The Fort.
Harishchandra Gad a vastly built
fort in the Malshej Ghat of
Maharashtra is an exotic place. It’s a huge fort with many spots of fascinating
attraction and many mythical stories around it. The fort combines myth and
reality and is wonder of nature. The fort is named after a renowned King
Harishchandra; who after sacrificing his Kingdom had sent his wife and son in
south. The wife and son had lived on this fort as servants.
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| The Forts View from one of the 7 hills. |
It is one of the most difficult
trek in Maharashtra and tests patience of a person. As a goal of taking people on
adventurous path, Small Steps had planned this trek from Khireshwar-Tolarkhind route.
The other routes are Nalichi Vat which
is more difficult than former and truly needs expertise in trekking and lots of
stamina. The other route is from pachne
village. It is quite easy and one reaches top in no time also scenic beauty
along this route is great, with ponds and waterfalls on its way.
Journey till Base Village
Starting in the morning of
Saturday from Thane station in Mumbai at 7, a private bus was arranged. We
reached Ahmednagar district where we took a turn from Khubi Phata. As our route
was from Khirshwar-Tolarkhind. We reached Khireshwar village in around 3 hrs. at
10 am. Khireshwar village is situated at the foothills of fort. The skyline
view of the fort and hills is visible from here. Delicious breakfast of kande-Pohe was served ‘speciality of
small steps.’ We got introduced to each other. For me a frequent trekker with
Small Steps; there were many new faces. With introduction done we got set and
ready for climbing the mountain.
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| The Skyline view of the fort from base village. |
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| Breakfast and Introduction |
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Delicious Breakfast
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The Trek
The trek from Tolarkhind is a
difficult one, no sooner than we started ascending everyone felt breathless and
tired. The cool breeze in midst of daylight was a relief. There are 7 hills
that need to be crossed to reach the top. On the way ahead the villagers have
set up huts that provide refreshments on every base. Believe me one needs them
as you are exhausted. The refreshments energised us to continue ahead.
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| Climbing the mountain |
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| Refreshments and break from trek |
We were also carrying tents for
camping; it added weight to our baggage. There are steep rock patches in
between and also an opportunity for enthusiast climbers to climb them. Many of
us did climb; the rocks had crevices to grip our hands. Others took safer way
up. The mountain has abundant flora and fauna. Greenery is spread all over
them. Amazing blossomed flowers also can be found on the way.
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| Amazing flowers |
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| Blossoming flowers |
It took nearly 4 hours of
trekking to cross the 7 hills to reach the top. We were divided into three
groups with as usual Sagar leading, Chaitrali (also a frequent trekker with Small
Steps) and me in between connecting the groups, and at the last Yogi with
dawdling trekkers. After reaching top we had to walk for nearly one and half
hours further to reach an ancient temple. We had started approximately at 10 am
and reached temple at around 3 pm. Still Yogi’s group hadn’t come.
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| Reached the top but still need to walk. |
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| Way towards the temple. |
The exploring of fort and architectural Wonders.
The temple is carved from black
stones a typical architecture from ancient India. It is temple of Shiv linga.
Inside the temple there are 2 caves and 3 more small temples of other Gods. A Nandi is carved in front of Shiv linga at the back there are 2 caves
and 3 water tanks. I have always said that the in the forts of Maharashtra this is a major trait; one finds abundant
water supply from ponds, lakes and water cisterns and tanks. No temple is
complete without Ganesh and so Ganesh sculpture is carved on one side of the
temple and painted saffron. In front of temple there are 2 reservoir one small
and
one big. These reservoirs were
also built in olden times. The reservoir at one edge has a short wall and is
carved inside with different deities.
If we walk further right to this
temple and descend for a while one finds an amazing cave carved from in rock
with a Shiv Linga at centre of it. It is filled with water till waist height.
The water is perennial in it. The cave itself has four pillars of which 3 are
broken and now is supported by just one. Here the myth of fort starts; it is said
that 4 pillars represent 4 Yugas of
Hindu Scriptures and as 3 are over they are broken when the 4th
breaks the last Yuga will end. Keeping
aside the myth it is a wondrous cave and looks beautiful; the water inside is
ice-cold and teeth chattering.
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| Shiv linga Cave, amazing.! |
As Yogi’s group arrived; Sagar
the lead took off with Chaitrali. Yogi and I waited till last group rested and
had their lunch. It was around 4 in the evening. We started our journey to most
awaited spot of the trek, ‘Konkan Kada.’ Walking further one arrives at a small
heighted temple of Sage Vishwamitra. It is said that in that here he used to meditate.
Konkan Kada, Nature is inexplicable.
As we walked for an hour or so Konkan kada came into our sight. We
reached the very end. Konkan kada is
an inexplicable place. It is a flat surface and shaped like a curvature.
Vertically flat and has height of about 3000 ft above sea level. It is called
Konkan Kada because from here you can view Konkan on other side. A view that
exhibits personified nature and leaves your head spinning. To have a thrilling
experience; we slept on our bellies and looked down, and the depth never ends. The
villages far away seem tiny toys like. Activities like rappelling also take
place here but strictly arranged by professionals. After watching for quite
some time and not feeling fulfilled; we got up and had some tea sold by
villagers. The selfie’s and photos followed as they always do. The tents had to be pitched. Sagar had
reached earlier and pitched most of the tents with his group. We erected reaming
few. It was around 7 pm.
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| Konkan Kada;Down we look into the valley. |
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| View from Konakan Kada. |
Stay and Camping
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| Tents pitched on camping site. |
The Fort has many caves, mostly
people stay in caves during dry seasons. But we had brought tents and so had
many other groups.
