Peth A.K.A Kothligad Pictures

Pinnacle of Peth and the hutments at base

Same place - same tree

Peculiarly shaped Padar Killa and Siddhagad at Distance

Locals working in the Paddy fields

Khandas-Bhimashankar range of Western ghats

The base of the fort. Taken from the base of the caves.

On the way up the pinnacle

Lush green mountain slopes with Padar Killa at distance

Pinnacle lost in clouds towards the evening.

Peth A.K.A. Kothligad

I got a call from Ajax on Wednesday. He said he had a bunch of guys with him from office which meant other than B and GD we had lot more heads and biking was ruled out. I was given the glorious job of deciding on the destination, so I took the liberty to dump the travel booking etc to Ajax. After lot of factors considering the two couples, prospects of rains, humidity blah blah. We headed towards Peth. Primarily because I had been there before and I did not want to scare the mere mortals on the bus with the idea of "Gee.. look this guy has no idea where he is taking us". So venturing into unknowns was turned down.

We got going about 8.00 from Pune, [ pretty early by the standards we set]. Had breakfast in Lonavala. On the way, some bright kid called up one of his drunk Sardar mate left behind in Baner to come join us in Lonavala, which surprisingly he did in record time. This Sardar could go on to become India's hope in MotoGP trust me.

For the sake of it and some people really do need these : Directions :
Get to Khopoli from Pune via NH4/Expressway. Take the Khopoli exit. Take the right turn to Karjat. Reach Karjat. Cross the bridge over Ulhas river and proceed to Murbad. At about 11 odd Kms from Karjat is Kashele. Take a right here towards Ambivali. This again is about 12 Kms. From Ambivali start your climb to Peth.

We reached after quite a leisurely journey. When we set off, it was raining in Pune, though oddly this part showed no traces and had been this way apparently for past 8-10 days. Peth is the most amazing place one can visit monsoons I guess. Particularly for the sight of numerous waterfalls that plunge the mountain slopes as you are on your way up.

Our leisurely journey continued till the small hamlet on the top. Here we had a brief pit stop and moved ahead. Ambivali has a lake at the base which is fed by one particularly beautiful waterfall which is a bit off the climbing route. It did get overcast at the end of the day. The fort has sole survivor canon and some fortification. There are steps dug out from inside the rock. Overall quite a tough base for a skirmish I guess. From the top one can spot the oddly shaped Padar Killa, triangular Siddhagad beyond and the Khandas Bhimashankar range of Western ghats.

The small set of hutments at base provide accomodation/chai/beedi etc etc. Watch out for a piece of a Canon in front of a shop called "Ganesh Kirana Stores". The owner guy claimed he got it in order to save it from others trying to steal it and take it away. The same guy has a necklace with what he claims as a "Royal Bengal Tiger tooth". Claims it was about 12 years ago that the villagers had found it dead in the valley. Claims there are leopards in the valley below, which is very true going by the fact that 30 odd leopards from Junnar were actually intentionally released in the Bhimashankar wildlife sanctuary.

I would have been happy if it rained. I met quite a few enthusiastic people on this trip. Met a father of two and three of them were going to camp here for night. Apparently this guy visits every year in monsoon and winters for past 12 years. I was in here with B, P and A in 2003. We had biked all the way from Pune. Now both B and P are gone, so much has changed. A is married and busy. I hope I carry on like this guy.

Check the entire imagestation album here.

Palasdari Pictures

Foggy NH-4 in Khandala

Enroute Palasdari - Khopoli-Karjat Road

Karajat Khopoli train route - Background Palasdari Fort

Lush Vegetation and Waterfalls enroute the Fort

At the base of the Fort

Looking at the Valley below from the base of the Fort

The only construction than the water tanks on the Fort.One of the two water tanks on the top of the Fort.

Palasdari

This week buddies and me decided to give Palasdari a shot. This place seems to be fairly popular with the Mumbai guys though not people from Pune. I had known about Palasdari for some time while traveling on the Khopoli Karjat road so getting there was no issue.

We caught up at Chevrolet showroom on NH-4 near Soos road, had some omlet and chai at Tapri and headed towards our destination Palasdari. Essentially to get here from Pune you got to :
- Travel till Khopoli from Pune by NH4. Take the right from Khopoli to Karjat. Palasdari is about 7Km from Khopoli. Take a right here and park your vehicles at the grocery shop or a hamlet. You got to take a walk from here.

We got across the guarded railway crossing for the locals, after which there is the Karjat-Khopoli train link. One needs to cross these and start a climb from the electricity tower to the left at the base of the hill. You can spot the fort which is the highest point around this area.

Our journey way up was full with insect bites and loosing our way. If you have to go here, prob. going there with someone who has been here before or hiring the services of a local expert is a good idea. Unfortunately for us, we couldn't recruit the expert on this day. Essentially you got to get up, go to the right end of the fort, go round it and climb from a narrow ridge between two pinnacles.

There's hardly anything there atop, two water tanks decorate the little area on the top. There is just a little sign of some fortification at the entrance. From the top one can spot Khopoli and Palasdari dam below. You can also spot Morbe dam near Chowk and a river which is prob. Ulhas river.

