Western Ghat starts at Sahyadri. During monsoon this place turns into a green paradise with many unnamed waterfalls, streams and forest coverage. Being situated near to Pune in the Indian state of Maharashtra, 850 kms from Bangalore it becomes really tough to go there every weekend. Dussera 2013 brought us the opportunity to plan this trip with long holidays from office. We planned for 7 days, leaving Bangalore on 11th Oct and returning on 17th Oct.
Our plan: Kaas Plateau, Thosegad waterfalls, Sajjangad, Kalasubai (one of the heighest peak at Sahyadri region) Ratangad, Harishchandragad (one of the most difficult trek at Sahyadri region), Naneghat & Jivdan Fort.
Our team: Jijo, Anil, Usha, Ranga, Achintya, Damodar and myself.
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| The team (from left) - Ranga, Usha, Jijo, Damodar, myself, Achintya and Anil. |
We left Bangalore on 11th October at 5:30 pm by KSRTC Airvat. I was travelling for the first time in Airavat Club Class - Sleep like a baby. It was a super experience. It was around 14 hours journey.
Day 1, 12th Oct: As per plan we got down from the bus at Satara at 6:30 am. One of my friends, named Vivek from Pune was supposed to join us for first day's trip. And Damodar was travelling in a different bus. Soon both arrived. At around 8:30 am the vehicle arrived (booked in advance from Pune). We got into a hotel at Satara town to get refreshed and after finishing breakfast we started the journey. It was a festive season. The puja pandals were visible in almost all the localities. Soon we were out of Satara town towards Kaas Plateau, named as "Valley of Flower in South". Few glimpse of on the way to Kaas Plateau.
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| That's our vehicle the nine seater Mahindra Cruiser |
We used this vehicle for travelling around and reaching to the base villages of the trek. This saved a
hell lot of time, otherwise we would have wasting time waiting for the local transport.
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| Beautiful valleys, mountains and green coverage welcomed us |
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| We reached Kaas Plateau @ 10 AM |
After getting down from the vehicle we stared marching through the fenced pathways in between the "Valley of Flowers in South - The Kaas Plateau". Its really great to see that the place has been maintained well and free from litters.
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| Here the fenced pathway ended and we entered into the flowering zone.. |
We came across different types of flowers, butterflies and tiny birds. It was an amazing experience to walk through the Kaas Plateau.
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| Soon we reached to a green water body |
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| The water body was filled with little flowers.....like a Sarovar of Heaven |
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| We went roaming around the places and reached to the end |
We started returning by 12 noon. On the way back few more glimpse.
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| We had lunch here and left for Thosegad waterfalls |
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| The entire team at Thosegad waterfalls |
@ 4 pm we left for Sajjangad.
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| On the way up to the Sajjangad fort and temple |
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| view from Sajjangad |
We roamed around the place and capturing the beauties around.
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| @ 6 pm we were down, had a tea break and left for Pune. |
After this we went to the hotel, checked out and left for Pune. We reached Pune by 11 pm and went to Vivek's house and retired.
Day 2, 13th Oct: We got up @ 3:00 AM and it was decided to leave immediately but our driver Thanji was late to arrive and we left at 4 AM. We left for Kalsubai hill. Route: Pune to Narayangaon to Otur to Bari village. Bari village is the base of trek to Kalsubai. On top there is a temple of Durga, very old and small. It was the Dusera day and there was a huge pilgrimage rush.
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| Some unknown hill, en route Bari village |
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| en route Bari village |
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| We reached Bari village @ 9:30 |
After having a quick breakfast we started the trek.
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| Around Bari village |
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| View of Kalsubai from Bari village |
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| En route Kalsubai, we climbed 3-4 such metal adders...it was a real fun |
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| Look at the ladders....I thought we would reach after climbing both...but that was just the beginning.... |
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| We stopped here for a while and moved on.... |
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| About to reach... |
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| As we were approaching top..a thick cloud surrounded us... |
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| And that the Kalsubai peak.... |
We reached Kalsubai at 12 noon. It was completely crowded and we pied a quick visit to the shrine and started moving down. It was like traffic jam on the top. So many villagers and trekkers had come there. And as you know all the places was spoiled in the name of pilgrimage. We moved on quickly. Instead of taking the metal ladder we climbed down rocks and it was a superb experience. This was a steep climb all the way for about 8-10 KMs from Bari village. Surprisingly, people at all different ages were present there.
On the way down I did not capture anything. It was like a never ending descend. We reached the base @ 2:30-3 PM, boarded the vehicle and left for Ratanwadi, the base village for trek to Ratangad fort. We did not have lunch. So as soon as we reach Ratanwadi we ordered food. And it was superb food, rice, dal and a veg curry. We had lunch cum dinner. At 6:30 - 7 PM we were ready to trek to Ratangad fort. It was a 6-8 kms trek. Tahnaji stayed back with his vehicle in the village.
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| We were little worried seeing the clouding mounting over |
We took a local guy who guided us to the caves, our night camping spot. We crossed streams and path was easy and relaxing. But the final climb towards the caves was through metal ladders and slippery rocks. It was just an amazing experience, I never had before. It did not rain and by 8:30 - 9 PM we were at the caves. And the day was done. 20 + kms trek. We sat down in front of the cave enjoying the peaceful darkness. Everywhere it was slippery. The great thing about Sahyadri is nowhere you will find leeches, making the night trek really enjoying. Had it been into other parts of Western Ghat like Karnataka or Kerala we would have been covered with leeches and night trek would not be possible.
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| We retired inside the cave like dead bodies....we were dam tired...but really satisfied and happy... |
And the 2nd day was over...
