The 42-year-old sank seven birdies to card a six-under 66, but a bogey on the 16th hole deprived him of a share of the best ever round at the picturesque valley course near Mumbai.
Australian Adam Groom and Simon Hurd of England along with local players Ashok Kumar and Feroze Ali were joint second a shot behind. South Africa's Keith Horne and Simon Griffiths of England were a further stroke back after returning 68s.
Eight players were bunched in joint eighth on 69.
Buhrmann, chasing a maiden win in Asia after 11 years, was rewarded for his accuracy on a windy course with tight fairways.
"Before I die, I want to win one here," joked Buhrmann, who has won eight titles in his native country. "You never know, this might be the week."
The South African is hoping that his relaxed 'holiday' approach to the event will finally change his luck on the Asian Tour after coming second four times.
Englishman Hurd reeled off six consecutive birdies on the back nine to bounce back after dropping a shot on three of the first six holes to be tied with a steady Groom.
One of two Asian Tour events in India, the inaugural edition was boosted by a $100,000 European Tour contribution to the prize fund after Asian Tour officials agreed to postpone the event to accommodate the co-sanctioned Indonesian Open.
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