Hello Trekkers...
Warm Welcome...
Was cleaning up my Lappie and came across this set of Pictures. so thought of pen down.
Another experience with YatriSahyadri in my initial days of Wandering, I got an Invite for Harishchandragad via Nalichi vaat. I had always craved for some Long treks.. .and this was it.
Overnight trek that started Friday Midnight. we all met at Kalyan ST Depot... sharp @ 10.30 pm. with all the participants and volunteers arriving after completing their work (Since most of them were from Western suburbs).
we took a jeep and dumped our bags into the jeep. people were starting to doze off in the jeep itself. The chilling breeze of December was starting to take on us.
we woke up at Belpada, the base of Malshej Ghat. the journey was around 3 hrs.
YS had already made arrangements for stay/ halt. a little nap and all woke-up at the alarm by the Volunteers.
did all the morning chores and were ready with the Breakfast @ 5.30am. "Kande Pohe ani Kaala Chaha".... ummm...awesome.
@ 6.30 we gathered for a small round of Introduction and "INSTRUCTIONS"...
all were excited... but... when one of the instruction was "It will take around 8-9 hours, to reach the top and next 30 mins to the temple", "Saari HAWA Nikal Gayi", However every fear disappeared when the Leader did a "SHIV-GARJANA", and all were ready with their Horses to Capture the Fort.
The trek started around 6am, moving from the semi green - semi arid regions of Belpada village, we reached a point which seemed to be a Stream, flowing from top till down here. so we were rest assured, this is the path to follow, as no other seperate way was available. since it was december, almost all the water had dried up except for some places.
moving with the heavy bags behind, maja masti and Nature trail, and Photography all was enjoyment.
we trekked for around 3 hrs until we took a break.
the further area was exposed to sunlight and that literally slowed down our pace by 80%, all were sipping on the water, but we had to be careful, not to empty the bottles as there was more trek ahead, and will need water there.
with all the boulders of medium to Large sizes, we were making our way.
at around 11am, the Volunteers distributed Thepla and took rest for 15 minutes.
This charged our Batteries and we started moving ahead.
Now the major area- NALIchi Vaat (Jine laavli aamchi Vaat) A crevice that goes between 2 standing mountains that rose around 300 mtrs+ and our route was to climb through the gaps in between
a steep climb and we were at the 1st Rock Patch.
The Leader Free-climbed and set himself there and put the rope down.
We were told to do free climb, and take support of the rope.. only. if needed.
after next 15 minutes, another Rock Patch. it was much bigger and was the end of the crevice between the mountains.
It was approximately 30ft in height and titlted at almost 70degree, and we had to climb that and do a sharp U-turn around the Ledge for the 3rd Rock patch.
3rd Patch was little but Tricky; it took us to a little Green/ Dense vegetation towards the plateau. a walk for 10 minutes and u can rest for some time.
the 4th patch was simple of 30ft, and i did a Freefall from the top, as my shoe lost the grip.
and then i climbed up again....
to our Right was the Mighty KOKANKADA (Since it faces Konkan region)
we reached the Top at around 5pm, when many of them in a Dead Mode ;)
Nothing can be Soothing to the Soul other than watching the Sun set on the Horizon from Kokankada. (My fellow friends ask me.. ek sunset dekhne k liye tu 10 hrs trek kiya?)
They will never know the PEACE u get here.
A View from Kokankada @ 90 degrees
Our arrangement was made in the nearby Cave (Ganesh Gufa) and under the supercool moonlight, we had Hot Dal Rice, mix veg bhaaji, and Mango Achaar... (ummmm, that taste still tickes me)
the Night rose, and the Temperature started down... it was almost 7degrees in the night with spine chilling breeze outside.
Next morning we had MAGGI for breakfast and marched towards Harishchandreshwar temple, next to it is the Famous Kedareshwar Temple. a 5ft shivling at the centre of the cave, filled with chilled water.
a small cistern with chilled water. that was our spot to get our Bottles filled for the remaining journey.
Moving ahead, we were to decend via Junnar Darwaja (since it faced Junnar area)
This route is not so used, and at times we had to make way by sitting or sliding down the slippery grass.
after 4 hrs of decend, we were at HOTEL AISHWARYA, Khireshwar,
"garma garam khaana = Aatma Shaant"
the menu was not great - plain roti, dal, rice, bhaaji, onion, achaar, and papad
By 2pm we were done with the food and were resting. we were waiting for the Jeep to come and it arrived by 3.30pm & by 5.30pm, we were at Kalyan Station.
till every1 reached their homes, i had already uploaded the pics on FB.
(They always Tease me, "Hum log ghar pohochne tak pics aa gaye honge") ;) :D
Harishchandragad is situated on the intersection point of Thane, Pune & Nagar districts. hence there are many ways to reach here.
