Along the Khadakwasla backwaters route, is the climb to the Jarsheshwar temple, what I personally consider to be the best cycling climb in Pune.
| Length | 5.26km |
| Average Grade | 5.9% |
| Max Grade | 10.9% |
| Min Elevation | 682m |
| Max Elevation | 992m |
| Elevation Change | 310m |
| KOM | 28:16 / 11.2km/h |
Why do I believe this climb the best? Well, first, with a 6% gradient, and 5+ km length, it’s a decent challenge – it’s harder than Katraj, Dive or the Mutha ghats, but not as hard as Sinhagad or Lavasa. Next, this is a private road, so it’s in great condition, and there’s hardly any vehicular traffic at all. Finally, the views … as you ride up or down, most sections offer gorgeous views of the Khadakwasla lake, or the hills below, what more could you ask for!
Look at the video above for instructions on how to find this climb. I will share some quick tips though – with the lake on the left, the turn is 400m ahead of the Kalbhairavnath mandir in the Mandvi village, or 700m before the entrance to Splendour country – where you may have to go to get the permission to ride up. Do be courteous to the guards.
Enjoy a few photos of the descent:
For a recording of the entire descent, check this video:
