Range Trek

VRangers Trek To Rasal-Sumar-Mahipatgad Range Trek. The Sahyadri range extends in North – South direction along the Konkan coast. There are many mountain ranges that branch-off over several miles from the main Sahyadri mountain range. Beyond Poladpur, as we head towards Chiplun via Khed, we come across the forts of Rasalgad, Sumargad, and Mahipatgad. These forts lie in Jawali forest region Sumargad lies in between two forts, Rasalgad and Mahipatgad. Short Info: Grade – Medium. Endurance – Medium. About: Rasalgad: This fort has a rush of visitors on weekends. The fort is a small triangular plateau of 5 acres fortified on all the sides. The two entrance gates are in good condition. There is a Veer Maruti idol near the first gate. There is a Zolayidevi temple on the fort with a stone Deepmal and tulsi vrindavan in the front. There are two large rock cut water cisterns on the fort. There are 16 cannons on the fort. There is a store room in good condition. Chakdev and Parvatgad are seen from the Fort. Sumargad: The fort is located in the middle of hill range that spans in the North South direction and runs parallel to the Sahyadris. Due to its difficulty in access, height and tough climb only experience mountain trekkers can reach at this fort. It has straight rock surfaces on all the sides of the fort and the way to the fort requires some rock climbing to reach to the fort which is located on the summit. There are some water cisterns on the fort. In one of the cistern there is a Shivalinga and idol of goddesses Bhairibhavani, Zolai, Vaghjai and Navlai in one cave. The fort provides views of Sahyadri forts in the east which includes forts of Vasota and Makarandgad. In the west one can see mid Sahyadri or Valati forts of Palgad and Mandangad.Not much is known about its past. Villagers say that earlier there a festival was held in this fort in the memory of Goddess but after an accident in which two villagers fell off the cliffs while balancing the pole, the festival was shifter to Rasalgad. Mahipatgad: The altitude of Mahipatgad is 3090feet. This fort was built by Adilshah of Bijapur in 15th century. This fort was captured by King Shivaji in 1661. Later on it passed to Peshwas and finally to the British in 1818. There are 10 houses in the Beldarvadi village, which is at the foot hill of the fort. The villagers are said to be brought by Shivaji as bricklayers for construction of the fort. The fort is a table land with six battlements and six gateways. The gateways are in ruined state. The Gateways are 1) Laldevdi- on North-Eastern side 2) Pusati- On Eastern side, formerly entered by a ladder 3)Yeshwant- on south-Eastern side. 4) Khed- towards southern side, this route is still in use and connects the village Beldarwadi to the fort.5) Shivganga- on western site. There is a rock cut shivling near this entrance. 6) Kotwal- on Northern side. the pathway from this gate leads to the Village Kotwal in Poladpur taluka. Here foundation of temple of Maruti and Ganapati are seen with half walls still standing.On the southern side of the fort are remnants of horse stables which are 350-700 in numbers.There are two heaps of unused mortar on the fort. There are two large wells on the fort, on near the Khed entrance and other near Pareshwar temple.The water from these wells is used for drinking by the villagers. read more read less

Ahupe Ghat is at the height of 3855 feet from sea level and falls under Murbad region, is ideal for a pleasant one day trek especially in monsoons with some astonishing view from the terrain. It is nestled among the mountains from three sides and valley on one side.It`s a pass leading from Khopiwali in the Konkan to Ahupe village in the Ghats. Ahupe Ghat is also famous for its Devrai Story. Devrai – The Sacred Groves of Maharashtra. These Devrais are nothing but religiously preserved forest patches. Ahupe near Bhimashankar has such Devrai – protected by faith of nearby tribal people “Mahadeo Kolis”. Ahupe Devrai is a success story. If fact in last 3 to 4 year they have planted several thousand trees that are growing well. Ahupe Short Info: Height: 2137 Feet above MSL (Approx) Grade: Medium (Approx 2 hrs Walk). Region: Murbad. Base Village: Khopivali. Bhimashankar is the sixth Jyotirling in the series of Dwadasha Jyotirlingas. The temple is very old and surrounded by a scenic nature with green forest. The temple is located at Dakini hill (Shikharam). Nana Padnis of Peshwa kingdom has improved this place to a great extent and built the beautiful temple. Bhimashankar Short Info: Height: 3500 Feet above MSL (Approx) Grade: Medium (Approx 4 hrs walk) Region: Bhimashankar Base Village: Khandas. There is a Continuous water flow from this Jyotirlinga, which is the speciality of this place. Some more places of interest here are Kamalaja Devi temple, origin of Bhima River, Bombay point and Hanuman temple. The sanctuary is small (only about 100 sq. km’s), but it is home to a wide variety of animals Leopard, Sambhar, Barking deer, Grey Jungle fowls, Wild pig, Hanuman langur etc. The sanctuary is famous as the home of a highly endangered subspecies of the Indian Giant Squirrel – Shekharu. read more read less