From Thane: Kalyan- Murbad - Malshej ghat - Khubi Phata - Khireshwar ( 96 kms)
From Pune: Pune - Bhosari - Chakan - Manchar - Narayangaon - Kotul (Take Left) - Pachnaai (161 kms)
From Nashik: Nashik - Ghoti Garden (take Left) - Take Right @ Bhandardara Ghoti road - Rajur (Take right) - Pachnaai(110 km)
Hope you liked this trek... feel free to comment
The Wanderer Trekker - Sumeet Rao (Sumya)
Warm Welcome...
Another experience with YatriSahyadri in my initial days of Wandering, I got an Invite for Harishchandragad via Nalichi vaat. I had always craved for some Long treks.. .and this was it.
Overnight trek that started Friday Midnight. we all met at Kalyan ST Depot... sharp @ 10.30 pm. with all the participants and volunteers arriving after completing their work (Since most of them were from Western suburbs).
we took a jeep and dumped our bags into the jeep. people were starting to doze off in the jeep itself. The chilling breeze of December was starting to take on us.
we woke up at Belpada, the base of Malshej Ghat. the journey was around 3 hrs.
YS had already made arrangements for stay/ halt. a little nap and all woke-up at the alarm by the Volunteers.
did all the morning chores and were ready with the Breakfast @ 5.30am. "Kande Pohe ani Kaala Chaha".... ummm...awesome.
@ 6.30 we gathered for a small round of Introduction and "INSTRUCTIONS"...
all were excited... but... when one of the instruction was "It will take around 8-9 hours, to reach the top and next 30 mins to the temple", "Saari HAWA Nikal Gayi", However every fear disappeared when the Leader did a "SHIV-GARJANA", and all were ready with their Horses to Capture the Fort.
moving with the heavy bags behind, maja masti and Nature trail, and Photography all was enjoyment.
we trekked for around 3 hrs until we took a break.
the further area was exposed to sunlight and that literally slowed down our pace by 80%, all were sipping on the water, but we had to be careful, not to empty the bottles as there was more trek ahead, and will need water there.
with all the boulders of medium to Large sizes, we were making our way.
at around 11am, the Volunteers distributed Thepla and took rest for 15 minutes.
Now the major area- NALIchi Vaat (Jine laavli aamchi Vaat) A crevice that goes between 2 standing mountains that rose around 300 mtrs+ and our route was to climb through the gaps in between
a steep climb and we were at the 1st Rock Patch.
The Leader Free-climbed and set himself there and put the rope down.
after next 15 minutes, another Rock Patch. it was much bigger and was the end of the crevice between the mountains.
3rd Patch was little but Tricky; it took us to a little Green/ Dense vegetation towards the plateau. a walk for 10 minutes and u can rest for some time.
and then i climbed up again....
to our Right was the Mighty KOKANKADA (Since it faces Konkan region)
Nothing can be Soothing to the Soul other than watching the Sun set on the Horizon from Kokankada. (My fellow friends ask me.. ek sunset dekhne k liye tu 10 hrs trek kiya?)
Our arrangement was made in the nearby Cave (Ganesh Gufa) and under the supercool moonlight, we had Hot Dal Rice, mix veg bhaaji, and Mango Achaar... (ummmm, that taste still tickes me)
the Night rose, and the Temperature started down... it was almost 7degrees in the night with spine chilling breeze outside.
Next morning we had MAGGI for breakfast and marched towards Harishchandreshwar temple, next to it is the Famous Kedareshwar Temple. a 5ft shivling at the centre of the cave, filled with chilled water.
Group Photo
Harishchandreshwar Temple
a little assistance to travellers from Tolar khind side
Entrance to the Junnar Darwaja route
Pimpalgaon Dam, Khireshwar
"garma garam khaana = Aatma Shaant"
the menu was not great - plain roti, dal, rice, bhaaji, onion, achaar, and papad
By 2pm we were done with the food and were resting. we were waiting for the Jeep to come and it arrived by 3.30pm & by 5.30pm, we were at Kalyan Station.
till every1 reached their homes, i had already uploaded the pics on FB.
(They always Tease me, "Hum log ghar pohochne tak pics aa gaye honge") ;) :D
Harishchandragad is situated on the intersection point of Thane, Pune & Nagar districts. hence there are many ways to reach here.
From Thane: Kalyan- Murbad - Malshej ghat - Khubi Phata - Khireshwar ( 96 kms)
From Pune: Pune - Bhosari - Chakan - Manchar - Narayangaon - Kotul (Take Left) - Pachnaai (161 kms)
From Nashik: Nashik - Ghoti Garden (take Left) - Take Right @ Bhandardara Ghoti road - Rajur (Take right) - Pachnaai(110 km)
Hope you liked this trek... feel free to comment
The Wanderer Trekker - Sumeet Rao (Sumya)
