We had been dreaming about it for weeks. Hadshi Lake camping was finally happening. And nothing about it went the way we planned. Not the tent pitching, not the neighbors, not the pre-dawn chill. And yet, it turned out to be one of the most joyful, chaotic, beautiful adventures we’ve had as families. This is that story—honest, unfiltered, and completely worth reading before you plan yours.
Why We Chose Hadshi Lake Camping
Like most people who fall down the YouTube rabbit hole of camping videos, we were hooked. The crackling bonfires, the starlit skies, and the simple pleasure of cooking in the open. It all looked magical. We had been talking about it for so long that at some point, talking wasn’t enough. We had to just do it.
Now, neither of us were complete strangers to camping. I had done some basic camping earlier. But this time we wanted something a step up—not full glamping with a resort doing everything for us, but not roughing it in sleeping bags on bare ground either. We wanted that sweet spot right in the middle.
We also didn’t want to travel too far for our first attempt. Hadshi Lake ticks that box perfectly. It sits about 45 km from Pune and 120 km from Mumbai, roughly an hour’s drive, and sits right below the iconic Tikona Fort in the Mulshi region. Close enough to not feel like an expedition. Far enough to feel like a true escape.
The Decathlon Run That Started It All
Before we even booked anything, we went shopping. And oh, did we shop.
We picked up a large 6-person tent from Decathlon—the kind with a separate bedroom compartment. It felt enormous in the store. (Spoiler: it felt even more enormous when we tried to pitch it in the wind.) We added inflatable sleeping mattresses, a folding cooking table, folding chairs, a butane gas stove, and just about every essential we could think of.
Two families, two cars, and a boot full of camping gear. We were officially ready. Or so we thought.
This kind of personal camping—where you bring your own gear—is becoming increasingly popular across India. The country’s camping equipment market was valued at USD 892 million in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 2,027 million by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 14.66%. We were clearly not the only ones bitten by the camping bug.
Getting There: The First Surprise of Hadshi Lake Camping
We set off in two cars, two families buzzing with excitement, snacks in hand, playlist on. The drive through the Mulshi region is genuinely beautiful—winding roads, green hills, and the occasional glimpse of water through the trees.
And then we arrived.
Here’s what the Instagram reels don’t show you: Most of the lakeside at Hadshi is taken up by resorts, big and small. We drove around looking for an open spot to pitch our tent and found nothing. The prime lake-facing land was all private property. We were in a bit of a fix, standing there with two cars full of camping gear and no idea where to go.
This is where being friendly and resourceful saves the day. We started inquiring at nearby farm stays, and one of the owners very generously allowed us to camp next to their property. We drove down a small off-road stretch and found a lovely flat patch of land, close to the water, sheltered just enough to be ideal.
It was around 4 pm. The sun was still warm, but the breeze off the lake was cool and pleasant. The view of Tikona Fort rising behind us was already worth the drive.
Lesson for first-timers: Don’t assume you’ll find a free open spot at Hadshi. The lake area is largely resort-occupied. Go with a plan B—or better yet, call ahead and arrange permission from a nearby farmstay or property owner.
The Great Tent Pitching Battle
Let me be honest with you. Pitching a large tent for the first time, in a breeze, with two families fumbling through instruction sheets—is a comedy show nobody warned us about.
Small tents are forgiving. You can figure them out in minutes. A 6-person tent with a bedroom compartment and multiple poles? That is a whole different story. Every time we got one side up, the wind would catch it, and we’d lose ground on the other. Poles going in the wrong slots. Fabric flapping wildly. At least three “wait, which way does this go?” conversations happening simultaneously.
We struggled. We laughed. And we struggled some more. But eventually, the tent stood tall, proud, and honestly quite majestic against the backdrop of the Sahyadri hills and Tikona Fort.
The satisfaction of finally seeing it stand upright is a feeling I genuinely cannot describe. You have to experience it.
Chai with Feet in the Water—The Moment That Made Everything Worth It
Once the tent was up and we had set up our little outdoor kitchen, someone put on the stove and made chai. We poured it into glasses, grabbed our folding stools, walked over to the water, and sat there—feet dipped in the cool lake, warm chai in hand, and Tikona Fort watching over us in the golden afternoon light.
That moment. That exact moment.
It was so simple. No phone needed. No filter required. Just two families, a cup of tea, cool water lapping at our feet, and a deep, quiet feeling of—this is it. This is the good life.
I’ve had chai in a lot of places. That cup at the edge of Hadshi Lake is in my top three. Easily.
