Nov 25, 2005 02:41 PM
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(Updated Nov 25, 2005 02:41 PM)
The rains offer the best reason for anyone to make a quick getaway , away from the potholed roads of a rain submerged Mumbai and to the splendid realms of the sahyadris. One such trek that I was a part of recently was to the Sahyadri mountains.A trip to the Lohagad fort. Accessibility to Lohagad is quite easy. Take the Mumbai-Pune expressway via Navi-mumbai.The ride is amazing in the rains with hilltops covered under palls of misty clouds. The road apart from offering a panoramic view is also very smooth. You could drive your car at 120Kph without any hiccups.
On the hill, take the bypass towards Lonavla. Cross the city and head on straight towards malavi station.If you are a food fanatic then you could mull a stopover at Lonavla and treat yourself to some sumptuous vada-pav. Well ! Once you reach malavi station you are then about 10 mins drive from the Lohagad base camp .. or should I say base-village ! here is where you should park and enjoy a nice hot cup of village tea before you begin the climb. Before you begin the climb, ensure that your back-pack contains the following items - 1) Lots of water..Lots of it.. It would be badly needed incase the the day happens to be sunny... After all you would not want to be seen like an arabian lost in a green oasis without water ! 2) Get some sunscreen cream, 3) An extra pair of clothes, good mountain shoes and a first aid kit.
The climb ain't too hard.Its easy unless its raining and you encounter slippery rocks on the way.You could also stop on the way to catch some nimbu-pani in the nearby villages. However there are no hotels on the way nor over the mountain top !. Lohagad happens to be one of the forts belonging to Shivaji Maharaj. The fort was strategically very important as it was in the way of the trade route between Kalyan and Nalasopara. Thus the mountain-top offer's an amazingly panoramic view of the hills and landscapes.Though in ruins now, the fort speaks volumes of the then architectural advances of its era. On the way up, there are numerous waterfalls. You could stopover and have a nice hydro-massage ! Get a camera with you to take a snapshot of nature at its expressive best.
Catch mountain peaks covered in misty clouds, shepherd's with their livestock, greenery and pure air all around !. The mountain has a little temple and ruins over the top. You will find cannons lying around. Guns that destroyed many a mughal army now lie rusting away by the vagaries of nature. Go to this mountain in the rainy season. The Kalra caves are also nearby and so is the Visapur fort. However a day's trip is recommended as there are no hotels around. Its pure trekking all the way !
