Lohagad - Trek

Lohagad – one of the forts situated in Sahyadri ranges. This fort was captured by Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in AD 1648 but he forced to surrender it to the Mughals in 1665 by the treaty of Purnader. Shivaji Maharaj recaptured this fort in 1670 and used this fort to keep loot from the Surat. I wanted to visit this fort for such long time and finally we office colleagues decided to go for trekking. We started early morning on Saturday. It was in middle of August, Monsoon season but chances of rain was not much so we decided to go on this day. Due to traffic faced by the guys travelling from Mumbai it took almost 10 to reach them at my place. After picking me up, we picked another two friends. We reached at base of fort around 12 noon. Vehicles can go up to the village Lohagaonvadi which is at the foot of the Lohagad fort and from where the steps of the fort start. However trekkers walks all the way from base of Bhaje caves. From the parking we could figure out that plenty of crowd. We had snacks there and started walking. For Bhaje caves only you have to take small diversion. Bhaje caves are visible from the base and it might be around 100 steps to reach their. We decided if we get time on our return from fort will visit it. The walk is very enjoyable especially the picturesque scenery, lush green grass, cool mountain air, waterfalls and the pleasant salubrious climate. After walking for 5 we saw nice waterfall. Lots of people those specially came to enjoy monsoon waterfalls were enjoying in that water. Water was giving feel of milk falling from the mountain. We hold ourselves back very hardly and just took some snaps with the waterfall as we don’t wanted to get late to reach on fort.
On our way 3 guys from our group got separated. They took some other way and we took other road thinking it could be shortcut. Shortcut was very mucky and it made us tired. We took some rest once we back on main road. Scenery from that spot was breath-taking it shows us how much we have climbed up. After walking for about 15 minutes we gain stopped for few cucumbers. You can see many cucumbers & lime juice stalls on your way. You will get so many cucumbers and lime juice stalls on your way. By now for was totally visible, mainly the vinchukata – fortification resembling scorpion tail was looking awesome. Suddenly clouds started coming and it started wrapping fort from vinchukata and quickly it took whole fort in it making fort disappeared. We all 5 guys were enjoying the nature. We wanted to take our group photo in this beautiful nature and we saw two small village kids. We requested them to take our snaps and one of them took us very good group pic. We thought we should have had some chocolates that time to give them little kids.
After walking few more we reached to the Lohagaonvadi. At the entrance of the village we saw few guys taking pic of something present on ground. We rush to see what it is and it was ‘Mandhul’. I have never seen that before but village people told us about it which I hardly heard. It was totally black and like stick to the ground. From this village the step for the fort starts. At the start signboard which tells the history about fort, and shows map about it is placed. We started climbing the fort. From one point while climbing the fort you can see panoramic view of Pawna dam. Very first you will be welcomed by “Ganesh Darwaja” of the fort. You can see some mini guns there. Little ahead fort has got one more “Darawaja”. We kept climbing the steps. Most of the guys already started to get down from the fort. At one turn I and other girl from our group stopped to take some snaps. I heard then voice from my back “Maja yet aahe na” and I said “Ha khup maja yet aahe” and I turned back to realise it was not my friend and some other girl from other group. I turned quickly to the opposite, my other friend also realised what has happened and after that group passed we both burst into laughter. Other guys started asking us what happened but we kept both laughing. Little ahead one family with small twin girls were going down. Both twins were very cute and we all greeted both. They both were shy and Mother of them was telling both say Hi to us and told us that till now both were making so much of noise and all on their way was shouting “Jai Shivaji, Jai Bhavani”. Then we crossed the “Mahadarawaja” which is the main gate of the fort. At the entrance you can see “durgah” and one saffron flag hosted. We started exploring fort more and then we found one lake which is good place to take rest, we removed our shoes and placed our feet in water. It was so relaxing. Small fishes in lake came near to our feet and started pinching our feet. It was great feeling of getting massage to feet after walking so much. 3 guys separated from us finally showed up. They came at right time because they were carrying all the food. We had food and then thought to go extreme end of vinchukata. On your way you can see other spots of the forts like “Ashtkoni Lake”, “Lakshmi Kothi” & “Solakoni Lake”. While we are going to Vinchukata we saw clouds are started coming towards us and slowly it took all of us in it. Suddenly everywhere it was fog and visibility becomes very low. After few minutes everything got cleared and fog place taken by rain and all fun turn into kind of mini disaster for us. One of our friend got cramp on her leg, road becomes slippery and top of that I felt very bad not only once but two times on my butts, small cuts on my hands but it was not very dangerous. We cancelled our plan to go end of Vichukata and returned back. Rain stopped after some time and now we started getting down. We reached to the Lohagaonvadi, had Poha’s and Tea. While travelling to our vehicle one of our friend went to the waterfall which we saw while coming up. She enjoyed a lot in that waterfall and others enjoyed just by taking snaps of each other on that waterfall. We grabbed our seats in our quails and headed back to the Mumbai thinking of the location for the next trek.
How to Reach?
From Mumbai, you can take a train to Lonavla. Malawli is the next station from Lonavla in the direction toward Pune. There are a number of local trains operating between Lonavla and Pune; you can take any of them. From Pune, you can take any of these locals. From Malawli railway station, the fort is just 9 km away
Or if you are travelling by road, From Mumbai, You can exit from Mumbai-Pune express highway from Lonavala and after going little ahead you will see one left turn goes to famous “Ekvira temple/Karla caves” and opposite to that right turn will go to Lohagad fort/Bhaja caves.

