By Girish Chhalwani, Co-Founder, Lords of the Lands · 7 min read · Last updated 2 October 2026

A practical guide to the Unhere hot springs near Pali in 2026 – the warm, sulphur-rich rock-cut pools below Sarasgad fort, how to find them, and what to know before you go.

What are the Unhere hot springs near Pali?

The Unhere hot springs, also spelt Uddhar, are natural warm mineral springs near Pali in Sudhagad taluka, Raigad. The water is sulphur-rich and collects in rock-cut bathing pools, and the site sits in open countryside below Sarasgad fort.

Maharashtra has a scatter of natural hot water springs along the Konkan belt, and Unhere is the one that travellers linked to Pali ask about most. Locals also call it Uddhar. The water surfaces warm and carries a distinct sulphur smell, which is normal for thermal springs of this kind and is often why visitors seek them out. Rather than a built bathhouse, you get a cluster of rock-cut pools fed by the spring, set in a plain, green village landscape. It is an unhurried, low-key stop – the appeal is the warm water and the quiet, not facilities or spectacle.

Where exactly are the Unhere hot springs located?

The Unhere hot springs are in Pali, Sudhagad taluka of Raigad district, roughly 1 km from the Ballaleshwar Ganesh temple. Sarasgad fort overlooks the springs, so the pools, the temple and the fort all sit within a short distance of one another.

This clustering is what makes the springs worth building into a Pali day rather than a special trip. Pali town is best known for Ballaleshwar, one of the eight Ashtavinayak Ganpati temples, and the springs are only about a kilometre away. The hillfort of Sarasgad rises immediately beside the town and looks down over the countryside that holds the pools. If you are already in Pali for darshan or a trek, the springs are a natural add-on. Ask locally for the exact lane to the pools, as signage is limited and the final approach runs through village roads.

How do you reach the Unhere hot springs from Khopoli or Mumbai?

Reach the Unhere hot springs by first getting to Pali. From Khopoli it is about 35 km along the Khopoli-Pali road (State Highway 93); from Mumbai or Pune, drivers usually come via the Mumbai-Pune Expressway and the Khopoli exit, then on to Pali, with the springs about 1 km from the Ballaleshwar temple.

By car, the simplest route from the Mumbai or Pune side is the Expressway to the Khopoli exit, then State Highway 93 – the Khopoli-Pali road – which covers the roughly 35 km to Pali in about 40 minutes in normal traffic. By public transport, you can reach Khopoli by train on the Central Railway Karjat-Khopoli branch and then take a state transport bus toward Pali, continuing by a local shared vehicle. Once in Pali, the springs are a short hop from the temple. Confirm the final directions locally, since the pools are a village site without prominent highway signage.

Why do people visit the Unhere hot springs?

People visit the Unhere hot springs for the novelty of bathing in naturally warm, sulphur-rich water in a quiet rural setting, and because local tradition holds the water to be beneficial for the skin. It is best treated as a simple, free, offbeat stop rather than a therapeutic claim.

Natural hot springs are uncommon enough in this part of Maharashtra that the warm water itself is the draw. Visitors describe a calm, simple experience: a few rock-cut pools, village surroundings, and the ridge of Sarasgad above. Local belief attributes skin and general wellness benefits to the mineral content, which is a common tradition around sulphur springs – but that is folk reputation, not medical advice, and anyone with a health condition should check with a doctor before bathing in thermal or mineral water. Treat Unhere as a pleasant, low-cost curiosity on a Pali itinerary, not a spa.

When is the best time to visit, and is it safe to bathe?

The most comfortable time to visit the Unhere hot springs is the cooler, drier stretch from about November to February, when Pali is pleasant for the temple and the forts too. During and just after the monsoon, approach roads and rocks can be slippery, so take extra care around wet stone.

Winter is the easy all-rounder: mild weather suits the drive, a Sarasgad climb and a dip at the springs. The monsoon turns the surrounding Sahyadri countryside green and dramatic, but trails and the rocky edges of the pools get slippery, and streams can run high, so move slowly and watch children closely. Summers are warm, when a warm-water pool is less of a novelty. Whenever you go, step carefully on wet rock, do not dive or jump into shallow rock-cut pools, and keep an eye on little ones at the water’s edge.

What should you know before you go to Unhere?

Before visiting Unhere, remember it is a basic village site: carry your own water and essentials, do not use soap or detergent in the pools, dress modestly and respect the separate men’s and women’s sections, and leave no litter. There is usually no ticket, but facilities are minimal.

A short checklist makes the visit smoother and keeps the site in good shape for the next person.

• 1Keep the water clean. Do not use soap, shampoo or detergent, and do not wash clothes in the pools – the spring is shared and partly spiritual in character.
• 2Dress and behave modestly. Respect the separate enclosed sections for men and women and the village setting around them.
• 3Carry your own basics. Drinking water, a change of clothes, a towel and footwear with grip; do not expect shops or changing rooms on site.
• 4Mind your footing. Rock-cut edges are hard and can be slippery, especially in and after the rains.
• 5Leave no trace. Carry your litter back out; there is little or no waste collection here.

FAQ

Related reading

Plan your trip

• Ballaleshwar Ashtavinayak temple – the devotee-named Ganpati shrine at the heart of Pali.
• Sarasgad fort trek – the turban-shaped hillfort rising straight above the town.
• Sudhagad fort trek – the big plateau fort a short drive on, good for an overnight.
• Trekking near Khopoli-Pali – the wider trail list across the corridor.
• Fort-hopping itinerary – how to string the area’s forts into one trip.
• Amba river nature – the quiet Konkan river country around Pali.
• Hidden gems of Pali and Sudhagad – lesser-known stops beyond the main sights.
• The Ashtavinayak route via Pali – fitting Ballaleshwar into the eight-temple circuit.
• Things to do in Pali – the temple, forts and springs of the Pali side.
• Things to do in Khopoli – the busier, Expressway end of the road.
• Places to visit around Khopoli-Pali – the full corridor sightseeing map.
• Imagicaa theme park, Khopoli – the big family day out near the Expressway.
• Family days out in Khopoli – easy outings for all ages.
• Waterfalls near Khopoli – monsoon cascades within easy reach.

Getting there

• Mumbai to Khopoli-Pali – routes and drive times from the city.
• Pune to Khopoli-Pali – the Expressway approach from Pune.
• Khopoli to Pali drive times – how long each leg of SH-93 really takes.
• Khopoli-Pali to the Navi Mumbai airport – distance and time to NMIA.

Land & investment nearby

• The complete Khopoli-Pali road land guide – the SH-93 corridor, survey by survey.
• Buying land in Pali in 2026 – prices and checks on the Pali side.
• Land near Ballaleshwar and Sarasgad – plots around the temple town.
• A weekend home on the Khopoli-Pali road – building a second home here.
• Khopoli land in 2026 – the Expressway-end land market.
• Weekend villa plot costs on SH-93 – what a build-ready plot really runs to.

Sources

Unhere / Uddhar hot springs location, sulphur-rich water and rock-cut pools near the Pali Ganesh temple – public travel listings and heritage records for Raigad. Pali, Ballaleshwar Ashtavinayak, Sarasgad and Sudhagad, and the Khopoli-Pali road (SH-93) – as described in the Lords of the Lands corridor guide. Access, facilities and any entry arrangement change frequently and signage is limited – confirm locally before you travel. This guide is general travel information, not medical advice or an endorsement.