Sinhagad - Lavasa Rush Hours

My parents and my sister came over Pune before New Year. I have made lots of planning for them. Day trip to Sinhagad-Lavasa is the first of them.

My sister and me started off on my bike before sunrise and it was freezing out side. On the way, we found some fire to warm us up. It took around 2 hours to reach Sinhagad Fort. Even at 8:00am it was chilling at the top. We had famous Bhakri-Pithla of Sinhagad as breakfast.

We took a walk along the side-walls of the fort and we found quite a variety of birds.

We decided to take a peripheral tour of the fort and so we moved forward.

As we crossed Wind Point, we reached the part of the fort, which offers bit of challenge with uneven land and ruined walls.

It took more than 2 hours to complete the peripheral tour. We had lunch on the highway and moved for Lavasa. It's always been a pleasure to ride on the roads of Lavasa.

It took another two hours to Lavasa. I have been to Lavasa in early monsoon this year. Never expected Lavasa to be this much beautiful in Winter.

We spend quite a time taking photos here and there.

In the evening, we had some Subway wrappers and Gola and were waiting to see Lavasa in the night.

We left Lavasa at around 8 pm as I needed to drive 70 more kilometers to reach my flat. I was wishing I could have brought my parents.

Click here to get more details on Sinhagad Fort.
Click here for more details of Lavasa.

Being Wild at Pratapgad and Vasota

It's been a while I haven’t gone for a trek. So when my colleague Sandip asked me for this trek with his trekking club, I just can’t say no. Sandip and his friends started a trek venturing club, named Wild Trek Adventure Club; and Pratapgad-Vasota Trek is their first venture. I was very excited to trek with a group of 30-35 people; at the same time little worried too regarding the management of these many people.

On the day of trek, I went to Sandip’s room early morning and park my Panther. I met some of Sandip’s friend and had some introductional chat till our bus come. We started around 7.30am from Katraj, had breakfast on the way.

First, we visited Wai village (aka Dakshin Kashi, due to large number of temples), which comes on the way to Pratapgad. There, we visited Menavali Ghat on Krishna River and Meneshwar temple, famous for various bollywood movie shoots. It was shot as Tejpur in Gangajal, as Charanpur in Swades, as Shivgad in Singham, as Ranakpur in Bol Bachchan and in many other movies like Dabangg, Mangal Pandey etc.

Menawali Ghat on Krishna River - Shooting spot of many Bollywood movies like Swades, Gangajal, Singham, Bol Bachchan etc.

Also visited Nana Phadnis (Phadnavis) Wada beside Menavali Ghat. This palace was built in 1780 for holiday visits by Nana Phadnis. The palace was shot in Jis Desh Me Ganga Rahata Hai.

There’s an ancient tree, with a massive conform trunk has a platform constructed around it as old as the Wada itself. This tree featured in the Bollywood movie Swades. In the movie, the village elders hold a Panchayat on the stone platform around this tree.

The ancient tree of Swades fame

We moved forward to Pratapgad, stopped at Mapro Garden on Panchgani-Mahabaleshwar Road, had some shopping and lots of Mapro product tasting.

Radtondi Ghat

On way to Pratapgad, we stopped by a small stream, left our cook with all utensils to cook and went up to Pratapgad.

We reached at fort base at around 3pm. We entered through the Mahadarwaja of Pratapgad and moved to Afzal Burj, visited rest of fort. The fort is well constructed and full of handicraft shops.

The Entrance to the Fort

View down from Afzal Burj

The group at Afzal Burj

The Afzal Burj

Pratapgad is constructed by Shri Shivaray after defeating More of Jawali. The Maratha king Shivaji Maharaj commissioned Moropant Trimbak Pingle, his prime minister, to undertake the construction of this fort in order to defend the banks of the Nira and the Koyna rivers, and to defend the Par pass. It was completed in 1656.
The Battle of Pratapgarh between Shivaji and Afzal Khan was fought below the rampants of this fort on November 10, 1659. This was the first major test of the fledgling kingdom's army, and set the stage of the establishment of the Maratha empire.
Pratapgad continued to be involved in regional politics. Sakharam Bapu, a well-known minister of Pune, was confined by his rival Nana Phadnis in Pratapgad in 1778. He was later moved from fort to fort until he finally died at Raigad. In 1796, Nana Phadnis, while escaping from the intrigues of Daulatrao Shinde and his minister Baloba, assembled a strong garrison in Pratapgad before heading to Mahad.

Activities for the day has been done as we started descending Pratapgad. We get back to the cooking spot, had delicious Masala Rice and started for Mahabaleshwar Market. We spent an hour or so at Mahabaleshwar market, bought veggies for dinner and next day's lunch, and had glass full of strawberry ice-cream.
Our next venture was trek to Vasota, which is to be start next morning from Bamnoli. So we halt at Bamnoli that night with campfire and red hot Aloo Matar.

As the night passed, we found the morning very cool and calm.

Near the jetty ghat, there are two trees full of bats. At times, it really feels scrary.

We started at around 9.30am after having a group photos. We started sailing on the serene Shivsagar Lake for wild Vasota. Each boat costs us Rs. 3100.00 (max 12 persons allowed).

Water level decreases in winter which reveals the branches of the tree that are below water level in monsoon

After an hour of sail, we had the first glimpse of Vasota.

Vasota fort is attributed to the Kolhapur Shilahara Raja Bhoja II (1178–1193) of Panhala. Vasota always remained with Marathas, Shirkes & Mores in 16th century & then incorporated in Swarajya by Shivaji Maharaj in 1655 during the conquest of Javli. Shivaji Maharaj named the fort "Vyaghragad" (Vyaghra – means tiger), owing to its difficult natural defense. After Shivaji Maharaj, the brave Maratha Bajirao Peshwa carried on the Swarajya mission of ousting the Mughal invaders from our country. In 1818 however, British bombarded the fort with heavy artillery thereby destroying many parts of Vasota.

Vasota trek offers a thrilling experience of walking through a dense Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary with amazing views of the surroundings.

The trek was easy except you have to walk for 2 hours. It's a 4.5km trek and the route mostly covered with trees.

 

There are two places to see. First, we went to Babu Kada. It's like more than 1000 feet steep wall, behind it, there is Old Vasota, which is now inaccessible. One can hear amazing echos of his voice here.

Our next destination was Kalkaicha Burj (aka Nagaeshwar Point). Nageshwar is temple which consists of a Shivling and a cave to reside 20-30 people inside it.

Chota Nageshwar (former peak) & Nageshwar

To trek through Koyna Wild Life Sanctuary, there are certain rules. First, you have to get the permission to enter the forest. Second, you can not stay. You have to get back by 5.30pm or you'll be charged for fine. To avoid such consequences, we started descending by 3pm.

 
It is said that Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary is filled with wild animals like wild dogs, sloth bears, leopards and even tigers. Though we're only able to have a glimpse of Indian Bison/Gaur while returning to Bamnoli.

The return journey took more time than we thought. Everyone was slept inside the boat. But the sunset was very soothing and the surrounding atmosphere was fantastic.

Everyone is very hungry as well as tired. Once the eating part finished, all went to sleep mode.
It was an awesome trek experience with Wild Trek Adventure Club.

Quick Info on Forts:
Pratapgad Fort
Height- 3505 ft
Difficulty Level- Very Easy
Endurence Level- Very Easy
Distance- 140 km from Pune

Vasota Fort
Height- 4273 ft
Difficulty Level- Easy
Endurence Level- Medium
Distance- 150 km from Pune (to Bamnoli, from there 1.5hours of Boating)