Mayuresh

Dapoli – Unhavare (Final)

I can’t sleep well on new places and usually my eyes gets open early in morning. I got up and all other were having tight sleep. I didn’t want to disturb them so I went on beach and tried to capture early morning snaps. All started waking up one by one and then we had our complimentary breakfast. We then started wrapping up our stuff as need to check out before 9 but it took us almost 10 to full check out. On our back journey we decided to visit Unhavare which is known for its hot water springs. Unhavare is situated 20 kms inside from the main Dapoli-Khed State highway. Road was not good and its bumpy ride. After reaching to Unhavare we all actually disappointed as it was just a small pool where we were expecting some old temple and hot water falling from hill etc. First we did not believe that that pool is place for hot water spring and we ask one local lady and she almost shouted at us, “can’t you see that pool full of hot water and water spring is coming from ground and not necessary it will always fall from any hill or mountain”. Good point of Unhavare village was, Small River was flowing through that and river was enough to make fun for us. After having cool time in river now it was time to experience hot water. We went to that small pool and believe water was too hot to put our legs in it initially but after some time we all got used to and then we could keep our legs in it. One local guy told us this water is good for to cure your skin ailments and people come here for that specially.
After spending some time exploring from where that hot water spring origins, we left the Unhavare. By now it was time for lunch and we all were hungry. One of us friend told us that he knows good restaurant in Khed. We all took the halt in Khed for lunch. Lunch was delicious and good. After Khed almost we had completed our tour and started our journey back to home. Just another halt in Vadkhal for tea and snacks and then it was my first turn to get down at Navi Mumbai.
How to Go Dapoli –
Dapoli is well connected by roads. Take the Mumbai – Goa highway and then at Khed take the right turn for Dapoli or follow sign boards from Khed.( Avoid right turn which nearby Veer railway station)
Nearest railway station is also Khed. It’s suggested you travel by your own or in hired private vehicle and book the resort before your travel to avoid disappointment. If you are travelling by public transport ask your resort to arrange some local private transport to roam around in Dapoli.
We covered only Keshavraj and Murud beach but if you search on net you will get lots of nearby good places which you can visit.

Mayuresh

Dapoli – Keshavraj and evening at beach (Part 3)

After Dolphin Safari we all were happy, excited and very much tired because of all night journey and 3 hrs of boat ride. Check In time was 12 noon but we gave try by checking resort at 10, room were available and they did not made any issue of check in time, they handed over the keys. We all get in to the rooms, started to fresh up one by one. Ordered the lunch, yes obviously sea food. You are in heart of Konkan and how you can miss it. Along with sea food we ordered ‘traditional’ chicken dish and that is Butter Chicken. Food was great and luscious. We all enjoyed the lunch and it becomes too heavy now to go anywhere. We did enquiry at reception to explore good nearby places. They suggested temple ‘Keshav Raj’ but no one was in mood to go immediately after lunch. Everyone had little nap and then it become difficult to come out of it. Pulling almost everyone out from bed, we all geared up for Keshav Raj
Keshav Raj temple was 3-4 kms from the resort in Asud village which is situated on Dapoli-Harne road. Receptionist told that we have to climb around hundred steps so we thought will have small trek also. We parked our vehicle at base and started walking and got surprised as we were not climbing the steps but steps were taking us down. We checked with local old lady and she confirmed yes you are on right path. After getting down some more steps we saw one small river, temple is on opposite side of river and two banks are connected with small bridge. We obviously did not take the bridge to cross it and we went in water. It was not so deep. Some snaps in lots of poses and then we crossed it. Now we can see those hundred steps that we have to climb. We started blaming the resort receptionist that she just told us that you have to climb hundred steps but did not tell us that before that you also have to get down same number of steps so total two hundred steps.
We started climbing those but it was not that tiring. We reached at temple in about 15 minutes. Location of temple was so amazing and full of nature beauty. It is surrounded by thick woodland which mostly has coconut, betel nut, cashew and mango trees. One natural water spring originates at top of the hill and it flows in small water pool present in front of temple through Gomukh – Stone carved cow mount. We saw some guys were capturing that nature in paper through their painting brushes. Temple is of Keshavraj (Lord Vishnu). We took the blessing from outside only as to enter in main room of idol, people needs to be in traditional attire. After that, as usual some photography and then we headed back. On our return in the village we took halt for sarbats. They were having different kind of sarbats like Awala, Kokum and Karvand. They were also having some homemade papads and juices. Some of us bought them and then we return back to resort.
After returning back we got all set for sea bath and main masti part of the trip. Then couple of hours we were playing, jumping, enjoying in sea waves. In that all fun I was about to lose my spects but luckily one of my friend caught it before it goes into water. We were there till the sunset. Lots of snaps and some bare chest snaps also :P. Then we return back to resort and then long queue to take bath among us. Later on we started playing cards and then had some ‘snacks’ party which we enjoyed. Finally at night we had walk on beach after dinner and then we ended the day.

