Rajgad Trek....Gadancha Raja

Rajgad - The King of All Forts

Rajgad, considered as the King of all forts is at about 40km south west of Pune and is at a height of 4514 ft. almost. Rajgad was the main fort Shivaji for over 5 years till he became Chhatrapati….. After the Rajgad he shifted his capital to Raigad.

Rajagad is built on a hill named Murambdev which was not captured for a long time. In 17^th Century Aurangzeb laid siege on Rajgad and changed its name to Najibgad. Around Rajgad are the rivers Velwandi and Gujavani, so that all routes to the routes to the fort are across rivers. The main gates to the fort are Alu Darwaja, Gunjavane Darwaja, Pali Darwaja and Chor Darwaja…

Alu Darwaja. From Pune, second is to enter the fort via Gunjavane Darwaja you take the Pune-Velha bus to Margasani Village….From here, it is a two hour climb to the Gunajvane Darwaja. & the easiest route is from Vazeghar or from Pali and then to the Pali Darwaja. This takes about 1 1/2 hours to reach the top.

We Sahayadri Sangh (Sachin, Nilesh, Santosh & Bhushan) started our Journey from Dadar St. stand from we took ST from Pune (Swargate) at 1.00 p.m. on 6^th December 08. We reached Swargate at around 5.10…. As our main & last Gunjavane village ST was missed by 10 minutes… Its departed on exact 5.00. We already carried some cakes for night as we don’t aware that we’ll get good food or not. Then we picked Navy village from the stand at around 6.15.. which goes from the Margasane Phata… we reached their at arund 8.00.. n luckily we got one Jeep for Gunjavane.. At gunjane village is the point where the fort in almost nearby 5 mints.. … We stay their in Suvela Hotel where we had good food…

After lunch we went for a night walk cuz we decided to start trekking on a next day early morning.. we found 60 little champs with their 10 senior guides… They are supposed to start their trek at around 10.00 p.m. only… n by the taking the name of Jay Jay Jay Jay Jay Shivaray.. Jay Bhavani,….. Jay Shivaji… they are started their trek on moon light… How brave they all little champs.. Cuz this Rajgad trek is not easy one… You have to very alert… as some route is dangerous.. as like as sakhaladand… & in the Night specially…. We salute that all little champs, as they are all started the trekkkk in the mid-night…

Then we stared our Photo session.. don’t surprise, yes that’s true,, cuz the room which we spent our night.. its involves lovely n amazing pictures of Forts.. some of them are captured by Uddhav Thakre as well…. Their was also Shivaji Maharaj statue, shivkalin coins, weapon n many more things.. to watch.. I cant explain how we feel that time…

Then second we had our nastha (Kandapohe) at exact 5.30 a.m. yes…… truly,… what was a climate that time… Solid khandi padali hoti… haat pay nusate thar thar kapat hote.. but we hv almost deicided as that 60 little champs can start their treeking at mid-night why don’t we in early morning… & after having tea n nashta we left for the mission…. At exact 6.20.. A.M. ahhahhaha....

.. Sun was going to Rise very soon.. as we decided do not fault for more than 5 mits.. n we reached Padmavati Lake… Pali Darwaja, at 7.45 a.m… we found that little champs der…. N many more Trekkers who spend their night on the Fort… Then after having another tea.. we saw Padmavati Lake, Suvela Machi, Bale Killa…

The Padmavati temple, & Padmavati lake, the Maharaja residential palace, the havaldar’s wada (constable’s residence) can all be seen here. We saw all of that… The only place which can be used by trekkers for an overnight stay here is the Padmavati temple. Of the three Plains, the narrowest is the Suvela Machee.

The another one Sanjivani machee is about two Kilometer in lengthhhh. Double fortification can be seen here. There is a direct route from this point, through the Alu Darwaja on Torna. The stronghold of Rajgad is said to be its finest point and can be reached with some effort. Once you enter the main gate you can see the palace ruins, the Janani Mandir and the Bramhrisi temple and a water tank…. The quality of the Water is also good… There is quite wonderful view from the top, you can see various mountain ranges and spot several forts from here including the Mahabaleshwar Raireshwar Plateau, Raigad, Makarandgad, Lingana, Torna, Visapur, Tung, Sinhgad and Purandar…. Yes not believing na.. but you can see all of them from the Top.. just u need to know with a Sharp eye.. as Purandar & Torana u can see easily…

Bale Killa route was very toughest one…We saw all the imt. Place on the Fort.. then at around 2.00 we started getting down… n reached down at around 3.20… Then after having lovely Chiken food we left for the home….

Once in a life, if you can visit this Fort.. it is truly amazing… if u have Maratha Heart…

Say Jay Bhavani… Jay Shivaji…..

