Life has been pretty uneventful on the trekking front from September. AB just bought a new digicam recently so he was more interested in an adventure. It turned out on judgement day that it was only two of us. We still decided to go ahead. We biked till Bhor turn, had some breakfast and then brainstormed on the destination. Options were Vairatgad or Kangori A.K.A Mangalgad. We agreed on Kangori since that involved getting down Varandha ghat [ If you have been here, you would agree, the tricky turns and the sheer drop in Konkan..pure thrill ]. What we did not know was the distance was an issue for one dayer.
There are two ways to reach this place from Pune - Both 300Kms odd to and fro.
1] Take a right turn to Bhor from Pune Satara Highway and after crossing Bhor take a right to Mahad. The road is a pretty scenic with Neera-Devghar dam waters to the left and vegetation on the right. After getting down from Varandha ghat take a left to Pimpalwadi from a place called Dhalkathi [17kms of a mix of bad/good road from here] and climb the fort.
2] Travel from Tamhini - Mangaon - Mahad take a left turn to Varandha on Goa highway reach Dhalkathi take a right to Pimpalwadi and then proceed to fort. Option 2 is preferable considering there is some help available if you needed it. Option 1 if your locomotion breaks down in the middle, then Mahad is 36 and Bhor is 42Kms away with no signs of civilization.
We started our climb at 12.50 [ blame it on option 1 ] almost made it and then lost our way and then gave up to reach the base at about 3.00. Back at the village one lady told us about a how some girl died a tragic death while getting down from this fort. The news was there is accomodation on fort. Thought of taking some local's help but considering we had to travel 150 odd Kms via Tamhini and time we had on our hands etc dropped the idea.
On the way back spotted some wildfire on Goa highway near Mahad, wondered why noone knew about *this* road to Pune via Tamhini from there. Either case, heaven than spending those lazy weekends at home. Check out the complete imagestation album
here.
Bridge on Neera river on Pune Satara Highway !!
Fireball !!
Neera river on the way to Varandha from Bhor !!
Neera Devghar Dam enroute Mahad !!
Varandha ghat !!
Kawlya fort [ At the base is Shivthar Ghal ] !!
Kangori - Mangalgad Fort !!
Wildfire on Goa Highway !!
Savitri river by Goa highway near Mahad !!