Mayuresh

Kharghar Hills – welcome 2012
Finally year 2011 comes to an end and it’s time to welcome 2012. Last year I was in London and welcomed 2011 by witnessing the fireworks at London eye. This time I decided to spend 31 Dec at house and instead going for late night parties’ resolute to wake up early and go at Kharghar Hills to see first sun rise of the year. Kharghar hill is place located near CBD Belapur, also nearby Kharghar railway station. This place is developed by CIDCO for people and very good for early morning and evening walk. Kharghar Hill must be beautiful during monsoons but for safety major because of landslide it remains close during that season.
So as decided on 1 January 2012 I woke up early. Sun rise time was around 7:10 AM. I reached at base of Kharghar Hill around 6:30 AM. I saw few cars parked at base so I asked at entrance about it so he told me you cannot take vehicle up till 8:00 AM. UFFFFFFFFfff so I have to do early morning walk. I started walking, it was still dark. I could see some trodden path but decided to walk alongside with road as didn’t want to get lost in dark. Few walkers, joggers were on the road so I was not totally alone. After walking for 15 minutes, road was passing through between two rock hills. I went ahead and continued walking for more 15 minutes. Dark started converting to twilight by the time but still I did not reach at top and I was thinking that now I am going to miss the sun rise. I was also not finding one good place from where I can see it nicely. I kept walking and at around 7:15 (just at right time) I found one place which I thought can be good to see the sun. Spot was good to take rest for walkers and meeting point for groups. Few people were already taking rest at that place and greeting, wishing New Year to each other. View from that spot was also not bad. We can see Kharghar Railway station, Mumbai-Pune Highway and you can hear the noise of traffic, trains till that hill spot.
It was almost sun rise time but weather was little foggy and sky was cloudy. I though sun will rise behind the clouds and all efforts will be wasted. Still I took out my camera and started taking some snaps. After 5-10 minutes another guy came and he was having professional camera with him. He too stopped there and started taking the snaps. After some time I saw small red/saffron stripe behind the clouds and it started slowly coming out from clouds. That stripe now getting bigger and started taking round shape and after couple of minutes I saw the whole round saffornish sun. I took some snaps of it. The other guy was also clicking snaps as much as he can. At the same spot there was small Lord Shiva Idol and beside it one saffron flag.After taking enough snaps of nature I took the blessing of Sun and Lord Shiva and decided to come down.
Sun now started becoming yellow and it becomes hard to look at it directly. Meantime the other photographer guy and I had introduction to each other as we both were sharing the same passion. We both left that spot and while returning, the other fellow spotted one bird. Till he takes out his camera and I adjust mine one, bird flew away and we missed it. We came to same rock hills pass and I took some snaps of that pass then little ahead we spotted another bird. This time we both were able to capture it. We tried to go more close of it without making noise but it flew away. Then finally we came at base, we exchanged the number and he invited me for Karnala next week. He was going there for photography. We left the base and I drove back to house.
Isn’t it good start of year to watch early sunrise (had early morning walk though it is forcefully) and met one stranger and got introduced?

How to reach
Kharghar hill is well connected by road and rail. If you are going by road and coming from Mumbai, skip the CBD Belapur highway bridge and take left to come inside in Belapur. Then you can see circle take right from there and then drive straight for 3-4 minutes and you can see the entrance of Kharghar Hill.
If you are coming by rail then Kharghar railway station is closer and you can get auto from staion.
Kharghar Hill also known as ‘Fanaswadi Tekdi’

Some Snap

Mayuresh