An amazing 4 day long
traverse from Mahipatgad to Rasalgad via Sumargad in the Khed region of the
Sayhadri’s with Yogesh. I met Yogesh via his insightful comments on some of my
earlier trek photos on Picasa. Finally after some discussion on watsapp and
phone calls the route and date was fixed in early Dec (5 to 8 Dec 2015) for the
trek.
We decided to start the trek
from Wadi Jetapur and then go to Mahipatgad via Wadi Beldar. Next we would go
Sumargad and then finally to Rasalgad. I would recommend this sequence (and not
the other way round starting from Rasalgad) to anyone who plans to do this
traverse along with Sumargad.
The photo links and detailed
write-up given below.
Photo Links:
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Day 1: Mumbai to Khed Drive
à 4 ½ hours from Wadi Jetapur to Wadi Beldar (1:30
PM to 6:00 PM)
We started our drive from
Mumbai on early Sat morning at 5:30 AM after picking up Yogesh form Kalwa
station. We reached Khed at 10:30 AM and met up with Shekhar, our contact in
Khed. He guided us to a place where we could park our car safely for 4 days.
Had some amazing puri bhaaji at a restaurant opposite the Khed ST bus stand.
After this it was time to bid goodbye to Shekhar (Thanks to him for helping us
out in parking). We waited in the ST stand in hot and humid (not so
comfortable) condition till 12:30 PM. The ST bus finally arrived and it was a
comfortable 45 mins drive to Wadi Jetapur.
We started our trek in hot
and humid weather at 1:30 PM. I was having a nice momentum till 20 mins and
then suddenly started feeling giddy, maybe due to tiredness or the heat. I
rested by a well for some time and had water and Electrals. After around 30
mins rest I felt better and we started again. Fortunately the trail was easy
and without any exposure since even while walking I was feeling unstable due to
giddiness (as if I was drunk J ). After ½ hour of walking I was perfectly alright again since we
gained altitude and cool breeze started blowing. The trail to Wadi Beldar is
easy, we just need to keep following the power line which goes all the way to
Wadi Beldar. Do not take the road which is under construction since it doesn’t
reach Wadi Beldar but goes in some other direction.
Finally after 3 ½ hours we
reached the top part of the ridge from where we could see Wadi Beldar and
rested there for 20 mins enjoying the cool breeze and mellow sunlight at 5:30
PM. We reached the village at 6:00 PM and planned to spend the night at
Sitaram’s house. It was nice to just sit outside the house, doing nothing –
just chatting away with Yogesh and the simple villagers and enjoying the
amazing views all around. We had amazing
dinner of Cabbage sabzi, Bhakri, Rice, Gravy, Papad made by Jijabai couple of
houses away. The dark night was spent doing star gazing for an hour outside
Sitaram’s house, after which we retired for the night. We had planned to sleep
outside but then the villagers mentioned that Leopards frequent the area so we
decided we are better off inside Sitaram’s house.
Day 2: Trek from Wadi Beldar to Mahipatgad top – explore
the fort for full day.
à 45 mins from
Wadi Beldar to Mahipatgad temple.
Next morning after breakfast
of noodles we along with Sitaram started our trek to Mahipatgad. Once we
reached the top we saw the Shivganga Buruj and Darwaza. After that we went to
the trail towards the ruined Horse stables and Maruti Temple
After some rest and getting
fresh at the Shiva temple (there is a well besides the temple and nice forest
cover all around) we started again for exploration towards Kotwal Darwaza and
an old temple of Maruti
Sitaram now left us at the
temple promising to take us to Raya’s house next morning. Raya is a Dhangar in
that area and very knowledgeable about the Mahipat Sumar Rasalgad area. We
already had spoken to Raya the previous day and he had agreed to take us to
Sumargad and guide us halfway till Rasalgad.
Now we were on our own and
relaxed at the Shiva temple for around 1 ½ hours. Yogesh treated himself with a
nice bath from the cool well water. At 4:30 PM we left the temple to reach a
clearing on top of the hill besides the Shiva temple (possibly the highest
point on Mahipatgad). We were
unsuccessful in reaching the top due to
complicated terrain and thick jungles but never the less found a very good view point which gave us a birds
eye view of the thick jungles on Mahipatgad as well as Sumargad popping out of
the south direction – view to die for J. We also tried going towards the arm of Mahipatgad
where the Pushati Darwaza is but had to turn back since it was getting dark.
Once back at the Shiva temple
it was Soup and dinner time. It became extremely cold post sunset. Did some
star gazing post dinner and retired for the day.
Day 3: Trek from Mahipatgad top to Wadi Beldar and
further to Sumargad and Rasalgad.
Timings à
35 mins from Mahipatgad Temple
40 mins from Wadi Beldar to
Raya Dhangar’s House (8:00 AM to 8:40 AM)
30 mins from Raya’s House to
Guir Khind top (9:15 AM to 9:45 AM)
1 hour 5 mins from Guir Khind
to Sumargad top (9:45 AM to 10:50 AM)
50 mins exploring Sumargad
(10:50 AM to 11:40 AM)
1 hour 5 mins from Sumargad
top to Guir Khind (11:40 AM to 12:45 PM)
5 hours from Guir Khind to
Rasalgad (lost for 30 mins) (1:00 PM to 6:00 PM)
à Total time
from Mahipatgad to Sumargad to Rasalgad: 10 Hours approx
This was supposed to be a
long day for us so we got up pre dawn, had breakfast of Poha and started for
Wadi Beldar at first hint of daylight. We reached the village in 35 mins. After
some rest of 10 mins at Sitaram’s house we started towards Raya Dhangar’s hut
on a clearing between Mahipat and Sumargad. Within 40 mins we reached Raya’s
hut. In between we got some amazing panoramic views of the Mahipatgad fort.