Dear All Rangers,  Get Ready to Cover Satara Region as VRangers come up with Seven Forts/Places exploration in two day.  Here Is the List Of treks and Places: 1) Vairat Gad :  The fort Vairatgad is situated in the province of Wai, and 8 km away from Wai. It takes one day to see the fort.King Bhoj of the Shilahar dynasty built Vairatgad in the 11th century. During Shivaji’s period the fort was used only as a military station. Shivaji Maharaj conquered the Wai region and included Vairatgad and Pandavgad in his kingdom. The British captured it in 1818. 2) Kalyangad :  Kalyangad Fort was built by king Bhoj-II of Shilhara dynasty from 1178 AD to 1209 AD. It appears from many copper plate inscriptions of Shilhara kings that they gave many donations to Jain saints.The architecture of Kalyangad Fort is very beautiful. There are two main entrance gates facing towards the north and east. Taking the steps to reach the east gate is preferred by most visitors. At the entrance, there is a cave pond, which is about 30 m deep. The roof of the pond is supported by carved pillars. There are statues of Lord Dutta in one corner and Lord Parshavnath on the right side of the cave.  3) Santoshgad :  Santoshgad is divided into three parts. First part of the fort is the protective (defensive) fortification, second part is the flat portion on the mountain and the topmost part is the “Balekilla” or the top citadel. There is a ‘Math’ (cloister/ monastery) on the way to Santoshgad. Besides this monastery is a cave with water storage tank. Also, there is a statue of “Valmiki Rishi”. There is an entrance on the upper side of the monastery, for which we need to go around it. The path to the left side of the monastery goes along the fort walls and takes us to the main entrance. There is a small temple on this way.Santoshgad is also called as ‘Fort of Tathawada’, since the base village is called by that name. 4) Mahimangad: Mahimangad is about 51 km south of Phaltan city. This fort is in Maan Taluka in Satara, and is a part of the chain of forts created to guard the ancient trade route from Mahad to Bijapur. The fort is located near Mahimangad village on the Satara – Pandharpur road. All the forts in this region are built on isolated mountains and their shapes are unique. The trail to the fort is on the north face of the fort and takes us along the ramparts to the east facing entrance. On the pillars of the entrance, there are magnificent elephants protruding which are unique and not found elsewhere. The entrance is not visible till we reach very near, as we have to go along the edge and the bastion is built in such a way so that the door cannot be struck by the enemy easily. 5) Vardhangad: The construction of the fort was undertaken in 1673 by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and was finished in 1674. It was used as an outpost guarding the east frontier of his newly acquired territory. In 1800, the fort, then in the hands of the Pratinidhi, was invested by Mahadji Shinde’s force with 25,000 men. The Ramoshis in the south-west machi were attacked and killed the horse of Muzafarkhan one of Shinde’s generals. The machis were then sacked and burnt. Further havoc was stopped by the influence of the Sarnobat Ghorpade’s wife who was sister to the wife of Shinde. In 1803, Balvantrav Bakshi, the commandant of the fort, fought here a battle with Yesai Saheb Firangi. The fort was shelled, the machis sacked, and a contribution of Rs. 3,000 levied. In 1805, the fort was attacked by Fattesingh Mane. The Karkhanis and other officers were killed and Fattesingh took many horses in the neighbourhood. But was himself killed soon afterwards in a battle fought with Balvantrav Phadnis, the Mutalik of pratinidhi who was assisted by the troops of Chintamanrav Patwardhan.In 1807, after the battle of Vasantgad, Bapu Gokhale brought the Pant Pratinidhi to Cimanganv, a Koregaon village close to the north of the fort, and the fort was then surrendered to him. He administered it for five years till 1811 when the Peshva took charge of it.  6) Ajinkyatara: The fort is also referred to as the 'Fort of the Sapta-Rishi' and can be observed from the hill of Yawateshwar, which is 5 km away from Satara. This fort is surrounded by 4 m high thick walls with bastions. There were two gates. The main gate, made formidable by high buttresses, is close to the north-west corner and the small gate in the south-east corner. There are number of water tanks inside the fort for storing water. Visitors can also visit the temples of Devi Mangalai, Lord Shankar and Lord Hanuman on the northeast side of the fort. This place is also famous for hiking, trekking and mountaineering. 7) Sajjangad: Shambhu Mahadev is the sub range of Sahyadri starting from Pratapgad to eastern side. This range is divided into three parts and Sajjangad is situated on one of these sub ranges. One should touch the soil here sanctified by the feet of Samrath Ramdas Swami. Poet Anant has aptly described the place the sacred one, blessed by the existence of Lord hanuman and residence of Saint Ramdas Swami.  The fort stands 10 km away to the south- west of the Satara city in the ravine of the Urmodee or Urvashee River. & Bara Mota chi Vhir. read more read less