Sahaydri Sangh

Balekilla

Padmavati River

Bale Killa Route

Sun Rise

Sanjivani Machi Tough Route

On The Way

Suvela Machi

60 Little Champs

Sachin & Me

Sahayadri Sangh

Pratapgad Fort Visit

Pratapgarh

The Pratapgarh Fort is the place from where the history of the Maratha Emperor Shivaji turned into a decisive course. This is here that Afzal Khan met his death.

The Pratapgarh Fort is 900 m above sea level. It is 24 km west of Mahabaleshwar. The fort from a distance gives the appearance of a round topped hill. The wall of the lower fort forms a sort of a crown round the brow. The western and northern sides of the fort are gigantic cliffs with an almost vertical drop in many places of seven or eight hundred feet. Both covered with huge masses and a vast precipice of trap rock. On the east and south the hills were more sloping and covered with a dense wood in contrast with the rocky west and north, and gradually descended to the valleys separating Mahabaleshwar and the Kineshvar range on the east and the Konkan Valley on the west.

Rahat Lake :

There are total four lakes on the fort, Rahat lake being the largest among them. On the eastern bastion lie the ponds known as ‘Naske Tale’ and ‘Gode Tale’.

Mahadarwaja :

Road on the left side of the Watch-tower takes us to the entrance steps of the fort. Mahadarwaja lies here in between the two bastions

Bhavani Mandir :

The stone from which Goddess Bhavani Mata’s idol is carved has been brought by Shivaji Maharaj with the help of King Leelasen.

Temple of Lord Hanuman :

Temple lies before the entrance door of citadel. The idol of Lord Hanuman was established by Samarth Ramdas Swami.

Statue of Shivaji Maharaj :

As we go ahead from Kedareshwar temple, we comes across a huge statue of Shivaji Maharaj mounted on horse-back with sword in his right hand, raised up towards the sky, and bridle in left hand. This statue has been created by Shri. Kamat, a craftsman from Mumbai. This statue was unveiled by our Late Prime Minister Shri Jawaharlal Nehru.

Apart from above mentioned places, there are many other structures, viz., ‘Yeshwant Buruj’ to the east, ‘Surya Buruj’ near Hanuman Temple to the south and besides it lies a secret-doorway, ‘Rajpaharyachi Dindi’, a place to keep watch-on to the north of the fort.

Sahaydri Sangh

Shivneri Trekkkkkk

SHIVNERI

Shivneri Fort is having most important value in every forts in History of Shivaji Maharasht… cuz it is the Shivaji Maharaj Birth Place Shivaji spent his childhood in the fort and took lessons of all his military training here only… . Shivneri Fort is located approximately 110 kilomtr… far from Pune. Its in Junner…

The people who are loves trekking, Shivneri Fort are the ideal place for them to visit…. The boundary wall of the Shivneri Fort was built so high to protect the fort from the enemies.

Inside of this fort there is a temple of goddess ‘Shivai Devi`. A larger than life statue of Shivaji is situated in front of the Shivneri Fort. A traveler has to cross seven doors to reach in the Shivneri Fort.

Inside of the Shivneri Fort there is a water pond called ‘Badami Talav`, which is located in the middle of the fort. A statue of Jijabai, with a Bal Shivaji attracts you.

One interesting feature of is a mosque with two towers which are joined by a graceful arch… its so wonderful to watch…. .

Many other tourist attractions are located very near to this fort….

So Rajesh, Vaibhav, Sachin & me (Bhushan), Sahaydri Sangh Decided to go for one of the most important & valuable fort in Shivaji Maharaj History, in the month of December…

We took the S.T. from Kalyan for Junner at around 6.45 p..m. & reached Junner at around 9.30.. Wow, what was the Climate.. its feels so cool in Junner…. Thandi Wajat hoti.. We halft at Aashiyana loudge their, having the good facility includes good Food….

Second route to climb this fort is to ascend from the eastern face. We Climted to up from Salkhal Dand (one of the most Dangerous route ) to reach top of the Fort…this route is also tiring. From this route it hardly takes 1 hour to reach at the top from the base stand.

On the way there is a temple of Hanuman. One has to take a path on the right side of the temple.. This small path takes us to the reserved forest…. In this forest there lays the path to reach to top. One has to be careful, as there are many paths that can mislead us. Traversing upwards for 20 minutes takes us to the rock cut caves on the eastern side of the fort. On the left we can see steps running upwards. After ascending this steps we can reach top in 15-20 to minutes. But how we feel when we got the top of the Fort, cant explain in Word here… It was a Terrific experience, which Sahaydri Sangh like to Sahre with you all.. By the time we reached top.. We found Mata Jijabamata Statue..

Then for next 2 hours we saw each & every Historical place on the Top of the Forts, like Shivaji Temple, Shivaji Birth Place, Kudale, Water Places & Many More….