The night was covering sky under
its shelter and the darkness was underway. Torches were getting lit up; many
trekker groups were camping on Konkan Kada, so in the lights of torch one could
see many tents pitched in circles. The villagers set up their huts also nearby
in dry seasons. One peculiarity is that the villagers of base village or of
fort are of great help during trekking. They live so simple life although having
their own set of problems. Sometimes I wonder it will be so peaceful to live in
such villages. Well not to digress into my personal trail of thoughts; the
villagers provide meal and water.
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| Campfire |
But we had brought our own set of
ingredients to prepare food, the locals gave us their utensils and materials to
use. Some of us who were good at cooking stayed in the hut and cooked the meal.
Rest of us set the campfire and near our tents. We actually tried to roast
potatoes on the campfire, but only few succeeded to properly roast it. After some time meal was ready. A great
Masala rice was served; it was delicious and tasted awesome served with pickle
and I remembered home. We ate stomach full.
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| Delicious Masala Rice..! |
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| Tents lit up at night. |
Done with the dinner we retired
to camping site. Some of us went to Konkan Kada, it was a cool night and cold
breeze was flowing from kada. Engaging in our own activities, at last we slept
at around 12 or 12.30 am. The tents provided a warmth from outside cold.
Keeping in mind my last experience of Rajgad to Torna trek where; I had brought
a shawl with me. I was awake by 4.30 am and so were many; campfire which had
extinguished was lit up again.
Climb to see the Sun rise
Now the plan was to trek to other
great spot Taramati point and watch the sun rise. Taramati is a name of the
wife of King Harishchandra. We were taking warmth from the campfire as it was
chilling in the early morning; after sometime we started our trek. Some decided
to enjoy the sleep as it was Sunday morning. The trek to Taramati is ahead of
Konkan Kada parallel. We walked for few minutes and then ascended, and reached
to another plateau, again walked and again ascended another small hill, again a
flat surface and again a hill. This continued for 6 such hills. In between I
felt tired and thought of not continuing, as the ascending patches were steep.
But in our group; a married couple had come and they had a young kid of 7 to 8
years. He was enthusiastic about trekking from the start. He had been in lead’s
group. Now also he was not walking but running and jumping, taking inspiration
from him, I thought I have come this far and should continue and reach the top.
So finally after 6 ascensions we reached top at the Taramati point the saffron
flag was furling further hoisted near a Buruj.
The sky was uncovering from the shelter of night, Sun before rising had spread
a saffronish mixed with blue colour gradually the sun was rising. Down on the
earth we could see small villages and river flowing by; hills and mountains all
around us. It was the perfect beginning of the day; we were on the top of the
mountain, at bottom calm and serene river was flowing sun had risen announcing
his appearance, birds flying away from nest and flowers blooming in his
direction. What a picturesque view. You only see such things in paintings. Well
click, click and click many cameras captured the scenes, even the cell phones
were out and clicks being taken; soon the trend of selfies followed and the
dp’s for social networking sites. With lots of such clicks we started
descending back to camp site. The descension did not take much time and soon we
had reached our camp site near Konkan Kada. Taking a glimpse of kada for the
last time and of course a group photo.
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| Taramati Point |
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| Sunrise at Taramati |
Time to Descend the fort.
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| Time to go; Packing tents |
We packed the tents and our bags.
We were ready to climb down now. Having a little breakfast and some tea from
villagers, the trek back towards base started.
We reached the temple and the
arched cave of Shiv Linga, from nowhere everyone decided to jump into the lake
of cave, and I joined too, my teeth chattered as soon as the cold water hit me
and for a moment I couldn’t bring words out of my mouth. It was shivering but
after few minutes the initial coldness went away. Plunging into the water and
swimming for a while, we came back. I felt great calmness after that, all the
exhaustion, tiredness and aching went away, I felt refreshed and re energised.
Changing into dry clothes we continued climbing down.
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| Plunging into the lake. |
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| Finally a group photo, at reservoir |
The descend was steady and fast,
around 10 am in the morning we started. Again the same pattern of grouping followed,
while descending now knowing everyone we chatted and sang song and made fun of
each other remembering the moments of camping and the night spent. Refreshments
were available frequently from villagers. It took about 3 hours to descend;
reached around at 1 to 1.30 pm.
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| Descending the Fort. |
After reaching the base village
and looking at the skyline of fort every one of us had sense of accomplishment.
Again the last group was yet to come. Until then we had our lunch at Khireshwar
village same place from where we had started. After that we put ourselves under
a tree and relaxed, so serene it felt.
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| So Calm. |
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| Nature's Son. |
Till the last group arrived and had
lunch it was tea time. So our trek ended on the tea note.
Back journey in the bus was lively no one slept; maybe tea’s effect. The
journey completed in talking with each other, sharing of pics, sharing of past
experiences and etc.
Finally at around 7 pm in the
evening we reached Thane station and from here every one bidding adieu
dispersed. It was an end to great joy ride and thrilling adventure.
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| Cheers; ending on a Tea note. |
Small Steps
Group of five (Sagar, Yogi, Ravi,
Prashant and Sushant). They created Small steps to take people out from their
comfort zone and give them experience of adventure. They have amazing
coordination and management. Being a frequent trekker one could easily trust
them with the trek and feel secure about trekking. In this trek only Sagar and
Yogi were present and even though being only 2 they managed batch of 35, it
shows their strength of organising and event.
Technical details:
Location: Ahmednagar district,
ahead of Malshej Ghat.
Base village: Khireshwar village.
Distance: around 180 km from
Thane.
Transport facility: State
transport buses from Thane – Kalyan till
Alephata. From here local transport available.
