Dhom - Wall !!
Dhom backwaters from Tupewadi
Lunchtime...
Paddy at the base.
The way up
Waterstream - Deux
Taken while getting down
Showing posts with label Kenjalgad. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kenjalgad. Show all posts
Sunday, August 14, 2005
Kamalgad Pictures
Dhom - Wall !!Dhom backwaters from TupewadiLunchtime...Paddy at the base.The way upWaterstream - DeuxTaken while getting down
Kamalgad
It was a long weekend but we still decided for a one dayer. We decided on Kamalgad. We left quite late, and a breakfast break at Natraj on Satara road cost us more. The way to reach Kamalgad is to reach Wai and then proceed to Jambhli then cross the Walki river [ a tributary to Krishna ] and reach a place called Tupewadi. The drive is scenic and the road is good too. On the way to Jambhli one can spot Pandavgad to right and Dhom to the left of the road and is an amazing sight.One can also spot Kenjalgad to right on your way and I belive one can climb it from this side as well.
We stared our climb too late [ at about 1.00 in the afternoon ]. The climb is a bit lengthy one and even from Tupewadi one cant get an idea about where the fort is. One can spot the Navra Navri as well on the same mountain range. The way up is through thick forest and waterfalls. After getting lost couple of times and getting stuck in the middle of nowhere, the dirty and muddy eight reached the top. A shephard guy stays here. The clock showed 3.30 by then. The fog made it impossible for us to see anything. We gave ourselves a deadline of 4.00 and proceeded thorough the thick forest till we reached an open area. We could see the fort real close to our right from here, and some house or something 100 mts ahead. But we were running out of time. The factors to be considered were the heavy rains and the news about a cat sighting the day before. We decided to head back.
Epilogue :I realized that time management here was critical, but there always is a next time. Heavy rains meant little photography. More pictures are here.
We stared our climb too late [ at about 1.00 in the afternoon ]. The climb is a bit lengthy one and even from Tupewadi one cant get an idea about where the fort is. One can spot the Navra Navri as well on the same mountain range. The way up is through thick forest and waterfalls. After getting lost couple of times and getting stuck in the middle of nowhere, the dirty and muddy eight reached the top. A shephard guy stays here. The clock showed 3.30 by then. The fog made it impossible for us to see anything. We gave ourselves a deadline of 4.00 and proceeded thorough the thick forest till we reached an open area. We could see the fort real close to our right from here, and some house or something 100 mts ahead. But we were running out of time. The factors to be considered were the heavy rains and the news about a cat sighting the day before. We decided to head back.
Epilogue :I realized that time management here was critical, but there always is a next time. Heavy rains meant little photography. More pictures are here.
Tuesday, July 26, 2005
Pandavgad Pictures
Monday, July 25, 2005
Pandavgad
I managed to convince AB that Pandavgad isn't that far for a bike trek from Pune so he agreed to come along for this weekend. Unfortunately he called me up on Saturday night to tell me that he was unavailable. But I had company. Note that the company is an essential ingredient of a good trek. If there is lack of good rapport then it could be a torturing experience. Anyways so enough of this, we are here to go over the actual details.
We started a bit late for reasons I wouldn't want to explain and you would be bored to read. We reached the Nasarapur corner at about 7.35 am and had breakfast there. We took a right turn to Bhor, [12Kms from the turn]. From Bhor you can take a left to Wai [ 35Kms from there] via Ambade ghat.
So this road actually saves a lot of distance and the ghat is an interesting and scenic place. Although don't expect an expressway kind of road. It's like a typical monsoon Pune road at places.
On top of this ghat is a place called Mandhardev which has a temple of Mandhardevi. Due to one pious individual with us, we took a turn to this place from ghats [3.5Kms from here]. This ghat separates Pune and Satara districts. The Wai taluka on one side and Bhor on other. Mandhardev is most of the times in clouds and attracts lot of pilgrims on Navratri. In February 2005 there was a stampede which claimed 300 lives.
So anyways from the top of the ghat, the descend to Wai starts, this section is called as Mandhardev ghat. From here you can see the Dhom dam to right, town of Wai to the left and Pandavgad right ahead. To reach Pandavgad one can either go to Wai and then reach Menavali and start climbing.
Another route is as you are getting down Mandhardev just as the ghat ends, there is a place called Gundewadi, you can climb from here as well.
We chose the second option and it is the best option. The climb from this side takes less time. From Menavali side you have to go round the fort and join the same road to top. Menavali and Wai have lot many interesting places to visit. Menavali was the home base of the famous Peshwa minister Nana Phadanavis. His residence [ wada ] there is worth a visit.
From the top you can see table land and Pachgani ahead. Wai to left, Dhom / Kamalgad / Kenjalgad to right. Words fail me to describe the view one gets from here.
Another interesting development :
As we were returning one guy just popped out from somewhere. He said he was the watchman here and the landlord wanted to see us. So that was our encounter with Mr. Sher Wadia. This gentleman stays alone on this fort for past 22 years. There are lot of things we got to know from this gentleman. He bought the fort in an auction from Satara bank in 1983 for Rs. 40000. Now his friend owns it.
Edit: Found some info about this chap here and here.
Ajinkyatara / Pratapgad / Raigad and Pandavgad are all private properties owned by few royal families or auctioned like this one. He told us that Kamalgad in records called Kattalgad. Kamalgad was was used by the british to execute prisoners of war.
He told us that he tracked the history of fort in documents but they were all in Modi [script] and he hired a guy to interpret that and all he could go back to was 1892. He talked about his encounters with tigers [ one with stripes] etc. Offered us some coffee. If one wants to stay overnight one would have to write to Mr Vora at Mapro and seek his permission.
I have a lot to write here but then lengthy reads are boring. You can check out the pictures, they are not as cool as some of my earlier ones but enough to give you an idea. More pictures can be found here.
Epilogue :
We took a longer route from Wai in hope of a better road.
My bike gave me some trouble on the way back. So had to change the engine oil [ my own diagnosis ]. It worked. My left knee is hurting for past two treks. I need to get it diagnosed.
We started a bit late for reasons I wouldn't want to explain and you would be bored to read. We reached the Nasarapur corner at about 7.35 am and had breakfast there. We took a right turn to Bhor, [12Kms from the turn]. From Bhor you can take a left to Wai [ 35Kms from there] via Ambade ghat.
So this road actually saves a lot of distance and the ghat is an interesting and scenic place. Although don't expect an expressway kind of road. It's like a typical monsoon Pune road at places.
On top of this ghat is a place called Mandhardev which has a temple of Mandhardevi. Due to one pious individual with us, we took a turn to this place from ghats [3.5Kms from here]. This ghat separates Pune and Satara districts. The Wai taluka on one side and Bhor on other. Mandhardev is most of the times in clouds and attracts lot of pilgrims on Navratri. In February 2005 there was a stampede which claimed 300 lives.
So anyways from the top of the ghat, the descend to Wai starts, this section is called as Mandhardev ghat. From here you can see the Dhom dam to right, town of Wai to the left and Pandavgad right ahead. To reach Pandavgad one can either go to Wai and then reach Menavali and start climbing.
Another route is as you are getting down Mandhardev just as the ghat ends, there is a place called Gundewadi, you can climb from here as well.
We chose the second option and it is the best option. The climb from this side takes less time. From Menavali side you have to go round the fort and join the same road to top. Menavali and Wai have lot many interesting places to visit. Menavali was the home base of the famous Peshwa minister Nana Phadanavis. His residence [ wada ] there is worth a visit.
From the top you can see table land and Pachgani ahead. Wai to left, Dhom / Kamalgad / Kenjalgad to right. Words fail me to describe the view one gets from here.