& while returning we saw Ozar & Lenayari fw kilometers asway from Shivneri..Shri Vighneshwar situated at Ozar near Junnar town.. we had lunch at Ozar & then come back to home...

Sahaydri Sangh

Raigad Fort

Raigad

It was month of March, climate was so hot here in Bombay, n our Sahyadri sangh guys decided to trek for Raigad, due to some reason some of our members not able to joined us…. Vaibhav, Rohit & Umesh..missed this trek.. So atlast my Sahyadri Sangh five members Sachin, Bhushan, Rajesh, Nilesh & Mahesh ready for the one of Biggest Historical Fort of Shivaji Maharaj n Indian history… i.e. Raigad. Its a hill fortress situated in the Raigad District of Maharashtra….

So at Ranghpanchami day, around 3.30 p.m. we left from GTB Nagar STN. To Panvel.. after reaching the panvel at 4.30… Due to holi season most of the Kokanwasiy mandali are already reserved the seats for village… luckily around 6.00 we got ST … for the Mahad from panvel stand… Its takes 2 hrs. to reach Mahad….. after reached their, one of my friend already booked one place for us.. Its nearby the Mahad ST station only,, 10 mints. Walk… & u also wont believe.. around that Rangpanchmi day, we got light rain… buz of that rain…. Environment just near our place was just wonderful due to surprised rain… Second day around 7.30 we took ST for Raigad… after a 45 mints journey we reached one village “ Pachad” , from where we can start going up for the trek… you can also reach up by Rope Way, one the fastest way to reach Raigad top is Rope Way… which takes you right to the Mena darwaja from where you can enter directly into the Queens Palace premises and Maharaj's Palace... but as we comes here for trek… so we used our way….. the time we reached Starting point of Raigad, we met one big tekking group.. their…. They are around 25-30 peoples….By taking Shivaji Maharaj name, we starts the trek… Shivaji Maharaj Ki Jay.. Jay Bhavani – Jay Shivaji…

entire groups shouted loudly… .. wow..... what was the Noise of that voice… we get inspired from the name Shivaji, angamadhe janu Josh sancharato tya naavane… The tek to the top is 2 hrs.. and is a very easy… The steps in between can be a bit tiring….

Shivaji Maharaj captured this fort and unfurled the Bhagwa. This fort was tough to win … Impressed by the impregnability of this fort, then he decided to make this his capital. He entrusted Hiroji Indulkar with the task of converting this fortress into the majestic fort that it is today, despite of the destruction carried out by the cowardly British. Shivaji Maharaj was coronated king here on June 6th 1674….

While reaching the Bale-Killa u can see the beautiful sorroudings forts… You can See, Raj Bhavan, Queen palace, Jagadishwar temple, Hatthi Talao, Samadhi, Ganagasagar, Takmak Tok, 12 Haud of water,Hanuman taka, Hirkani Buruj, Palkhi Darwaja, Mena Darwaja, Maharaj’s Chatti, Ashtrapradhan mandal place Place in Raigad… One of Biggest historical fort in Maharashtra, every mavala on that period who’s the responsibility to save this fort has Great power…

Raj Bhavan

Palace complex,

Hatthi Talao,

Samadhi,

Ganagasagar,

Takmak Tok,

Hanuman taka,

Hirkani Buruj,

Palkhi Darwaja,

Main Darwaja,

Maharaj’s Chatti,

Ashthpradhan Mandal Place

While going up, nilesh, sachin, rajesh & Mahesh… even me tooo almost tired.. but we just have one target in mind.. to go each Balekilla as quick as possible….. We saw each n every place carefully, also saved them in mobile.. n from eyes in our mind for the lifetime memories….

Around 2.30 p.m. we had lunch on the top of the fort.. at MSRDC hotel… the food quality was awesome… after lunch we get down… but while getting down, we also had Kokam sarbam.. many times… after 1 hr.. we get down… n way back to home, from mahad again….

Raigad is the heart of Maratha country, the capital of Chhatrapati Shivaji's kingdom. Strategically perched atop a wedge-shaped block of hill, split off from the Western Ghats and inaccessible from three sides……… It was here that Chhatrapati Shivaji built his capital city in the 17th century, and here that he crowned himself Chhatrapati. For six years upto his death, Raigad remained the capital of the Marathas with its broad gates and magnificent monumentsssss. There was only one pathway leading to the top….

What a Wonderful Lifetime memory it was…. I & my Sahaydri Sangh request all of you specially All Marathi person must visit this Fort atleast once in life…. You will feel like u enter in Marahi Swarg, if u have Marathi Heart…

Jay Bhavani …….. Jay Shivaji

Sahaydri Sangh