas of the Deccan plateau.
• One significant point to be noted is that this mountain pass in Maharashtra comes under the proposed Golden Quadrilateral Freight Corridors.
• It is located at the crest of the Western Ghats.
• It lies between Palasdari and Khandala by railway and between Khopoli and Khandala on the road route in Maharashtra. 

Amba Ghat Pass

It connects the Ratnagiri district to Kolhapur. This pass is located near Shahuwadi of Kolhapur district. 

• It has scenic mountains and a cheerful climate.
• This mountain pass in Maharashtra is famous for paragliding.
• Location: Sahyadri Mountains of the Western Ghats.

Malshej Ghat Pass

Malshej Ghat can be reached while travelling from Kalyan to Ahmednagar. This mountain pass in Maharashtra is located in the Sahyadri range of the Western ghats. The Malshej Ghat is well known for its wealth of wildlife, including various species of birds. Several different species of birds, including quails, rails, crakes, flamingos, and cuckoos, can be seen in this area.

Naneghat Pass

It is also called Nanaghat or Nana Ghat. This mountain pass in Maharashtra was part of an ancient trading route. There are various caves in this region, and major caves with Hindu Sanskrit inscriptions in Brahmi script. The term (नाणे ) nane in Marathi means 'coin', and ghat means 'pass'. This mountain pass was used as a tollbooth, like modern-day tollbooths, to collect tolls or a tax from the traders to cross the hills.

• This mountain pass is famous for its reverse waterfall.
• The Shivneri fort, which lies in Junnar, is the birthplace of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the founder of the Maratha empire is easily accessible from here.
• It also has historical significance as this mountain pass in Maharashtra was used for trade and commerce during the reign of Satvahans as toll was used to collect from the traders crossing this pass. 

Tamhini Ghat

The taluka of Mulshi and Tamhini, located in the Pune district, are connected by this mountain pass in Maharashtra.

• This place is famous for its scenic waterfalls and heavy greenery during monsoon periods.
• This mountain pass is located in the Sahyadri Range of Western Ghats in Maharashtra.

Amboli Ghat Pass

It connects the taluka of Sawantwadi of Maharashtra to the Belgaum of Karnataka. It is located in the Sindhudurg district in the south of Maharashtra. 

• Significant points to be noted for this mountain pass in Maharashtra are the number of waterfalls and dense hilly forests with rich wildlife.
• The famous Hiranyakeshi temple is located on this mountain pass only.
• It is located in the Sahyadri Range of Western Ghats in Maharashtra