|
The major attraction of Harishchandragad is Kokan Kada . Its beyond description, one should actually see it to experience the nature's architecture. Konkan kada should be visited in the evening as well as morning. In evening one is enchanted by the sunset where as in the morning one can experience the divine feeling of being in the heavens. Taramati and Rohidas , the two peaks atop Harishchandragad, are also worth visiting as they offer beautiful views of the sahyadri ranges. The ancient temple of Lord Shiva atop Harishchandragad is also good sight for observing. An ancient temple and the caves present at the base village Khireshwar are also worth seeing.
It is one of the ancient forts in Western ghats and is a dream trek to be undertaken atleast once.
Harishchandragad situated at the top of Malshej Ghat is about 91 Km. from Kalyan. Kalyan is a main railway junction and one can easily reach kalyan by railway. From Kalyan one can board a state transport bus going through Malshej Ghat. S.T. bus will drop you at Khubi Phata, from Khubi Phata its an hour walk to Khireshwar, the base village. Actual climbing is from Khireshwar to Tolar Khind (about 1 hour climbing. After Tolar Khind there is a rock patch. Precaution and easy steps see you through it. Once the rock patch is gone it is a simple walk up and down small hills to the caves. Harishchandragad is necessarily a two day trek , one can do the overnight stay in the caves, which are clean and well maintained.
| Location |
Situated at the top of Malshej Ghat is about 4 Km. from Khireshwar, Ahamadnagar.
(Height 4510 ft)
|
| Distance |
Kalyan (95 kms), Murbad (30 kms), Tokawad (55 kms), Mumbai (160 kms). |
| STD Code |
02132 |
| Language |
Marathi , Hindi & English. |
| Climate / best Season/ Best Time To Visit |
Summer : Max 42°C, Min 28°C
Winter : Max 29°C, Min 19°C
Any Time. |
| Entertainment |
Number of Caves, About 100 years old temple of Lord Shiva, Kokan Kada , Malshej Dam, a big Shivling & Trekking. |
| How to Reach |
Air: The nearest airports are Mumbai & Pune.
Rail: The nearest railhead is Kalyan junction.
Road: Well connected by road with other major cities. From Kalyan, take a bus to Vaishakhare. Regular S.T. and private buses or vechiles available. It is linked with Pune, Mumbai , Ahamadnagar, Kalyan, Junnar, Igatpuri & Bhimashankar in south. |
Top
Reaching the top of any trek is a real satisfaction. Reaching a top of the Everest is but a special one! As far as Maharashtra is concerned, reaching the summit of Kalsubai, the Everest of Maharashtra, should also be a special one! Situated at the height of about 5400 ft, the Kalsubai temple at the top has tempted many of the trekkers to come to her way
Kalsubai is situated in Ahmadnagar district at approximately 25-30 Km.South-East from Igatpuri. Igatpuri can be reached from Kalyan (or Mumbai) by boarding a train to Nasik. It takes about three hours to reach Igatpuri from Mumbai. Base village for Kalsubai is Bari, which can be reached from Igatpuri by ST bus(frequency of buses are good) or Jeep. First bus for Bari leaves Igatpuri at 6:00 a.m. which will take you to Bari in about an hour. In about two and half hours you can reach the summit.
| Location |
Situated in Ahmadnagar district at approximately 25-30 Km. South-East from Igatpuri. (Height 5400 ft) |
| Distance |
Mumbai (190 kms), Pune (191 kms), Igatpuri (45 kms). |
| STD Code |
02424-51 |
| Language |
Marathi , Hindi & English. |
| Climate / best Season/ Best Time To Visit |
Summer : Max 44°C, Min 30°C
Winter : Max 26°C, Min 16°C
October to February. |
| Entertainment |
A small Kalsubai Temple, Alangad, Madangad, Kulanggad, Ratnagad & Bhandardhara lake & Trekking. |
| How to Reach |
Air: The nearest airports are Pune & Mumbai.
Rail: The nearest railway station is Igatpuri.
Road: Well connected by road with other major cities. From Kalyan, take a bus to Vaishakhare. Regular S.T. and private buses or vechiles available. It is linked with Pune, Mumbai , Ahamadnagar, Kalyan, Junnar, Igatpuri & Bari which 6 kms from Bhandardara. |
Top
The panoramic view offered from the top of Kulang is one of the best in the Sahyadris. One can see the forts in the Kalsubai range, Baleshwar range and hills right up to Naneghat and Dhakoba.