Day 3, 14th Oct: Never realized when it was 4:30 or 5 AM. Damu tried waking me and some other guys up, but didn't work, and bu 6:30 we were up. I went on roaming around with Damu. It was deep green everywhere. The beauty was superb. A layer of thick cloud kept the valley completely covered. Eveywhere there was potable water available. So clean and pure. Some of other followed.
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| Finally we were back to the caves at 7:30 |
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| From the cave... |
It was Damu's birthday. We celebrated with Chocolate brownie and milk biscuits.
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| Damu's Birthday celebration |
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| Ready to march... |
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| He is getting down...it was scary...but we climbed that ladder in night.. |
And we continued the journey.
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| Our guide told that from here there are two routes, one goes to Harishchandragad and the other to Kalsubai. |
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| A hidden waterfall |
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| A stop over.... |
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| And we were back to the base - Ratanwadi village..... |
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| Quite an old temple... |
At around 10:30 am were back to the village where we had our food last evening. We ordered for lunch. After finishing lunch we left for Pachnai village, the base for Harishchandragaad trek.
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| En route Pachnai village |
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| @ 3 PM we reached Pachnai village |
We left the vehicle and Thanji drove to Khireshwar village, the other side of Harishchandragad. Form Pachnai side it 3-4 kms trek to reach Harishchandragad. But we took long time.
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| En route Harishchandragad... |
The moment we started the trek it started drizzling and then heavy rain. We continued to some extent in the rain. And reached to a cave. By that time it started raining heavily. We could see the water coming down as a temporary water fall from the top of the cave hills. Lots many such waterfalls were visible. We decided to halt for a while for the rain to recede. We waited for almost half an hour. Damu and Ranga went ahead to check the terrain. In a while they came back saying its would be difficult to cross the place as there were few more waterfall streams to cross. We kept waiting. After a while rain started slowing down. Temporary waterfalls also got disappeared. Damu and Ranga again went ahead to check. This time they were away for almost half an hour. By the time they came back we were desperate to move ahead. It was quite cold there. As soon as both of them appeared we moved ahead. On the way it was little scary because the path was quite slippery. On the way we crossed a small stream filled with water from a waterfall created by sudden heavy rain. So at the same time we were walking under the waterfall and stream. Soon we had to remove our shoes to cross one big stream. And then were about to reach Harishchandragad. Everywhere it was rain washed beauty. Sky was clear and it was the Sun set time.
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| We reached harishchandragad @ 6PM |
We roamed around for awhile before the complete dark fall. There were a family of husband and wife. We approached them for dinner. They prepared dinner for us. Some fried items with tea followed by rice, dal and roti.
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| 2nd night camping inside the cave at Harsihchandragad |
After a great dinner we retired to the luxurious bed.
Day 4, 15th Oct:We got up little late and started preparing for the trek to Kokan Kada and Sitagiri peak.
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| Breakfast ready, in front of Harishchandragad cave... |
After finishing breakfast we left for Kokan Kada.
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| En route Kokan Kada |
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| En route Kokan Kada |
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| View from Kokan Kada |
We kept roaming around Kokan Kada for some time. It was such a beautiful place up there that no words can describe this heavenly beauty, only one can witness and realize. We were taking dips into this awesome beauty. After an hour or so we started returning back to the Cave. As soon as we returned to the cave we took a quick rest for a while and left for Sitagiri peak. It was another superb experience.
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| A very small rock climbing en route Sitagiri |
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| He was with us for the entire journey |
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| view of Shiva temple at Harishchandragad Cave from Sitagiri peak |
After returning to the caves we finished our lunch very quickly and left for Khireshwar village, the other side of Harishchandragad. We started climbing down.
After some time it started drizzling. Wa were crossing beautiful valleys and green lands. We could see many more valley of flowers. In the blogs I read the trek to Harishchandragad from Khireshwar side is very tough. We were walking fearlessly as if completely forgotten that fact. But....
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| .....after this point we were about to approach that steep descent...... |
Soon there was a little confusion regarding the route, but we continued with one and were right. It was continuous steep and slippery descent for about an hour. It was so steep that it was fenced with railing and the most scariest part of it was that in between the railings aluminium pipes were missing....It was one of the most dangerous trek of my life as of now. It was a steep descent over rocks. Due to rain the rocks were dam slippery. The other side of the rock was deep gorges.....so just a small slip and you are nowhere...and this made everyone not to take any pics during this part.
Somehow all of us managed to pass this challenging route and came out on the main road of the village Khireshwar.
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| It took us almost two and half hours to reach here from that place where steep descent started...... |
It was getting dark. Our driver Thanji was waiting with his vehicle. We boarded the vehicle and left for Naneghat. On the way we halted for dinner. Food was really amazing, all of us were dam tired and hogged like anything. Finally we reached Naneghat at 10 PM. As per plan we were supposed to stay at cave. But after reaching there we got to know that the cave guard locked the gates of the cave and went somewhere. Some of us were ready to go and check but it was quite late so decided to halt at some village house.
Day 5, 16th Oct: Finally the last day arrived. We were planned to go to Jivdan fort. Other than me and Anil all left for that. It was a trek for 3-4 hours. Steep ascend. They left by 4 AM. Me and Anil got up by 6:30 AM comfortably and started roaming around.
We had a nice bath at nearby stream and sumptuous lunch at the village house. The other guys returned and they had more scariest stories than the previous days. They were almost slipping and falling while climbing the last part of Jivdan fort and finally they could not make it to the peak. Thank god they came back safe. I still remember that last night the guide was telling us that we need a rope to climb the peak. But we ignored that.
We left Naneghat by 10 - 10:30 AM. Reach Pune and left for back to Bangalore.
