Mulshi Taluka is nestled in the Sahyadri mountain range. When Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj established Swarajya, many warriors from Mulshi Taluka actively participated. Veer Baji Pasalkar from Mose Valley was one of them, making significant contributions to the establishment of Swarajya. After Shivaji Maharaj cut off Shaista Khan’s fingers in Lal Mahal, he traveled through Mutha-Mose Valley with his companions. In this historic Mulshi Taluka, there are several forts. Many are familiar with Koraigad near Ambavane and Tikona Fort near Kashig, but Ghangad near Bhambarde-Ekolya, Durgeshwar of Tailbelya, Kailasgad of Vadustya, and Vishramgad in Mose Valley remain lesser-known.

Mulshi Taluka is home to temples linked to events from the Ramayana and Mahabharata. Almost every village has temples dedicated to Bhairavnath, Mahadev, and Hanuman, making village fairs a regular occurrence. These fairs feature traditional wrestling and Tamasha performances. Migrant workers return from Pune and Mumbai for a few days to participate in these festivals and pay homage to their village deities.

Mulshi is home to sacred temples such as Vinzai in Tamhini, Waghjai in Bhadas-Walen, Padmavati in Sheri, and Bhavanimata in Pirangut. Additionally, Mhasoba of Kharawade is considered the deity of Mulshi Taluka, receiving ‘B-Class’ status from the state government. Devotees from across the state visit to fulfill their vows. Famous Mahadev temples are found in Palase, Male, Bhalgudi, Paud, Javal, and Bhukum. Pirangut has a Peshwa-era Ganpati temple, while Vitthalwadi near Paud is known as the Pandharpur of Mulshi Taluka. Every Ekadashi, a walking pilgrimage takes place from Male to Vitthalwadi. The temples of Bapujibuva near Ghotawade and Man village, as well as the Ganorebaba monastery in Bhukum, are revered places of worship. The Satya Sai temple in Hadshi attracts both devotees and tourists. In Hinjewadi, an IT hub, a grand festival called Bagad takes place, with devotees walking to Barpe in Mulshi Dam to fetch the ritualistic staff. Despite modernization, Mulshi residents have preserved their traditions through their devotion.

Much of Mulshi Taluka lies close to the Konkan region, with its western side forming a natural Konkan escarpment. Due to this geography, the area receives heavy rainfall, reaching up to 10,000 mm annually. This has led to the construction of several dams. Before independence, the Tata Company built a dam at Male village at the confluence of the Mula and Neela rivers. This remains the largest dam in the taluka, submerging 52 villages. Some of these villages were relocated to nearby hills, while others, like Aksai, vanished entirely. Even today, the displaced residents of Mulshi Dam have not received official recognition as displaced persons by the government. Unlike other dam-affected communities, Mulshi residents have not been granted the benefits they deserve. The Tata-built dam supports a hydroelectric project in Bhira, Raigad district, and is also crucial for the Mulshi Regional Water Supply Scheme.

Further south, on the Mutha River between the mountains, the Temghar Dam was built to supply water to Pune city.

South of Temghar Dam is the Warasgaon Dam, also built for Pune’s water supply. This dam supplies water to Daund, Haveli, Indapur, and Purandar, forming the main reservoir of the Khadakwasla project. A significant portion of this dam lies in the Mose Valley of Mulshi Taluka. Today, the Lavasa hill station has emerged around this dam. A smaller dam also exists near Kasarsai village.

In addition to these major dams, irrigation barrages have been constructed at Sheri, Belawade, Urwade, Maranewadi, Rihe, Walen, and Hadshi.

These barrages and dams have brought agricultural prosperity to the taluka, but there is still a need for more irrigation projects. Many valleys, such as Khechare-Mandede and villages around dams, still rely solely on rain-fed agriculture. Further expansion of irrigation through barrages, canals, or lift irrigation schemes is necessary.

Mulshi Taluka played a crucial role in India’s freedom struggle. The Mulshi Satyagraha remains a distinguished chapter in the nation’s history. The Tata Company, with the support of the British government, started constructing the Mulshi Dam without consulting local farmers. The farmers neither received fair compensation nor proper rehabilitation. In response, they organized protests with the help of Pune-based journalist Vinayakrao Bhuskute. Later, revolutionary leader Pandurang Mahadev Bapat, also known as Senapati Bapat, took charge of the movement. Initially following non-violent resistance, he later introduced revolutionary tactics. The movement saw railway tracks uprooted at Sheri and Paud.

Several brave individuals played vital roles in the Mulshi Satyagraha, including Tukaram Genu Halande and Savala Vitthal Halande from Palase, Devaram Pandurang Deshmukh from Sheri, Madhav Purushottam Potnis from Urwade, Vishwanath Narhar Barve from Man, Pandharinath Ramchandra Ganavare from Pirangut, Bhimram Tukaram Sable from Bhadvali, and Chintaman Narayan Deshpande from Padalghar. Many unknown revolutionaries also contributed, including a shepherd from Tamhini. Unfortunately, history has not recorded their names. In their honor, a memorial pillar stands in Paud, and a Senapati Bapat memorial has been erected in Male.

