KV No.1 to KV No.2 Devlali | Scenic Drive Through Nashik Cantonment (AFS Area)
July 28, 2025 — ny_wk
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KV No.1 to KV No.2 Devlali | Scenic Drive Through Nashik Cantonment (AFS Area) — if you have never cruised through the immaculately maintained roads of Devlali Cantonment on a quiet morning, you are genuinely missing one of Maharashtra's most underrated hidden gems. This short but absolutely soul-refreshing drive between PM SHRI Kendriya Vidyalaya No.1 Devlali and PM SHRI Kendriya Vidyalaya No.2 (AFS) Devlali captures everything that makes India's military cantonments so achingly beautiful — green canopies overhead, wide clean roads, a sense of unhurried calm, and decades of history baked into every corner.
I am a weekend-warrior volleyball player based in Pune. Most Sundays, you will find me on a dusty court somewhere in Deccan or Kothrud, diving for digs and yelling at bad sets. But every now and then, I swap my knee pads for a helmet and saddle up for a drive to somewhere that recharges the soul. Nashik's Devlali Cantonment has become one of my absolute favourite escapes, and the moment I stumbled across this video from @explorenystream, every memory of that route flooded right back. Let me take you through it — properly, exhaustively, the way a place this good deserves.
Why Devlali Cantonment Deserves Far More Attention Than It Gets
Devlali Cantonment is not a newcomer on the Indian military map. It is one of the oldest cantonments in India, with roots stretching back to the British colonial era when the British Army recognised the elevated Deccan plateau terrain near Nashik as ideal for artillery training. The word "Devlali" itself has entered English slang — the British soldiers stationed here during the World Wars coined "doolally," a term for a kind of restless, heat-addled madness that some troops reportedly experienced while waiting at the Devlali transit camp before being shipped home. History, quite literally, lives in the air here.
Today, the cantonment wears that history lightly. What you actually see when you drive through is not crumbling barracks or dusty parade grounds — you see wide, tree-lined avenues, neatly painted kerb stones, well-maintained bungalows from the colonial period sitting comfortably alongside modern administrative structures, and an overall sense of civic discipline that most Indian cities would envy. The roads inside the cantonment are swept and clean in a way that makes you momentarily forget you are in the middle of a busy district like Nashik.
For those of us coming from Pune — roughly a two-and-a-half-hour drive depending on your route — Devlali feels like pressing a reset button. The moment you cross into the cantonment boundary, the noise drops, the air gets slightly cooler, and the trees close in overhead like a green tunnel. It is the kind of place that makes you slow down automatically, not because of speed limits (though those are enforced), but because your instincts tell you to savour it.
PM SHRI Kendriya Vidyalaya No.1 Devlali — The Starting Point of the Drive
The drive in this video begins at PM SHRI Kendriya Vidyalaya No.1 Devlali, and if you know anything about the Kendriya Vidyalaya network in India, you already understand that a KV school on a cantonment campus carries a particular weight of legacy and pride. KV No.1 Devlali was established in 1967, making it well over five decades old — which, in the context of school education in independent India, is genuinely venerable.
Located near Rest Camp Road, KV No.1 Devlali sits on a campus that reflects the orderliness of its cantonment surroundings. The school has built a reputation for academic excellence, a culture not uncommon among Kendriya Vidyalayas that serve defence families. Defence children — who move from posting to posting, city to city, every two or three years — rely on the KV system as a constant. Regardless of whether their parent is posted to Pathankot, Jodhpur, or Devlali, the KV curriculum, the familiar CBSE syllabus, the same school prayer, the same house colours — it is all a thread of continuity in an otherwise transient life. KV No.1 Devlali has been that thread for thousands of defence families since 1967.
The campus itself, as visible from the road in the video, is framed by mature trees that give it a cool, shaded quality even in the peak Nashik summer. There is something about the combination of whitewashed buildings, red-painted compound walls, and the gentle rustle of large-canopy trees that gives KV campuses in cantonment areas a character entirely their own — calmer and more collegiate-feeling than many urban schools.