Another interesting development :
As we were returning one guy just popped out from somewhere. He said he was the watchman here and the landlord wanted to see us. So that was our encounter with Mr. Sher Wadia. This gentleman stays alone on this fort for past 22 years. There are lot of things we got to know from this gentleman. He bought the fort in an auction from Satara bank in 1983 for Rs. 40000. Now his friend owns it.
Edit: Found some info about this chap here and here.
Ajinkyatara / Pratapgad / Raigad and Pandavgad are all private properties owned by few royal families or auctioned like this one. He told us that Kamalgad in records called Kattalgad. Kamalgad was was used by the british to execute prisoners of war.
He told us that he tracked the history of fort in documents but they were all in Modi [script] and he hired a guy to interpret that and all he could go back to was 1892. He talked about his encounters with tigers [ one with stripes] etc. Offered us some coffee. If one wants to stay overnight one would have to write to Mr Vora at Mapro and seek his permission.
I have a lot to write here but then lengthy reads are boring. You can check out the pictures, they are not as cool as some of my earlier ones but enough to give you an idea. More pictures can be found here.
Epilogue :
We took a longer route from Wai in hope of a better road.
My bike gave me some trouble on the way back. So had to change the engine oil [ my own diagnosis ]. It worked. My left knee is hurting for past two treks. I need to get it diagnosed.
Sunday, July 17, 2005
Rohida - Vichitragad Pictures
Rohida A.K.A Vichitragad
Teacup trekkers struck again. So myself and AB decided to hike Rohida on Sunday. From our experiece with Kenjalgad we decided to leave a bit early. Although we left Pune at about 5.40, which also is not bad.
To reach Rohida one has to reach Bhor and take a left to Wai and stop at a place called Bajarwadi.The climb starts from this place.
It wasnt raining although the weather was pleasent. We made it to the top in about an hour.I learnt the much talked about *macro mode* stuff, which in layman's terms (mine) is called the close up shot.I managed couple of good pictures of flowers etc with this. Although insects and some weird variety of bees made life difficult for us. There is too much of defortestation on the hills in Bhor area. There are no trees at all. All you get is eucalyptus trees. In short going to this place in summers or even winters is not advisable.
There is not much on the top. On the other side one can see Bhatghar at a distance and the road to Ambavade. I am sure you can climb from that side as well, although the entrance is one so this route would prove to be lengthy and hence not advisable.
There are couple of water tanks and a temple of Rohideshwar which is in a bad shape. We defended the perimeter wall, took good amount of snaps and got down at about 1.00 in the afternoon.
We visited Baneshwar on the way back home. This place is 2.5Kms from Nasarapur, which is on your way to Torna / Rajgad [ Velhe ]. The waterfalls at this place are beautiful, the stone unlike rest of sahyadris is a limestone'ish variety. Beware of beggers here. There is a Shiva temple so this place is flocked with Junta. We chose not to step into water as it was too slippery out there. We got back in Pune at about 5.00 which considering the things we did and accounting for the beer and tandoori chicken consumed on the way back was good.
I am pretty happy about the pictures I got, partly due to it was only two of us. So I could concentrate more on pictures of my types. Find the complete imagestation abum here.
To reach Rohida one has to reach Bhor and take a left to Wai and stop at a place called Bajarwadi.The climb starts from this place.
It wasnt raining although the weather was pleasent. We made it to the top in about an hour.I learnt the much talked about *macro mode* stuff, which in layman's terms (mine) is called the close up shot.I managed couple of good pictures of flowers etc with this. Although insects and some weird variety of bees made life difficult for us. There is too much of defortestation on the hills in Bhor area. There are no trees at all. All you get is eucalyptus trees. In short going to this place in summers or even winters is not advisable.
There is not much on the top. On the other side one can see Bhatghar at a distance and the road to Ambavade. I am sure you can climb from that side as well, although the entrance is one so this route would prove to be lengthy and hence not advisable.
