Shivajimaharaj Fort Visit: Sahaydri Sangh Maharashtra Day special Trek… Harishchandragad via Nalichi vaat 1st may 2011

Sahaydri Sangh Maharashtra Day special Trek… Harishchandragad via Nalichi vaat 1^st may 2011

SAHAYDRI SANGH Decides to have a Trek of Harishchandragad one more time, but this time as Sachin Chavan eagerly want to complete this trek though Nalichi vaat. as this plan has fixed in the month of April only, due most of our trek mates like Vinayak galve, Umesh Mane, Rajesh Rahatwal, Saurabh Shivalkar has cancelled their presence due to some important work or some other reason, now we only 6 ( Sachin Chavan, Ajit Sherkar, Santosh Sarak, Nilesh Shinde, Vishal Mhaske and Bhushan Indulkar i.e. myself ), so we are not sure about this trek… but one day Sachin chavan sent me a sms saying.. Harishchandragad parat karayacha tar hyach ( Nalichya watene ) otherwise yapudhe mi trekla yenar nahi, that sms truly works allot for us. We hv decided wherther its tought or more time taking trek.. we are going to complete this from Nalichi Vaat only. So we make a plan just before 2-3 days before trek.

As Nalichi vaat is more dangerous route to go up in rainy season but in month of May too its too tough to complete all task, cuz of heat, temperature n many more.. u’ll 1000% get thirsty after each 10 mints, so need to have more drinking water ( bottles ) with us, other than food we obviously need food, fruits without it just not possible. So we did planning as per that only.

Everyone comes late night @ my place in Dombivli on Friday i.e. 29^th april 2011, second day mrng. We wake up early morng at 4.30 a.m. we took 5.30 am. Local from Dombivli to Kalyan, From kalyan we already booked the Mini Taxi ( Jeep ) towards Tokavade village, we caught that at 6 am. Pls. note this all jeeps tooks minimum 1200/- till Tokavade Village and 1350/- till Belpada Village. We left kalyan at 6.30 by murbad way.. around 8.00 we reached base village of Kokan kada i.e.e Belpada village, roads condition are not so good for almost 1 k.m. before village.

Then as per our plan, we took a guide from the village, everyone saying it tooks atleast 8-10 hours to go to top of the Harishchandra temple.. actually in reality due to strong n heavy heat, we also worried how to complete the task in this climate, but then how we have to… and Sahaydri Sangh journery start at exact 9.15 am.. thought Nalichi Vaat, while going up we got good Karvande (taste was just awesome). We have to face difficult five rock patches which we heard from many trek mates, but we just had 10-10 mints two haults, the view of Kokan kada while going up is just OSSAM. U don’t get words for his Beauty, v all feel liked just stop their for half n hour, but we cant do so, cuz we have to reach the kokankada before sunset as per our planning, so by clicking good sceneries, rock patches, kokan kadas pics we continently going up.

In All 5 Rock patches u need to go climb up.. ( more stressed ), u need to have very good Ropes also for 2-3 levels.. Sahaydri Sangh Special thanks to Mehboob ( Malay Adventure) from we got a Good Rapelling Ropes. By the time of 12.45 in noon we reached on top of the kokankada, but later on , due to guide went down went back from that place, we faced some difficult.. instead of taking left from kokankada we took right and we lost the way in Tamaramati ( one of the highest peak of Harishchandra), later on after one hour we found one big group from pune @ kokankada, they said main temple is just half n hour from here and all sahaydri sangh members get relief. We all had a good home made food from Hotel Rohidas……Maruti Bharmal 860532515 / 9372766057, you will find bhagwan and maruti both in every weekends sat and Sundays, they can arrange food for you like rice, bhakri, kanda-tomotto-potato vegetables, kandapohe etc.

There were so many groups on top of fhe forts specially its 1^st may Maharashtra Day, every trekkers want to have a good trek, as sahaydri sangh did. Night climate was just superb, never ever forget that night at 4671 top from sea level.. We spend a night at Harishchandra temple only, wake up second day @ 5.30 am. Early monrg. Had some good breakfast at same place from maruti.. after that we started coming down though Khireshwar ( tolar khind ) way, after 4 hours we were at Khubi phata. Took private vehicle took us to back to mumbai. Sahaydri sangh had did many trek but this trek is so special as its Maharashtra Din Special Trek, well supported by all my trek mates.

Some information about Harishchandragad

Harishchandragad is king of fort treks. It is called pilgrimage of trekkers. This is 3000 years old fort – one of the oldest forts of Maharashtra. It has history of Puraanas and Pandavas. The fort is really vast and you really get astonished to see the huge plateau on the top having several hills. Trekking@sahyadri reaches its milestone when you reach Konkan kadaa of Harishchandragad. Harishchandragad hosts many attractions that really astonish us. This trek offers you everything – forest trekking, rock patches, long walks, second highest peak of Maharashtra, amazing natural variations, huge creations of volcano, ancient glory of Hindu carvings and the peak of all – Konkan kadaa.

The trek is in 4 steps.

Reach Kheereshwar from Bus stop– 1 hour walk on the wall of Dam
Climb up to Tolar Khind – 1 and ½ hour climb through Harishchandragad Kalsubai forest sanctuary.
Climb the 600 feet rock patch to reach the top of the fort Harishchandragad – 45 minutes climb on the rock patch. This is also one of the attraction for trekkers. The rock patch has railings at some places and some of them are broken. You can see deep valley of dense forest below.
Walk on the fort to find the Harishchandreshwar temple – 1 and ½ hour

There are other routes to the fort -

Way by Tolar Khind which is most common path from Kheereshwar. The description as mentioned above. You have to cross seven hills on the fort to reach this temple. Way on the sixth hill passes through dense forest. Seventh hill has a small ghumti (small temple) and a water tank. You can see Harishchandreshwar temple from here in the valley of seventh hill. The arrow marks are present
Way from Zunzar Darwaja or Rajdarwaja... takes you to the base of Balekilla. This way is frequently used by local people and you can take a guide from Kheereshwar. this route takes less time as compared to way by Tolar khind.
Nalichi vaat.. via Konkan kadaa is tough and takes about minimum 6 hours or maximum 1 day too :)
Way from Sadhale Ghat – There is also a way from Sadhale Ghat ...that takes you near Konkan kadaa.

You can see Harishchandreshwar Mandir, pushkarani, ganesh ruhaa, bale killa, tamaramati , rohitdas mountains, kokankada, kedareshwar guhaa. Amongs all these kokankada and taramati are such a beautiful to visit. Taramati mountain is second highest peak in Maharashtra. Kalsubai – the highest peak – can be seen from here. This whole range of Sahyadri is exceptionally high. the igneous rock generated in thousands of years old volcano were suddenly cooled by rains to form really steep rock patches everywhere. Taramai mountain gives clear view of Malshej Ghat, Kheereshwar, Hadsar fort, Naneghat, Kalsubai mountain, etc. Taramati Shikhar has many Shiv-ling and go-mukh on its way.

One imp note to all Trekers : - Nalichi Vaat is really tough due to big and difficutly rocks, but if you have good stamina, strong will power you can easily be on the top in just 3 hours and within 4 ½ hours in Temple. Nothing is impossible.

Sahaydri Sangh

!!! Jay Shivray !!!