Standing in the front yard of Igatpuri bus stand, the attractive sierra - dominated by this very fort in the east - is a sight to enjoy! Offering the highest climb from the base village in the entire Sahyadri ranges, this fort offers one of the greatest panorama from its top.
Igatpuri, being the main station after the Thal ghat, can be approached either by rail or road. Catch the 1st bus (at about 8.30 am) for village Bhavli, and then walk for about 2 hours to the base village Kurung wadi. Take some rest and then get ready for a really wonderful 3 hours trek then on.
Kurung wadi is the last place for getting potable water till you reach the top, so get your bottles filled with water in Kurung wadi itself. Take some rest, for here on you will have to cover a fairly steep climb for about 3 hours at least! Just when your feet start talking, you get to see some wonderfully carved steps in the rock....with a steep wall of rock on one side and a deep valley on the other side! This patch has to covered with enough care, for by this time you are very tired and might just lose your concentration.....So be careful! During the trek like this just remember one thing......Nothing is dangerous if you take enough care!.
| Location |
About 3 hours from Kulangwadi, Sahyadri range, Ahamadnagar.
(Height 4820 ft) |
| Distance |
Mumbai (198 kms), Pune (1951 kms), Igatpuri (40 kms). |
| STD Code |
02533 |
| Language |
Marathi , Hindi & English. |
| Climate / best Season/ Best Time To Visit |
Summer : Max 42°C, Min 28°C
Winter : Max 18°C, Min 28°C
November to February. |
| Entertainment |
Caves, ruins, number of water cisterns, old bandhara. |
| How to Reach |
Air: The nearest airports are Pune & Mumbai.
Rail: The nearest railway station is Igatpuri.
Road: Well connected by road with other major cities. From Kalyan, take a bus to Vaishakhare. Regular S.T. and private buses or vechiles available. It is linked with Pune, Mumbai , Ahamadnagar, Kalyan, Junnar, Igatpuri & Bari which 6 kms from Bhandardara. |
Top

Bhimashankar as mentioned earlier is a famous pilgrimage spot, one can visit Lord Shiva's temple at the top. Also don't forget to go to Nagphani. Bhimashankar is at a height of 3250 feet. Karjat is the nearest station from which bus for Khandas can be caught . The 11/2 hour journey (approximately 40 Km.) will take you to Khandas. The summit could be embraced either by Ganesh Ghat or Shidi Ghat which is a bit tough, but very much enjoyable. Going through to the dense forest will take you to the top in around 4 hrs.
| Location |
Located at 40 kms from karjat, Khandas, Pune.
(Height 3250 ft) |
| Distance |
Karjat (40 kms), Pune (160 kms) |
| STD Code |
02415 |
| Language |
Marathi , Hindi & English. |
| Climate / best Season/ Best Time To Visit |
Summer : Max 40°C, Min 28°C
Winter : Max 12°C, Min 22°C
Any Time. |
| Entertainment |
Nagphani, Shiv temple, Ganesh Ghat, Shidi Ghat. |
| How to Reach |
Air: The nearest airport is Pune.
Rail: The nearest major railhead is also Pune. which is well connected to Mumbai, Nasik, Aurangabad, Chennai and Delhi.
Road: Karjat by train or S.T. from Karjat catch a bus for Khandas. Karjat Khandas distance is about 40 km. There are several state transport buses to the place from the Shivajinagar bus terminus of Pune. |
Top
A Prominent projection, jutting out from the main range between Rajmachi and Dhak. It has a round top and commands an excellent view of Rajmachi and Ulhas valley.
To the east of Karjat and in the juxtapose to the Rajmachi lies this trek with thrilling rock patch. Get down at Karjat and then catch a bus for base village Sandshi. A simple climb of about 21/2 hours will take you to a great col. Getting down of col and turning right will offer you a final rock patch. Half an hour rock patch will take you directly into the caves and Bhairoba temple.
More than anything else, the utmost precaution needed is while negotiating the rock patch. A bit of here and there, and you could be down in the valley. However, you take enough care and you will enjoy this thrill......cent percent!
| Location |
located east of Karjat.