There are couple of water tanks and a temple of Rohideshwar which is in a bad shape. We defended the perimeter wall, took good amount of snaps and got down at about 1.00 in the afternoon.
We visited Baneshwar on the way back home. This place is 2.5Kms from Nasarapur, which is on your way to Torna / Rajgad [ Velhe ]. The waterfalls at this place are beautiful, the stone unlike rest of sahyadris is a limestone'ish variety. Beware of beggers here. There is a Shiva temple so this place is flocked with Junta. We chose not to step into water as it was too slippery out there. We got back in Pune at about 5.00 which considering the things we did and accounting for the beer and tandoori chicken consumed on the way back was good.
I am pretty happy about the pictures I got, partly due to it was only two of us. So I could concentrate more on pictures of my types. Find the complete imagestation abum here.
Tuesday, June 28, 2005
Kenjalgad Pictures
Entrance ..taken while getting down..
The route from Raireshwar ..to left is Wai / Kamalgad / Walki Basin
Way up ..Raireshwar in clouds..
RaireshwarFind more details here.
Monday, June 27, 2005
Kenjalgad A.K.A Ghera Khelanja
I cooked a plan with AB for a Sunday Kenjalgad bike adventure on Friday. I couldnt get much response from the paxonet teacup trekkers and that was expected. We started off early in the morning at 6.00 on a pleasant Sunday morning. Had breakfast on the tapri located at the Bhor corner.
To reach Kenjalgad one has to pass Bhor and take the road to Ambavade. From Ambavade take a right from the bridge and proceed towards Jambhulwadi / Korle. This stretch of road demands skills and is a remenant of tarmac road which must have existed in Shivaji's era. We parked our bike at the village before Jambhulwadi / Korle and took a walk as the road got nastier.
We started our climb at 9.00 in the morning, despite of being advised by the local guys we took the Raireshwar road which goes up till the summit and you take a left to Kenjalgad. This proved disastrous, we reached the extreme right side of the massif and couldnt find the way up. Going across to the left side was a bit tedious but we could manage it.
Other motivation behind this was the need for a *safe passage* on the way back.
There is not much to see on the fort. One can see the Wai side from the top and the backwaters of Dhom dam. One can see Kamalgad and Navra-Navri of Kamalgad on the other side of Walki river from the top. There was too much of rain and too much of wind, although I managed a couple of snaps.
The journey back was far from exciting, It was raining heavier in Pune. I had some serious problem with my bike in Katraj and it continued till I reached home and it still is with me.
I spoiled my cellphone on this trek and I hope the camera is about to dry as I reach home. Ill post the pictures if the thing is intact. Check out the complete imagestation album here.
To reach Kenjalgad one has to pass Bhor and take the road to Ambavade. From Ambavade take a right from the bridge and proceed towards Jambhulwadi / Korle. This stretch of road demands skills and is a remenant of tarmac road which must have existed in Shivaji's era. We parked our bike at the village before Jambhulwadi / Korle and took a walk as the road got nastier.
We started our climb at 9.00 in the morning, despite of being advised by the local guys we took the Raireshwar road which goes up till the summit and you take a left to Kenjalgad. This proved disastrous, we reached the extreme right side of the massif and couldnt find the way up. Going across to the left side was a bit tedious but we could manage it.
Other motivation behind this was the need for a *safe passage* on the way back.
There is not much to see on the fort. One can see the Wai side from the top and the backwaters of Dhom dam. One can see Kamalgad and Navra-Navri of Kamalgad on the other side of Walki river from the top. There was too much of rain and too much of wind, although I managed a couple of snaps.
The journey back was far from exciting, It was raining heavier in Pune. I had some serious problem with my bike in Katraj and it continued till I reached home and it still is with me.
I spoiled my cellphone on this trek and I hope the camera is about to dry as I reach home. Ill post the pictures if the thing is intact. Check out the complete imagestation album here.
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