GIRNAR...... an adventurous route to eternal peace

A night view of Girnar mountain 

                        Girnar, only religious place in Gujrat situated on top of a hilly area of Junagadh. A whole mountain is covered with many popular Hindu, Muslim, & Jain temples. The main specialty of this place is all temples are accessible with stoned stairs, counts to 10000 stairs one way.
                        Junagadh can be easily accessible via train Saurashtra Mail, Veraval Express, Pune Veraval Express. with moderate fares for sleeper class. Once you reach the Junagadh, you can reach the Girnar temple by local Auto Rikshaw (Don't worry about fares, they won't charge you more than 20rs per head for any place, provided rates would be same as of now).
                        Book your accommodation, take a rest for a journey. The best time to climb the mountain is night since there are 10000 steps which can give best heat stroke at noon time. In a noon time, it will be difficult to complete these steps. Take a small sack full of water bottles & some dried food. There are various small shops on the route opens 24/7 hrs on a full moon day in your service with lemon juice, water bottles, & other energy drinks.
                       It takes around 4 to 5hrs to reach the top & depends on your physical strength. At highest peak, there is Swami Datta Maharaj temple. In this temple, you can see a Paduka(sandals) of Swami Datta Maharaj. No photography is allowed at this place.

Highest Peak & Last temple

Swami Datta Maharaj Temple

If you are planning to go to Girnar to get blessings, see my next blog for awesome places nearby to Girnar. 

For any suggestion or help comment below.....
Best of luck...😊😊

Salher fort ... 2nd Highest peak of Maharashtra

View from Salherwadi Base village

Salher fort, located in Baglan region, Nashik & in fame for its war between Mughal & Maratha. One can go there by State transport from Nashik to Taharabad via Satana bus(But i suggest to reconfirm the bus with timings), which will drop to salherwadi, base village of Salher fort. I will prefer to go by private jeeps with a group of 6 to 8 people as a frequency of the bus is not much.
In the year 2017, I again visited the fort, & have seen a little facility there. A guide is available with a small hotel at a base.

Take any small route & go upward (to right direction of photo)

Trek route start in the South-East direction upward. Many curb routes are meeting at one point, where a small patch of stairs starts. Take this stair route as your clue & go with it. you will see 1 or 2 gates in this route, with a small plateau-like surface with dense trees.

This gate has a small cave beside to it. 

The 2nd gate, after which a small water pond called 'SURYAJI TAKE' 

Another long open area after stairs, leading to other spots

   There is a cave, which can shelter up to 25 people. There are many things on this fort like Suryaji Take, Ganesh Take(it is there on fort, however, i haven't seen it), Havan Kund, Renukadevi Temple, GangaSangar Lake. 

Ganagasagar Lake with Renukadevi Temple beside to it

A Cave, from which has a route to go to Parshuram Temple. 

Renukadevi Temple

Take a route from an upper side of the cave to Parshuram Temple, & enjoy the scenic view of MAHARASHTRA & GUJRAT STATE both. 

View of Maharashtra

 I will especially suggest to go from Salher wadi to enjoy single rock curve view like Kokankada & Plan for either sunrise or sunset.
A small advice to an enthusiast, remember the creature of these forts & their sacrifice.
For any suggestion or help comment below.....
Best of luck...😊😊

  

Harihar Gad or Harsh Gad

Harihar Gad, 

Harihar gad or Harsh gad, Nashik

I would like to say about it as simply awesome trek, for beginners, situating at around 150km approximately, from Mumbai Nirgudpada, Nashik. 

The best season to go for trek to Harihar is Oct to March & also in the month of June only if there is no heavy rainfall, which can lead to slippery rock steps.

You can go from Kasara-Khodala-Nirgudpada, as simple & long route, leading to approx 3.5 to 4hrs of a journey. I'd like to advise that if you are planning to go with this route be assure to get Return transport from local Jeep, deal with him for your return journey or else you might get stuck in Nirgudpada itself. There are no local connective sources other than a jeep or private vehicles. Though state transport buses are available but are not on time.

On the way to fort

Once you reach the Nirgudpada, you can ask anyone for a route to the fort. The villagers are cooperative. You must carry sufficient water & ready food items to eat between journey. There are no shops available nearby to this location. 

After around 2 hrs, you will reach to small uphill before to actual stairs. All the pathway are in good condition.

While ascending be cautious, as one small mistake can cost a lot... 

At these small uphill, you can click a picture. It's simply a photo spot.

you can see the small uphill in this photo

All the stairs are carved in stone, with small hole in it at both ends to get a proper grip. 

you can see the small holes on stairs to get a support while climbing

After completing stairs you can see beautiful scenes in front of you.

You will be on the plateau after completing this small sized open road.  

Small temple

Also, there is a small lakes size water pond

You can ascend to the final top just beside to above spots, & enjoy 360' view around you. 

A small advice to an enthusiast, remember the creature of these forts & their sacrifice. 

Best of luck .......... 

Kalavantin Durg ... A thrilling experience

                                  Kalavantin Durg, Panvel

It is said that its always adventures tough to do adventures things in out life. Around 3 year's ago,

while surfing trek points on web, i found the name Kalavantin durg from.

I was unsuccessful in my first attempt to this so called most tough & riskier fort of India. It's actually our fault that we decide to take a tough route to durg without any guide & our over smartness leads to

full day finding way for durg in the jungle of Prabalgad.

But the story completed after around the 2 year's later to 1'st unsuccessful attempt. Me, Chetan( my brother, friend), Divesh, & Madhukar (friend) were decided to go for kalavantin again to complete the trek. fortunately this time our trek leader was Madhukar.

We decided to go on Saturday, as we can rest in next day.

We decided to reach Panvel railway station, in the morning till 7:30 to catch the S.T. bus

for Thakurwadi, base village of kalavantin & Prablagad both. Divesh was coming from Ambernath 

& Madhukar from Ghatkopar. After around 30 to 40 min's of  S.T. bus travelling we reached to Base village.

After general discussion, we start the way to go upwards.

The way is quite rough to walk. Also take care of any living creature likes snakes, as they often seen here in dense forest. You can see their presence through big size holes at just road side. But most of them are non venomous. 

Enjoy the scenic views....!!!!!

a way is going through the local tribal people

Z. P. Primary school, can rest here for some time ......... 

After these mixed walk, you will be at Prabal Machi. There is only one hotel on Prabalmachi, where you can eat veg as well as non veg & also stay for over night stay. ( I would recommend to stay over night on your own risk).

Walk towards the dense forest through only way below to your feet, just behind to Hotel Prabal Machi.

Small lemonade shop

small shop between Prabal Gad & Kalvantin Durg. One can go to Prabal gad through narrow way just before to these shop. & you can see the only way for Kalavantin durg in these image.

Monsoon Beauty...

Due to foogy rainfall, i was unable to click photos in my mobile. But after these shop the only way is to go using rocky steps, which everyone generally see in kalvantin photos.

Utilize all the support of rock steps in rainy season 

Be cautious in rainy season.......

                       After these you will at last place of the Durg, can see below..,

Don't be Panic here

Enjoy the views 

These last rock patch is quite tough, use your all resources & don't be so fast specially at these place. It might take you in danger in case of hurriedness.

Once you climb these patch you will be last point of durg, where i was unable to click photos because of foggy weather & little rainfall. 

Celebrate your winning moment within a small place cautiously.....

Any suggestions will be on high priority, can leave in comment box.

जय भवानी, जय शिवाजी