Kamshet

Kamshet is a hill town in the Western Ghats, set on the plateau between Mumbai and Pune, and the main paragliding centre of western India. Its flat-topped hills, gentle grassy launches and steady breezes off the Deccan plateau make it an unusually welcoming place to learn to fly.

Tandem paragliding is the mainstay, launched from ridges such as Shelar and Tower Hill and drifting over lakes, farmland and the stepped basalt hills of the Ghats. The forgiving terrain and moderate conditions make Kamshet a leading site for beginner courses and pilot training, though experienced flyers still find good thermal and ridge soaring. Because it is only a few hours from two big cities, it draws weekenders looking for an accessible taste of free flight rather than extreme cross-country.

The setting is classic Sahyadri country — reservoirs, the ancient rock-cut Buddhist caves at Bhaja and Karla, ridge-line forts, and villages that turn lush and green after the rains. It pairs an air-sport trip with easy hiking and heritage sightseeing.

The flying season runs after the monsoon, roughly October to May, when skies clear and the winds steady; the site closes during the heavy summer rains from June to September. The cooler months from November to February are the most comfortable, while spring warms up and strengthens the thermals. Mornings and late afternoons give the smoothest air for first-timers. Operators handle gear and transport from Pune or Lonavala, making a day trip straightforward.