Bhor Ghat, Reversing Station

Bhor Ghat or Bor Ghat, Bhore Ghaut, ^[1][2] is a mountain passage located between Karjat and Khandala in Maharashtra, India along the railway line and between Khopoli and Khandala for road Old Mumbai Pune Road and the Mumbai Pune Expressway.

Situated on the crest of the Western Ghat mountain ranges, Bhor Ghat is noted for its surroundings comprising scenic waterfalls, lakes and dense woods.

Rail

The Bhor railway ghat cuts a distance of 21 Km between Khandala and Karjat. There are 28 tunnels across the railway ghat. Trains travelling from Mumbai to South India (via Pune), Kolhapur, Pune, Solapur and Bhubaneshwar (via Pune) use this ghat. This ghat comes under the proposed Golden Quadrilateral Freight Corridors. The proposed Pune - Mumbai - Ahmedabad High-Speed Passenger Corridor pass through this ghat. There are 2 Passenger trains, nearly 30 Express/Mail trains travel across this ghat daily. There are many freight trains which travel across this ghat. This ghat is one of the busiest rail pass in the country.

Road

The Bhor road ghat cuts the Sahyadri range to join Khandala to Khopoli and handles traffic on the busiest root in India between Mumbai to Pune. One Bhor ghat is on the Old Mumbai Pune Road and second on Mumbai Pune Expressway. However a small portion of this has to be covered on Mumbai Pune Expressway. This ghat stretches almost 18 Km between Khandala to Khopoli. Along with passenger transport lot of goods transport is also done across this ghat.

History

The discovery of a route to make a motorable pass in Bor Ghat came after information was provided by a local Dhangar tribesman Shigroba. Out of rivalry for claim of an award announced by the British East India Company for the information, Shigroba was fatally pushed over a cliff at a point in the Ghat. A temple in the remembrance of the tribesman stands near the spot where he fell.

Later, Mountstuart Elphinstone and John Malcolm laid a railway line from Mumbai to Pune through Bhor Ghat, making it a rail route with 28 tunnels, old bridges and magnificent views. This Ghat opened Mumbai to the Deccan.

Ancient Trade Root

Bhor Ghat was an important trade route in the past and was one of the three main ghats (mountain passes) developed by the Satavahanas to move the goods from the merchant ships from Syria and Egypt to their capital Paithan. The ports of Karanja and Rajapuri were connected to the ghat.

References

1. ^ The Indian Empire By William Wilson Hunter, p. 36
2. ^ http://www.maharashtra.gov.in/english/gazetteer/KOLABA/gen_phy_features.html

Coordinates: 18°46′N 73°22′E / 18.767°N 73.367°E / 18.767; 73.367