Dinner Under the Open Sky
We cooked a proper meal that evening. Not sandwiches or instant noodles—an actual lavish dinner. Aloo puri, shrikhand, salad, and pulav. All made on our little butane gas stove, on a folding table, with the lake shimmering beside us.
We ate to our hearts’ full. Stars coming out slowly above. The sound of water. The distant silhouette of the fort. It felt ridiculous how good it all was.
If you’re planning a Hadshi Lake camping trip, do not underestimate the joy of cooking a proper meal outdoors. The effort is part of the magic.
The Night Chill Nobody Warns You About
We were comfortable heading into the night. Sleeping mattresses inflated, tent zipped up, lights out.
And then the temperature dropped.
Hadshi Lake sits in the Mulshi region, surrounded by the Sahyadri range, and at night—especially outside the summer months—it gets genuinely chilly. We weren’t fully prepared for how quickly the warmth disappeared once the sun was long gone. Pack warm layers. Seriously. A light blanket is not enough.
Before Dawn: The Moment We’ll Never Forget
We woke up before sunrise. And stepping out of the tent in that pre-dawn quiet might have been the single best moment of the entire trip.
The world was still. The lake was a mirror, shimmering faintly with moonlight. And right behind our tent, rising out of the darkness, was Tikona Fort in full, dramatic glory—all 3,500 feet of it, the triangular silhouette of one of Maharashtra’s most storied Maratha hill forts. The fort, also known as Vitandgad, has history going back to Shivaji Maharaj’s era and served as a strategic watchtower over the entire Pawana Mawal region.
We made chai—again—sat outside, and just soaked it all in. Nobody spoke much. We didn’t need to.
Breakfast, Pakodas, and Curious Onlookers
Breakfast was a communal affair and an absolute delight. We made butter onion Maggi and a full mix pakoda platter—paneer, aloo, pyaaz, mirchi—everything sizzling away on the stove while the morning fog lifted off the water.
And then we had company.
People from around the area started drifting over. Curious onlookers, genuinely intrigued by our setup—the big tent, the folding furniture, the full outdoor kitchen, two families clearly having way too much fun. Some came over just to look, some to chat. It felt warm and community-like.
The only slightly tense moment came from staff at a neighboring resort, who questioned whether we had permission to be there. They were polite but firm—private property, who said you could camp here? We had the answer ready: the farmstay owner had given us permission. A quick clarification sorted it. No drama, just a reminder to always secure permission before you pitch.
What the Numbers Say About Camping in India
Our small trip is part of a much larger story. There is a real camping boom in India. In 2023, the number of domestic tourists who came to the country rose from 1,731 million the year before to 2,509 million. More and more individuals are choosing immersive, hands-on outdoor activities over resort packages.
The global market for camping and caravanning is expected to expand from $40.92 billion in 2026 to $68.17 billion by 2036. Camping is no longer only a niche hobby in India; it’s becoming more popular. And places like Hadshi Lake, which are lovely and easy to get to, are in the front of that charge.
Practical Tips for Your First Hadshi Lake Camping Trip
If our experience taught us anything, here’s what you need to know before you go:
- Book a spot in advance. Don’t arrive and expect open lakeside land—it’s mostly occupied. Contact a nearby farm stay or operator ahead of time.
- Carry warm clothes. Evenings and nights get unexpectedly chilly, especially if you’re camping outside in summer.
- Bring a big tent. The space makes a huge difference, especially for families. Decathlon has good options across price ranges.
- Cook real food. The effort of making a proper meal outdoors is 10x more satisfying than you imagine.
- Wake up before sunrise. The pre-dawn ambience at Hadshi, with Tikona Fort rising behind the still lake, is unmissable.
- Inflatable mattresses are worth it. Don’t sleep on the ground thinking it’ll be fine. It won’t.
- Get permission in writing (or at least verbally, clearly) from any property owner before pitching.
We Left with a Promise
We packed up camp, loaded the cars, and drove back to Pune with that specific kind of exhaustion that only comes from doing something really worth doing.
Hadshi Lake camping was chaotic, imperfect, windy, chilly, and absolutely wonderful. The tent that nearly defeated us became our favorite memory. The chai with feet in the water became our benchmark for what a good moment feels like. And Tikona Fort at 5 am, silent and enormous against the moonlit sky, became the image we keep going back to.
We left with a promise to ourselves: this trip is just the beginning. There are more lakes, more hilltops, and more early mornings to explore. And we’re going to find every single one of them.
Life really is an endless vacation—if you’re willing to pitch the tent.