For a volleyball player like me, any school campus with open grounds is instantly evaluated for court potential. KV No.1, with its spacious grounds, definitely makes the cut in my imagination. I can picture early-morning physical education sessions, the squeak of PT shoes on a marked court, the sharp crack of a well-timed spike. That is just how my brain works.
The Drive Itself — Reading the Landscape Between Two Schools
The route connecting KV No.1 and KV No.2 (AFS) Devlali passes through the interior of the Devlali Cantonment and skirts the boundaries of the Air Force Station (25 ED) area. This is where the drive earns its "scenic" label honestly, without any marketing exaggeration.
What you roll through on this route:
- Dense roadside greenery — the trees here are mature and full-canopied, many of them planted decades ago as part of the deliberate greening programmes that military cantonments have consistently maintained. Unlike municipal road plantings in Indian cities, which are often haphazard and undernourished, cantonment trees are actually cared for. You feel that difference immediately.
- Wide, well-maintained roads — cantonment roads are legendarily well-kept by Indian standards. The surface quality on this route is noticeably smoother than most state roads you encounter on the way to Nashik, which makes the drive comfortable even on a smaller motorcycle or scooter.
- Military infrastructure glimpses — without breaching any restricted zones or sensitive areas, the drive offers natural glimpses of the kind of ordered, purposeful infrastructure that defines Indian cantonment spaces. Painted boundary walls, neat signage, occasional security posts — all of it reminds you that this is a working, active military zone, not a heritage museum.
- The Air Force Station (25 ED) vicinity — driving near an Air Force Station perimeter has its own low-key thrill. Even without seeing aircraft or runways, the signage and the particular quality of silence around AFS areas gives the route a distinct atmosphere. The 25 ED (Engineering Division) at Devlali is an active Air Force unit, adding to the cantonment's multi-service character.
- Residential pockets and bungalow lines — old cantonment bungalows, with their pitched red-tiled roofs, wide verandas, and generous garden plots, line sections of this route. These structures, many dating back to the mid-twentieth century or earlier, are among the most architecturally charming things you will see on any cantonment drive in western India.
The overall mood of the drive — and this comes through clearly even in the video — is one of serene, unhurried movement. This is not a drive you do to get somewhere fast. It is a drive you do because the getting-there is the point. I have done plenty of long Pune-to-somewhere highway blasts at high speed, chasing the horizon. This Devlali cantonment route is the opposite of that — it is slow, deliberate, and deeply satisfying in a quiet way.
PM SHRI Kendriya Vidyalaya No.2 (AFS) Devlali — Inside the Air Force Station
The destination of this scenic drive is PM SHRI Kendriya Vidyalaya No.2 (AFS) Devlali, and its location alone makes it distinctive among KV schools in the Nashik region. Established in 1982, KV No.2 sits inside the Air Force Station campus — which means it is an embedded institution, serving the children of Air Force personnel stationed at 25 ED Devlali.
Schools inside Air Force Station campuses exist in a particular micro-world. The school day unfolds against a backdrop of Air Force activity, of orderly canteen routines, of the specific culture of discipline and community that Air Force life cultivates. Children growing up in these environments often develop a remarkable self-sufficiency and adaptability — qualities that any team sport coach, volleyball coach included, would love to have in a young athlete.
KV No.2 AFS Devlali has been serving defence families for over 40 years since its 1982 establishment. Four decades of school life — of annual days, sports meets, science fairs, farewell functions — represent an enormous body of community memory. The school's campus, surrounded by the lush greenery characteristic of the AFS area, gives it an almost idyllic quality. The combination of institutional solidity and natural beauty is something that civilian urban schools rarely achieve.
The PM SHRI designation — which both KV No.1 and KV No.2 Devlali carry — is worth noting. PM SHRI (PM Schools for Rising India) is a central government scheme that upgrades select schools across India to model institutions, focusing on holistic development, modern infrastructure, and quality education. That both Devlali KVs carry this designation speaks to the consistent quality of education delivered here over the years.