We lost our way on the way back twice when it was almost dark. Ultimately with just loosing altitude in the right direction [ Palasdari Lake ] as the prime focus we did magically manage to get down to the point from where we had started. Overall, I dont know who ever goes to the fort ? Most of the ppl who turn up are retards carrying loads of booze, go to the waterfall, act like pigs by the Palasdari Lake. Ironic !!

Find the complete imagestation album here.

Tikona Pictures

Climbing Up - Below, way round Tikona Peth.

Looking up at the Peak. Not yet there.

Taken from the caves at the base of the fortification.

Taken from the village while getting back - The fort.

Some bonding. Way back.

Mumbai - Pune Expressway- While approaching Somatane Phata

Tikona

All those fellas who still tune in here. Here's a big Hi. The old man doesn't have much fire in his belly by now. Though the old man is busy with some of his daily chores he did manage to pull off a weekend hike for the start of this monsoons i.e. on 30th of June 2007.

Primarily since it rained cats and dogs this time around Pune and again my folks or I dont know played with my poor point and shoot cam's image resolution settings I wouldn't have much nice pics, though the man I am who has always believed in consistency I still have some shots which dont really do much justice to this blog. Still nevertheless what the h/f**k.

Getting to the point and for the record, we converged on Tikona. I had been to this place long time ago with Paxonet guys and was quite an experience. Since I started with Tung last year and Tikona sounded more like the closest we decided we give it a shot.

Comrades included, Balls, Gemini, Kid, Subbu and Surd and yours truly. We set out at about 7.30ish from Chandni Chouk towards our target.
To get to this place you got to
1] Reach Paud via Chandni Chauk/Hinjewadi. Take a right from the Paud bus stand to a place called Javan and proceed further towards Tikona Peth.
2] Get to Somatane Phata via the Katraj Dehuroad bypass. Take a left for Pawana Dam and proceed towards Tikona peth past Pawana dam.

We made it there amongst heavy rains, parked our bikes at the temple at Tikona Peth once we felt we couldnt make it any further and proceeded for the climb. The tonic part which is the essential ingrediant of the treks was missing this time. Some R&D took us to the top, where rains did not leave us much options than to take shelter in the caves around.

There hardly are any structures around. There is a temple, couple of caves where one could stay overnight and old ramparts. You can spot Pawana dam and Tung bang across the waters of Pawana dam. If you would google, it tells you that why its called Tikona etc. etc.

After having bunch of Parle-Gs and assorted snacks the comrades decided to head back.
Return was uneventful. Rains worsened. We took a break at Pawananagar for Chaha and Khekada Bhaji. Dont have any imagestation album this time. Hope Ill do better next time.

Kurdugad A.K.A Vishramgad Pictures

The ever beautiful Mulshi lake ..

Tamhini Ghats while climbing Kurdugad ..

Fort Kurdugad from Kurdu Peth ..

Sahyadris south of Tamhini from Kurdu Peth ..

Narrow path round the pinnacle ...Getting down to Kurdu Peth.. Fort Entrance ...
Fort Kurdugad from Umbardi ..Bridge near Umbardi ..background Tamhini range...Sunset at Jite ...

Kurdugad A.K.A Vishramgad

No planning has by now become a regular feature. Although, some groundwork was done beforehand about the possible options. We headed towards Tamhini targetting Mangad/Kurdugad near Nizampur. The team was me, balls and bunch of gultis. After couple of waterfall/lakeside patel photos we got down from Tamhini and hit a sign which showed "Jita" [ Jite ] as 11Kms to left. After asking for Mangad near Borwadi, the local fellas had whats-wrong-with-me expressions on their faces. Although they said there is Kurdugad around, so we decided not to spend much time in R&D as lot of time was already spent in Patel photography and gults were showing signs of uneasiness.

In essence, to reach here -
1] Get down from Tamhini, on the way to Mangaon - 4km before Nizampur [ the one before you hit NH-17, There is hell lot of confusion Kapadia has caused about this place in his book ] you see a sign which shows a diversion to Jite. Reach Jite which is 11km s from the diversion, and walk to Kurdu Peth. There is some landslide there enroute, so you could also proceed to Umbardi [ Ooo-mb-ar-dee] and climb to Kurdu Peth.
2] Reach Dhamanohol/Dhamanvahal via Dasve [ Lavasa lake city ] there is some temple and a high tension electricity tower get down from there to Kurdugad.

Though it had rained cats and dogs in Pune the previous night, these areas showed no trace of rainfall. It was very humid and hot. We sought help of a guide who chose to run away after 5/10 minutes for unknown reasons. After lot of turmoil we reached 50 mtrs from Kurdu Peth. By then except for me and a first timer determined gult, rest of the junta was so tired that they decided to call it quits at the same point. Had it not been for a particularly nice snake to show up. So after Mr Nice snake showed up everyone covered the distance fast and some of gultis and balls decided to rest in the shades of the trees at Kurdu Peth while me, the determined-first-timer-gult and one more individual sought help of a local to show us around the fort.

