Trek To Bhimashankar fort via Shidi Ghat

Trek to Bhimashankar fort via Shidi ghat

October heat was started now a days… All sahaydri sangh members excited about the next trek.. as decided Bhimashankar trek was already posponded for some months due to unavaibility of members due to heavy work schedule. As mangesh keny suggested we areEagerly waiting for Bhimashankar trek via shidi ghaat and desend via Ganesh ghat.

So our some members i.e. Sachin chavan, Mangesh Keny, Nilesh Shinde, Vishal Mhaske, Kumar khot, Vinayak Galve, Prakash prajapati and Bhushan Indulkar decided to go for a bhimashankar trek for 1 ½ day on bike… i.e. on Saturday afternoon. As decided we were met each other in New Mumbai, and as ausual prakash prajapati is late due to some important work.. so we decided to wait for him for 2 hours.. as he were very much busy in office work, we were aware it can be dangerous driving in night on highway panvel-chowk-karjat-kashele-khandas specially on bike at night. Cuz road were too small and one n only road for the karjat, it was so dangerous, route was also not good.

We were in panvel from 5 to 8.00 p.m.waited for our two trek members, pakya and vinya, at 8.10 p.m. in dark night we started going towards chowk. After 20 k.m. we reached chow then we took left turn theron started going towards karjat via chowk… it was a very poor road,we were 8, and having 4 bikes with us and everyone knows to ride, so that was a good thing. After half n hour drive we reached in proper karjat city.



We have good Dinner in good restaurtant.. in that time their was heavily raining.. so weard jackets n all for next journey… due to rain the climate was totally cold side by side we were enjoying the riding in night with very light rain J after some time we were in Kashele. It was 11.30 time their… no one was their to show which route is correct for khandas.. cuz their were 3 roads their.. after 5-10 mints from the help of one man we recongised / got the correct route. As SAHAYDRI SANGH decided to reached the village khandas for the night. Due to late night we decided to take a stay in primary school just before 3 km. khandas it was a very good primary school.  We don’t waste time much, and slept their till 6 am. In mrng. Second day after reaching base village khandas ( Bhimashankar via karjat) we took one guide. With the direction as he shown we started our memorable, long holding journey. ( yes long holding cuz we cancelled bhimashankar trek almost 2-3 times due to problems).

And importantly we all were excited even though it’s a tough trek ( 3-4 hours ) as it’s the sahaydris forest ranges part, and almost 3300 feet up. As its was a truly superb atmosphere in all over the trek as its the beauty of the Western Ghats in entire Shidi Ghat,

 After a small round of photo sessions with huge mountain range in background, we started our trek.. yes it was complete pilot trek. Initially we had to cross a small hillock and then the main jungle route for Shidi Ghat starts after crossing a river. River had potable chilled water which quenched our thirst and we were able to refill our bottles. we reached the first ladder out of three in just half n hour. Recently the first ladder has been changed; it has now become very easy and less risky. After crossing the ladder, a rocky edge starts. On the left side, one can see the beautiful valley and to the right side stands a wall of almost 200 feet. One has to deliberate where to place one’s foot and progress by placing the next foot by taking grip on hand within cracks made in the right side of the wall. This patch is really a thrill and we completed in very nicely without any accidents.

Just after crossing this patch, we saw the second ladder; After some more rocky patches we were finally at the base of third ladder. Here one can see a cave at right side. We rested here for 5 mins and enjoyed the views in front of us. Then we started for third ladder. This one is the longest ladder and at top again you have to be careful because it’s quite difficult there to put your foot on the ground and pull your body out of the ladder. After few mins of climbing, we reached a settlement. After 20-25 mins of hiking, we reached a junction where some rest huts are made. Here both routes of Ganesh Ghat and Shidi ghat meet together. Now on from here the final steep climbing starts. this patch is an exhausting and arduous climb. After crossing this patch we entered into forest. And the main entrance of  main temple of Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga. There were plenty of devotees and tourists at the temple. After the visit to the temple, we refreshed ourselves with a glass of Lime juice. Cant express in words it was superb visit in one of the famous Jyotirlinga of lord Shiva “ Bhimashankar “

After having the lunch we started coming down but though Ganesh ghat… but how long route it was… it took almost 3 hours to reach dhangarwadi ( Khandas ) from the ganesh ghat.. very long.. you have to be walk entire bhimashankar you can also view padargad. On 16^th oct around 5.30 we were in khandas to return mumbai, as we started our journey again on our bikes.. again heavy rain come, its was completely dangerous, hillerious moments in front of us, cuz their was sound of lighteining in all the path till karjat not only lightening but also due to heavy winds some trees were destroyed and landed on main road. But that time all the riders shows their courage/braveness as it was not easy to drive all the way for 3 hours in such heavy rains specially when we not able to seen properly on driving route.. I like to thnnks to compete this difficult task in heavy rain to all our members who participated.

Jay Shivray

SAHAYDRI SANGH