Nashik, Devlali, and the Broader Appeal for Travellers and Drive Enthusiasts
For anyone based in Pune or Mumbai who has done the Nashik wine route to death and is looking for a genuinely different angle on the Nashik district, the Devlali Cantonment drive offers something fresh. Most tourism content about Nashik focuses on Sula Vineyards, Trimbakeshwar, Pandavleni Caves, or the ghats of the Godavari. Very little attention goes to Devlali — which is exactly why it retains that rare quality of feeling undiscovered.
A few things worth knowing if you plan to visit:
- Access norms — Devlali Cantonment, like all Indian military cantonments, has specific entry protocols. Civilian access to public cantonment roads is generally permitted, but restricted zones around operational military and Air Force areas require authorisation. Always respect signage, checkpoints, and the instructions of personnel on duty. Do not photograph sensitive installations.
- Best time to drive — early mornings between 6 AM and 8 AM are magical. The light is golden, the roads are near-empty, and the birdsong from the cantonment's mature trees is genuinely beautiful. Weekend mornings are ideal for the kind of leisurely pace this route deserves.
- Weather window — Nashik's elevation means temperatures are more forgiving than the scorching plains. Post-monsoon (October to February) offers the best combination of clear skies and comfortable temperatures. The greenery is at its lushest in August and September, right after the monsoon.
- Combine with Nashik's other gems — the cantonment drive pairs brilliantly with a visit to Nashik city's older quarters, the Godavari riverfront at Ramkund, or even a quick wine-tasting session in the Gangapur Road vineyard belt. Build a full day around it.
- Two-wheelers vs four-wheelers — both work, but a motorcycle or scooter gives you a more immersive experience on a route like this. You feel the temperature drop under the tree canopy, you catch the smell of cut grass from maintained gardens, you hear the birdsong. A car insulates you from all of that. If you are a fellow two-wheeler person, this route is firmly in the top tier of Nashik-region rides.
As a volleyball player, I am always looking for that intersection of physical activity and mental restoration. Most of my post-match recovery happens on the court or in the gym, but some of the best mental recovery I have ever experienced has come from drives exactly like this one — slow, green, historically layered, away from urban noise. Devlali delivers that in abundance.
Key Takeaways
- Devlali Cantonment is one of India's oldest military cantonments, with deep historical roots going back to the British colonial period, and offers some of the most scenic and well-maintained roads in the Nashik district.
- PM SHRI KV No.1 Devlali, established in 1967 near Rest Camp Road, and PM SHRI KV No.2 (AFS) Devlali, established in 1982 inside the Air Force Station campus, represent over five decades of quality education for defence families in the region.
- The drive between the two schools passes through lush green cantonment roads near the Air Force Station (25 ED) area, making it one of the most visually rewarding short drives in Maharashtra for road-trip enthusiasts.
- Visiting civilians should always respect cantonment access norms and security protocols — the public roads are accessible, but restricted zones around operational military areas are off-limits without authorisation.
- For anyone based in Pune or Mumbai looking for an offbeat Nashik experience beyond the usual wine-and-temple circuit, the Devlali Cantonment drive is a genuinely underrated and deeply refreshing alternative.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can civilians drive through Devlali Cantonment roads?
Yes, public cantonment roads in Devlali are generally accessible to civilian vehicles, but access to restricted military and Air Force Station zones requires prior authorisation. Always follow signage at checkpoints and respect the instructions of security personnel. Avoid photographing operational military infrastructure.
What is the distance between KV No.1 and KV No.2 Devlali?
The two schools — KV No.1 Devlali (near Rest Camp Road) and KV No.2 (AFS) Devlali (inside the Air Force Station campus) — are relatively close to each other within the cantonment. The scenic drive between them is short in distance but rich in visual experience, passing through the green interior roads of the cantonment and the AFS vicinity.
When was Kendriya Vidyalaya No.2 AFS Devlali established?
KV No.2 AFS Devlali was established in 1982 inside the Air Force Station campus in Devlali Cantonment, Nashik. It has been serving children of Air Force and defence personnel for over four decades and carries the PM SHRI designation under