(Height 4200 ft) |
| Distance |
Karjat (20 kms) |
| STD Code |
02415 |
| Language |
Marathi , Hindi & English. |
| Climate / best Season/ Best Time To Visit |
Summer : Max 40°C, Min 28°C
Winter : Max 16°C, Min 28°C
Any Time. |
| Entertainment |
Natural caves and a temple of tribal people. |
| How to Reach |
Air: The nearest airpost is Mumbai. & Pune is the one more airport.
Rail: The nearest railhead is Kalyan.
Road: Regular buses from Karjat to sandshi. And well connected to other major cities. |
Top
As the train to Pune leaves Karjat and runs slowly up the Borghat, one enjoys some great hills of Sahyadri to the left. This particular section of Sahyadri is commanded by a pair of citadels of Rajmachi - Shrivardhan and Manoranjan. Rajmachi has quiet a lot of significance because of its vital position - keeping an eye on the Borghat, and the beauty that it offers has mesmerized the trekkers for since long
Nearest Railway station to Rajmachi is Karjat. First bus to reach Khandpe from Karjat is at about 4.30 am (Bus for village Sandshi. Get down at Khandpe). 3 hours trek from Kondivde will take you to the village Udhewadi. From here 30 min trek will take you to the top.
As the train to Pune leaves Karjat and runs slowly up the Borghat, one enjoys some great hills of Sahyadri to the left. This particular section of Sahyadri is commanded by a pair of citadels of Rajmachi - Shrivardhan and Manoranjan. Rajmachi has quiet a lot of significance because of its vital position - keeping an eye on the Borghat, and the beauty that it offers has mesmerized the trekkers for since long
| Location |
Located at karjat.
(Height 2710 ft) |
| Distance |
Karjat to Khandpe 15 kms. |
| STD Code |
02415 |
| Language |
Marathi , Hindi & English. |
| Climate / best Season/ Best Time To Visit |
Summer : Max 42°C, Min 30°C
Winter : Max 14°C, Min 26°C
Any Time. |
| Entertainment |
Shrivardhan, Manoranjan, Ancient Lord Shiva temple Ancient temple in the gorge between Manoranjan and Shrivardhan, Caves, Lake , Kondane caves. |
| How to Reach |
Air: The Nearest Railway station to Rajmachi is Karjat.
Rail: The nearest railhead is Kalyan.
Road: Regular bus services & Private buses ply from Karjat & Kalyan. And well linked with other major cities. |
Top
Situated on the western edge of Satara district, this old warrior offers one of the most thrilling trek in the Sahyadri as far as trekking through forestation is concerned. Dense forest all the way through, panoramic view of the Shivsagar lake in the east and Konkan on the west, wonderful cave at Nageshwar for a stay, makes this a fort of special interest for amateur trekkers and photographers
Having reached Satara by bus/train, one can catch a bus for village Bamnoli (about 35 km,1st bus at around 6.00 am). Hire a launch for Vasota (about Rs. 400 irrespective of no. of people. So it's better to have a group of at least 8-10 people). 1-1/2 journey through launch will take you to village Met Indavali (no habitants at present). From here, 2-2 1/2 hours trek will take you to the top. Though not too much of remnants are present on Vasota, the view of Koyna backwaters on one side and Kokan on the other side is quite satisfying. The Mahadev temple at the top can also be used as shelter for a small group of 5-6 people. One can also check out the Babu Kada and old Vasota.
| Location |
Situated on the western edge of Satara district.
(Height 3842 ft) |
| Distance |
Bamnoli (35 kms), Mumbai (250 kms), Pune (160 kms). |
| STD Code |
02162 |
| Language |
Marathi , Hindi & English. |
| Climate / best Season/ Best Time To Visit |
Summer : Max 35.7°C, Min 24°C
Winter : Max 24°C, Min 15°C
Any Time. |
| Entertainment |
Nageshwar temple, Babu kada, Old Vasota. |
| How to Reach |
Air: The nearest airport is Pune. And Mumbai is one of the airport.
Rail: The nearest railhead is Satara.
Road: Regular buses ply from Satara to Vasota. Well linked with major cities. |
Top
Serving as a trade route for the transport between markets of Kalyan, Nalasopara (Konkan) and Junnar (Plateau) since the times of Satvahanas, this pass today offers you one of the most enjoyable treks in the vicinity of Mumbai
Nane Ghat is situated at about 55 Km from Kalyan.
This is the pass that has been serving loyally for the trade between Nalasopara, Kalyan and Junnar. It takes one to a different world when one realizes that he actually is at a pass made in pre Christian era.

|