We relaxed for some time
outside Raya’s hut while he was doing his work. It was a privilege to have fresh
curds at Raya’s place. Finally Sitaram bade us goodbye and we started off with
Raya towards Sumargad at 9:15 AM. The route was thickly forested with an
occasional opening from where we got nice views of Mahipatgad, and very
pleasant to trek in.
Within some time the uphill
climb for Guir Khind col started. We left our bags at the top of the forested col and started towards
Sumargad. This would be the crux of the whole trek. The trail to Sumargad is
rarely used since it is not easy going from here. After an initial steep scree
climb we need to traverse the hillock before we reach a ridge connecting
Sumargad.
After the ridge we need to be
very careful while going to Sumargad top. The route from here starts with an
exposed traverse keeping Sumargad massif to the right. Thankfully there is
solid rock and no scree here. After the traverse we need to do rock climbing
for around 50 feet before we reach the top. There is a wire and 2 ladders
placed by the villagers to aid the climb but still you need to be very careful
since the ladders are just placed and not bound by cement or anything and the
wire is plastic bound which hardly gives any friction when you hold it for
support. It is advisable to carry a rope just in case.
We spent around 50 mins
resting and exploring Sumargad top. There are 2 huge water tanks and a small
one. There is also a small temple in ruins besides the Water tanks and a good
Shiva temple in a cave nearby. 10 mins further we reached the actual top of the
fort getting amazing views of the mountains around, specially the full panorama
of Mahipatgad. It was time to descend carefully and we reached the col again
within 1 hour where we had kept our bags.
After some rest at the col we
start for Rasalgad at 1 PM. Again most part of the trek was in shade. Once out
in the opening and other side of Sumargad we got very nice views of Sumargad.
Raya showed us the alternate route up Sumargad (but it is more risky and lot of
scree). At this point there is also a ruined Waghoba Devi temple nearby. Rest of
the trek to Rasalgad from this point is in the open with not much shade. The
trail hereon zigzags around the various hillocks, sometimes keeping the
mountain side to the right and sometimes to the left with nice views of
Makrandgad, Parvat and Chakdev. A guide is an absolute must till you actually
see Rasalgad unless you have done the trail before. Even at this point its best
to listen to the guides instructions carefully. After a complicated descent
through slippery dry grass down a hillock to a plateau (getting lost for 20
mins) we finally were near Rasalgad. It was nice to walk in the mild yellow
sunlight at around 5:30 PM and nearing the end of a long and successful
traverse. All the pain and trouble vanishes in a jiffy.
We reached Rasalgad top at 6 PM
almost 10 hours after we started. The entrances to Rasalgad top are pretty much
intact and a treat to view. The best part is the huge Deepmaal besides the
Zolai Devi temple and the amazing views of Pratapgad, Makrandgad, Parvat and
Chakdev. Once on Rasalgad top we put our bags in the Zolai Devi temple and
rested outside the temple enjoying the amazing sunset unfolding in front of us.
Now the trek cant end
uneventfully isn’t it? So here comes a
call from Shekhar (our contact from Khed) at around 7:30 PM that my car’s
security alarm has been buzzing since last 2 days troubling the people staying
/ working around the area and also discharging my car battery. They were going
to log a police complaint but then Shekhar said that we are his friends. At
this time there was no transport to Khed from the base village Nimani so we
told him that we would take the first
ST
We were dead tired now so
post the ruckus of my car security alarm we started with soup, dinner and went
to sleep.
Day 4: Trek from Rasalgad to Nimani and further to
Gawliwadi – Rick to Khed and Drive to Mumbai.
We got up early pre dawn and
after getting fresh started walking towards Nimani in hopes of getting the first ST
One point to note is the
forest cover in the area and villages around Rasalgad. It was still very much
intact and it was a pleasure walking in such surroundings in the cold early
morning chill.
We reached Khed at around 9
AM and got down besides the car. We were joking that the villagers would be
standing with sticks in their hands ready to beat us up J. I opened the
car with my keys but still the alarm kept on ringing. Finally I opened the
bonnet and unplugged the bloody security device (with no plans of using it
again). People around realized that the culprits have arrived and everyone
started telling us about the trouble they had to put up with listening to the
alarm for 2 whole days. I fully agree with them and thank them that no one
damaged the car in spite of all the trouble they had to go through except one
deflated rear tyre. I had a foot-pump so inflating the tyre was not a big deal.
A tempo driver nearby and
Yogesh helped pushing the car and in first try the car started. We first
escaped from this area and went to the highway for breakfast before anyone
tries to get their hands on us J. Post a nice south Indian
breakfast it was a nice drive back home and happy memories of an outstanding
trek to cherish. Thanks to Yogesh for being an exceptionally nice trekking
companion. Hope to do many more treks with you.
