Kasheli Dam

The Kasheli Dam (Kasheli Dharan) is the small village-scale earthen dam that holds back the seasonal stream flowing through the upper part of the village. It collects the monsoon runoff and provides Kasheli with year-round irrigation water for paddy, vegetable gardens and the orchards on the surrounding slopes.

The setting

The reservoir behind the dam is full and broad through the monsoon and early winter, with hills reflected in its still water on cool mornings.
The path along the bund makes a popular walking route — a quiet half-hour loop with views over both the reservoir and the village rooftops.
Local birdlife is abundant in the months after the rains; egrets, kingfishers and migratory ducks are commonly seen.

How to reach

The dam is in the upper part of Kasheli village, a short ride from the main settlement. Local guides can show the easiest approach; foot paths from the village reach the bund within ten to fifteen minutes.

Best visited from late August through January, when the reservoir is at its fullest.