Mulshi taluka was once known as a backward taluka in Pune district. Today, this identity has changed. Some social organizations have played a role in the development of the taluka. Kenjale Sir started a school for mentally challenged children in Pirangut. Similarly, the Sadhana Village organization in Kolwan Valley is also working for the mentally challenged. Every year, Anna Bharekar Mitra Parivar organizes a mass wedding ceremony in Kharawade. So far, more than five hundred weddings have taken place, making over a thousand families happy. In a way, Anna Bharekar has established a mass wedding movement in the taluka. Inspired by this, one of the event’s volunteers, Tatyasaheb Devkar, has also started organizing mass weddings in Ghotawade village. Youths from Mulshi, Anil Pawar, and Mahesh Malusare have established the Sahyadri Garjana organization for fort conservation. Through this, they have conducted fort exploration and fort cleaning initiatives. Organizations like Shivaji Trails have renovated forts like Ghangad and Tikona in the taluka. Vijayatai Lavate has started the Manavya school for AIDS-affected children near Bhukum.

Mulshi taluka was once an educationally backward taluka. Despite being adjacent to Pune, known as the educational hub, the taluka remained deprived of education. However, in recent years, various educational opportunities have emerged in the taluka.

Anil Vyas, through the Sarvangin Gramin Vikas organization, has established free hostels for tribal and other children in Male and Shileshwar and a school in Asde. Similarly, the Sahyadri Shikshan Sanstha has set up a school in Tamhini. The Mulshi Dam Division Education Board has opened schools in Male, Khechare, and Vandre. The Koraigad Education Society has started a school in Ambavne. Pune District Education Board has established schools in Shere, Pode, Ghotawade, Kolwan, Pirangut, and Mutha. This organization has also started a senior college in Pirangut, along with junior colleges in Paud and Pirangut. Through the Mamasahib Mohol Sports Foundation, schools are operating in Pomgaon, Urwade, Bhugaon, and Rihe. They have also set up an ITI and MBA college in Pirangut, along with a D.Ed college.

Mahindra United World College was established near Khubvali Hill about 15 years ago. Adjacent to it, an international school named Riverdale has started on the Rawade village hills. Lavasa Corporation has set up an international-standard school for children in the valley. English medium schools have also been established in Pirangut, Paud, Lavale, Sus, and Bhugaon. In Bhugaon, a school of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s organization and a nearby Sanskriti Vidyalaya exist. Overall, the education sector in the taluka is flourishing.

The western part of Mulshi taluka consists of remote hills, while the eastern part, though hilly, receives less rainfall. As a result, farmers in the western region, including Mulshi Dam area, Mutha, Male, Mose, Rihe, and Kolwan Valley, primarily cultivate rice. In the Mose and Mulshi Dam areas, only rice is grown. Indrayani and Ambemohar rice from this region are in high demand. Tribal and shepherd farmers in the hilly areas cultivate ragi and vari crops. Farmers in Mutha, Male, Rihe, and Kolwan Valley have also started sugarcane production alongside rice. In the Khechare-Mandede Valley, due to a lack of perennial water sources, only rice is grown. However, farmers in this area benefit from mango orchards planted along the farm borders. Farmers in Pirangut, Ghotawade, and Lavale areas focus on vegetable farming, with Lavale being particularly famous for its large-scale vegetable production, giving rise to the saying, “One Lavale and Twelve Maval.” Farmers in Nande have started growing lawns. Through the efforts of Dnyaneshwar Bodke, an agro-idol of Mulshi, polyhouses have been established at various locations in the taluka, enabling modern floriculture.

A tributary of the Bhima River, approximately 128 km long, located in Pune district, Maharashtra. The combined flow of the Mula and Mutha rivers, originating in the western part of the district, is popularly known as Mula-Mutha or simply Mula from Pune city onwards. This east-flowing river merges with the Bhima River at Ranjangaon Sandas, about 27 km northwest of Daund.

The northern Mula River originates from around 13 to 15 km south of Bor Ghat in the Sahyadri range, formed by approximately seven streams. These streams converge near Lavale village, about 8 km east of Paud. The valley formed by this river in the Paud region is known as the Paud Valley. From Lavale, the river takes many turns before flowing southwards at Kharas near Pune city, where it meets the Mutha River from the south. The Pavana River is its major left tributary. Near its origin in Mulshi taluka, the Tata Power Company has built a dam at the confluence of the Neela and Mula rivers near Mulshi village. Water from this dam is transported through a 4.8 km long tunnel to the Bhira hydroelectric power station in Raigad district. This dam project led to a protest by the dam-affected residents of the Mulshi area from 1921-24, led by Senapati Bapat.

The Mutha River originates in the western part of Pune district in the Sahyadri range at an altitude of about 912 meters above sea level and flows northeast. Its primary headwaters are the Ambi and Mose streams. The Panshet Dam is built on its source stream. In its initial stretch, the river has created a narrow valley on steep mountain slopes, known as the Mutha Valley. Much of its course is covered by reservoir waters. After the Khadakwasla Dam, it flows past Parvati Hill and into Pune city, where it joins the Mula River in the city center. The Khadakwasla Dam supplies water to Pune city and agricultural fields in the district through canal systems.

After flowing east from Pune city, the Mula-Mutha River takes a major bend between Manjari Budruk and Theur and continues winding eastward before merging with the Bhima River at Ranjangaon Sandas on the eastern border of Daund taluka. The riverbanks host important industrial, historical, and religious sites, including Pune, Manjari, and Theur.