The fort is not a big affair once you reach Kurdu Peth. Its a massive pinnacle at a lower height from the main range of Sahyadris. Is more of a outpost than a conventional fort. The final pinnacle requires rock climbing. There is walk involved going about the pinnacle which takes about half and hour and thats all that is there. There is a "fashi" point. Where apparently they used to hang the criminals. This point is where the pinnacle joins the main range. There is a big cave dug under the pinnacle, the guide Datta said it was an attempt to have the pinnacle removed from the mountain. Which kind of felt stupid to me. Because looking at the way it was dug the guys digging,would crush and die beneath it.

Per locals there was a landslide two years ago which got rid of most of the stone-soil around the pinnacle. Going around the pinnacle is a really tricky affair. Be "extremely" careful here. Locals told me that apparently long time ago there was a huge landslide which seperated one part of pinnacle [ you can see it resting on the main pinnacle ] under which all the men on fort died. Also there was fortification which collapsed into valley due to which the populace living there left. At the base of fort near Umbardi as well there are traces of stone wall. Similar to the Golkonda fortification inside which it has a whole big population as such.

When we got down, we got to hear couple of interesting stories about ghosts/an ancient temple [ To visit we had no time ] which apparently has some gold inside it/Some King's palace which again has gold etc. Ghosts interest me, I dont know why people in Konkan get abducted by ghosts more than others. Something like the way aliens prefer americans more than people of other nationality.

Check out the complete Imagestation album here

Manikgad A.K.A Manekgad Pictures

Fort Manikgad from Talavali..

Vegetation on the way up...

Gollum ..one of our guides..Fortification ..Fort Manikgad..

Ruins..stone arch with Ganesh ..Fort Manekgad..

Savna lake and Fort Karnala from Manekgad .. You find lot of these big grasshoppers on the top .. Dharamtar [or] Panvel creek from Fort Manikgad ..Manikgad ..taken while getting down to Vadgaon ..Sun sets on a hut enroute Vadgaon..

Manikgad A.K.A Manekgad

This weekend, after couple of beers and some hasty calls etc. We agreed that we need to meet at Devi House at 7.00 AM in the morning. Finally as we got moving in the Qualis, we brainstormed and zeroed in on Manekgad/Manikgad. Yes we had no plan. Whatever I had read about this place, they all say it was of little significance and was used as an outpost etc. Which made us think the hike to a insignificant fort would be pretty insignificant. Events showed, we were wrong.

The way to reach this place from Pune is to reach Chauk/Chowk. It is on the 1km to left of NH4 after Khopoli as one is travelling for Mumbai.
Two options again to reach the top

1] From Chowk take a left turn for a place called Talavali and hike from here to reach the fort.
2] Reach Vadgaon Vashivale from Chowk, a bit ahead from Talavali and hike the fort from there.

Option 2] is safest and nicest. We took route 1 for climb. There is no defined trail and our local guides had to carve a path through thick jungles for us using the blade they had with them. There are possibilities that you would be history if you had a slightest error in judgement, also there are giant mosquitoes so 3/4ths or shorts is not at all a good idea on this route. There is some real nasty variety of ants as well, and you cant help but to get at least 20 of them on you at various times and they seem to like humans. The climb is slippery as well. We got down from route 2 which is a very conventional safer and nicer route. It is lengthy nevertheless. Very lengthy in fact as it goes round the fort and takes you to Vadgaon.
Route 2 is suggested all the times, although if you do enjoy into situations described above like I do, please go ahead. Its a very valuable experience to have.
Despite 1 being a short route took us 3 hours to reach the top [ No we arent that dumb, it was really bad ].

There is not much left on the top. Couple of water tanks, one buffalo [ god knows how it made it to the top ], one stone arch etc. There are 14 water tanks somewhere on route 2 but then your guide should know. Our guides were pretty boring individuals. One looked like gollum, you can check him out in pictures section.

There is some interesting square tunnel enroute in option 1. From the top one can spot Patalganga [ river ] basin, Dharamtar or Panvel creek, Prabalgad across the plains and typically shaped pinnacle of Karnala.

It was almost dark when we got back, had some Malwani food before Khopoli. Never underestimate those things where they say its a insignificant fort or its an outpost, dont expect the locals to know *this fort* you are looking for. Lastly - Dont ask for Vadgaon. People would think you are crazy to come all the way past Khopoli from Pune when you wanted to go to Vadgaon *Mawal*. Tell them you are looking for Vadgaon-Vashivale.

Check out the complete imagestation album here.

Vairatgad Pictures

Lady working in the groundnut field...

Fort Pandavgad ..the distant square'ish peak ..

The guide ...

Fort Vairatgad..taken during climb ..

Looks like some variety of Dahlia..

Pachgani Tableland to left ..Thin white line is Dhom Dam...

Fortification..Fort Vairatgad ...

Temple atop the fort...One of the water tanks atop ..Fortification ..Fort Vairatgad ..Another view..looking west..Fort Vairatgad..Sunset..at Tableland..